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| Did You Know? |
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Building a new home and issues of indoor air quality: When you're building a new home, it's a great opportunity to create a healthy environment for your family by focusing on indoor air quality issues. Here are a few building techniques that can make a positive difference:
- Become familiar with mechanical ventilation systems and talk with your builder about installing one in your new home.
- Provide proper drainage away from the house and be sure to properly seal the foundations in your new home construction.
- Ensure that combustion appliances, including furnaces, fireplaces, woodstoves, and heaters, are properly vented and receive enough supply air.
- Ask your builder about systems that cycle outdoor air into the home, including air-to-air heat exchangers.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a ventilation rate of 0.35 ach (air changes per hour) for new homes. Some some new homes are built to even more exacting specifications.
Source: NAHB
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New Home Guide - Interior and Designs, Windows and Doors, Flooring, Carpet, Vinyl, Ceramic Tile, Wood, Stone, Marble, Granite, Paint and Decorating.
The following is a list of information and resources on interior technologies and design standards that are available for new home construction, including windows and doors, flooring - carpet, wood, engineered wood, vinyl, ceramic tile, stone, granite and marble surfaces. Kitchen, bath and interior design resources such as paint and decorating are also featured here.
The National Fenestration Rating Council is a non-profit organization that administers an independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights, and related products. Their goal is to provide fair, accurate, and reliable energy performance ratings so that builders, homeowners, architects, code officials, and contractors can compare products and make informed product choices. The window, or fenestration, industry has developed a host of new energy efficient technologies such as low-e coatings, low-conductance spacers, and gas fills. Learn about these and the work of the NFRC at www.nfrc.org.
The National Glass Association produces Window & Door magazine. Founded in 1948, the National Glass Association (NGA) is the largest trade association representing the flat glass industry. The NGA also hosts GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo. Their website offers a new products section as a guide to the fenestration industry's newest products, along with an online buyer's guide. www.WindowandDoor.net (requires free registration.)
The Window and Door Manufacturing Association represents over 145 U.S. and Canadian manufacturers and suppliers of windows and doors for the domestic and export markets. Members supply builders, remodelers, architects, contractors, and other specifiers in residential, commercial and institutional markets with products including sash, frames, window units, flush doors, stile & rail doors, skylights, and patio door units. WMDA strives to be the leading association in the advancement of the window, skylight and door industry by promoting the benefits and value of superior performing products. Their website offers consumer information along with a window and door glossary, and magazine articles and information on design, energy and safety issues. www.nwwda.org.
Kolbe and Kolbe - A very informative window and door site by a well respected manufacturer. Includes a glossary of window and door terms A good window choice for custom styles and sizes. Information available for homewoners includes product catalogs, info. on glass, exterior finish and hardware information, a Painting & Finishing Guide, warranties, and other news. Available in Adobe® Acrobat® format to download. www.kolbe-kolbe.com/download_basicinfo.shtml.
The Carpet and Rug Industry has information about trends in carpeting, performance ratings, and selecting carpets. They state that good indoor air quality depends on good building design, implementation of effective operation and maintenance, and appropriate selection of low-emitting interior products. Since 1992, the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has developed and administered the "Green Label" indoor air quality testing and labeling program, first for carpet and then for adhesives and cushion materials. Access this at www.carpet-rug.com.
The National Wood Flooring Association has expanded the Design-a-Room feature on its consumer web site. Consumers now have the option of designing a room using several room scenes: a foyer, living room, bedroom, dining room and kitchen. In each room, visitors can choose from among 14 different wood flooring species, both domestic and exotic. The direction of the flooring can be changed as well, from horizontal, to vertical, etc. To give consumers even more custom design capabilities, wall color can be changed as well, to try different looks with each type of flooring. For more information about the Design-a-Room feature, visit www.woodfloors.org.
Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Hardwood Information Center provides a wealth of information about hardwood floors, including tips for designing, buying and maintaining hardwood floors, along with hardwood window and dorr trim. The information also contains trends for, flooring, cabinets, kitchens, baths, and woodwork throughout the home along with product choices, materials and care. www.hardwood.org.
The Vinyl Institute - By many standards, vinyl is a new building material, first used broadly during and after World War II to meet many of the critical infrastructure and safety needs of that time. Yet vinyl blends many attributes of traditional materials with the advanced performance characteristics of today's - and tomorrow's - building products. Durability, light weight, solid environmental and fire characteristics, versatility and low maintenance requirements are just a few of the properties that have propelled the growing use of vinyl in the built environment. The Vinyl Institute provides information on the use of vinyl products including selection guidance and environmental considerations in Electrical, Fencing, decking & railing, Flooring, Pipe, Roofing, Siding, Wallcovering, Windows & doors www.vinylbydesign.com.
North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) was formed by US and Canadian manufacturers and importers of laminate flooring in 1997. The primary purpose is to create voluntary product performance standards for laminate flooring in North America. NALFA publishes technical information on laminate flooring along with the terminology of terms, a glossary helpful to both the trade and consumer. www.nalfa.com.
The Southern Pine Council is coordinated by manufacturers of Southern Pine lumber, who are members of the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA). They advocate the use of raised floor systems for new homes, constructed of Southern Pine. Their web site lists the advantages of an elevated, wood-framed floor in the design of a home. They state that choosing the premium floor system is an investment in one's property that can accrue lifelong benefits in curb appeal, comfort, practicality and value. Among the raised floor system's benefits are ease of installation and modification of utilities, the natural insulating properties of wood raised above the ground, and protecting a home in food prone areas. www.southernpine.com.
The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association (NOFMA) is an oak flooring manufacturers association dedicated to promoting the oak flooring industry. This site is also an excellent resource for consumers wanting to know more about hardwood floors including frequently asked questions concerning hardwood flooring. www.nofma.org.
The National Training Center for Stone and Masonry Trades features helpful information about stone, marble, granite and tile surfaces including an ask the expert section. www.ntc-stone.com/main1.htm
The Tile Council of America is an organization that operates a research laboratory that has developed and patented many innovative installation materials which have improved ceramic tile installation. They provide technical information including a reference library consisting of frequently asked questions and answers and a product locator guide. www.tileusa.com/technical_main.htm.
InformeDesign from the University of Minnesota is a research and communication tool for designers, and also provides in-depth news for those interested in interior design. The site contains more than 600 research summaries of findings related to design, which are added to weekly. All services on the InformeDesign web site are available at no cost to visitors. In addition to the searchable database of research summaries, the site has a monthly newsletter on design research topics, and presentations on research topics. It was created by the Univ. of Minnesota and is sponsored by the ASID (American society of Interior Designers.) www.informedesign.umn.edu.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association believes that all successful kitchen and bath projects share the important elements of use of quality products, creative design, expert workmanship and careful planning. They have designed an online workbook, which is a step-by-step guidebook to creating the kitchen and bath of your dreams. There is a section on frequently asked questions, including budgets and costs. Access the Association at www.nkba.com.
Painting & Decorating Contractors of America consumer info including how to hire a painting contractor and a how to guide on color. PDCA Members are the recognized experts of the painting and decorating industry.
www.pdca.org/consumer_info.htm
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