Going Green in the Basement

Turning your damp and dark basement into the room of your dreams is a challenge that many home owners take on themselves. While it can be an exciting adventure for most, it can also be an eco-friendly project as well. Use these simple tips and professional advice for remodeling your basement as green as possible.

Insulation

One of the first things when transforming a barren basement is to turn the blank block walls into bright and vibrant finished walls. But first, insulation must be added. Going green on basement insulation can be a tough process when the majority of the insulation products are not eco-friendly. One of my favorite products for eco-friendly basement insulation is InsoFast foam wall and floor insulation. This amazing product uses 100% recycled plastics and rigid foam for the perfect basement insulation product. No moisture barrier is needed, reducing the need for toxic sealants and plastic barriers that harm the environment. Studs and furring strips are not needed either, they are built into the foam, further reducing the need for wasteful building products.

Paints

Once the insulation is in and the walls are covered, paint is usually the next home improvement task when remodeling a basement. Paints are often secretly toxic. As paint dries, it releases gases called volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the basement and surrounding air. This can happen for years after the paint has been applied. By using paints labeled low-VOC or no-VOC, off- gassing can be reduced or eliminated altogether, increasing indoor air quality and reducing your basements environmental impact.

Flooring

More often than not, flooring is often overlooked as having an environmental impact. Carpet and vinyl can be one of the most toxic materials in building and remodeling, yet people constantly use it in basement remodeling projects. Kick out the carpet and vinyl and go green with grass. Not the grass on your lawn, but bamboo. Bamboo flooring is one of the most eco-friendly flooring options available on the market today. It is a sustainable building product, growing quickly and requiring very little fertilizers and water.

Ceiling

The ceiling in most basements need to be finished with a drop ceiling. These ceiling tiles are often made from products that have a huge impact on our environment. Green drop ceiling tiles like Kenmarks Inovative Ceiling Tiles are made from gypsum and post consumer recycled glass. For more information on installing drop ceiling tiles, visit Construct101.com for all of your home improvement project needs.