Continuing our discussion of Green Remodeling....

The second science principle of Green Remodeling is Moisture Movement. Moisture comes in two forms.....bulk moisture and vapor. Bulk moisture in a liquid form can be rainwater or plumbing leaks. The key is to prevent it from entering openings in your building envelope. Gravity is the primary driver of bulk moisture entering a home's envelope, but capillary action, air pressure and wind can also be driving factors. Vapor moisture affects a home in two forms, diffusion and air movement. Diffusion refers to the effect of moisture actually being allowed to penetrate or move through materials. Building materials generally have what is called a "perm" rating. The lower the rating the more effective the material is at resisting the penetration of vapor moisture. Air movement plays a key role in vapor moisture's ability to move. Vapor will always follow certain principles...vapor moves from more moisture to less, vapor travels from hot to cold and air transport is more potent in moving the vapor than movement through material. For these reasons, we use moisture barriers on the external walls of new construction, drainage plans and ensure all exterior holes are taped. From an internal perspective humidifiers, exhaust fans and air gaps in walls, outlets, window areas etc must be taped or secured.

There's little debate about the benefits of bringing as much natural light as possible into a home. To have windows on three walls of each main room -- including bedrooms -- is the ideal sought by many design professionals. Comfort and aesthetic values are increased with natural light. Furthermore, multiple sources of natural light facilitate the energy and cost savings that result from using fewer artificial light fixtures in the home.

However, in the remodeling realm, one of the downsides of owning an older home is that very few built more than 50 years ago take full advantage of natural light. For practical purposes, older homes employed windows that were designed and used for passive ventilation, as well as light. In other words, the windows let fresh air in and stale air out with size kept small to limit drafts. Today's technology, on the other hand, captures views and brings light into a home through large expanses of glass, independent of the need to maintain a conditioned indoor climate.

Consequently, current owners of older homes, and their remodeling contractors, face a dilemma. Certainly, modern windows and glass doors can be used in a wide variety of applications. It is tempting to use them to bring natural light into an old, dark house during a remodeling project. Adding to that temptation are the energy-saving benefits of today's high-performance windows and glass doors.

The dilemma is this: the integration of a large expanse of glass, a skylight, or other modern design elements into the character, style, and proportion of an older house can create such a poor aesthetic effect that the resale value of the home is actually diminished. In spite of the initial drama created by the new feature, it may never truly fit in with the rest of the house, and perhaps the rest of the neighborhood.

Professional designers and remodeling contractors who are conscious of this problem work within the original architectural character of an older or historic home to incorporate natural light in more subtle and creative ways. Window and door manufacturers have aided that effort with a variety of products to match traditional house styles or to lessen the aesthetic impact of new products on a home's character.

For example, glass block or fixed panes of glass can be installed in the backsplash area between the wall cabinets and the kitchen countertops. Light shines on the work surfaces without trading valuable storage space -- at a premium in an older house -- for a large window expanse. Similarly, one or more roof windows over the center of a kitchen can bring a tremendous amount of natural light into the space. Unlike skylights, roof windows are operable, so they can open to vent hot air and odors. They are designed flat, only slightly raised above the roof finish, thereby reducing their aesthetic impact on the home's exterior. If a kitchen, den or bedroom is on the back or side of the house, roof windows or skylights can be invisible from the street.

For smaller, interior rooms, such as a water closet, walk-in shower, or storage area, the addition of windows for more natural light is almost impossible. Tubular skylights, however, throw more light than you'd imagine into these tight spaces, making them feel larger and more comfortable. The next best thing to 'smoke and mirrors,' tubular skylights employ mirrors and reflective material to draw and reflect light from a small, inconspicuous opening in the roof into the room below.

Meanwhile, fixed or operable interior transom windows, set above passage doors to bedrooms and bathrooms -- or even in walls -- can transmit natural light from rooms along the home's perimeter into interior spaces that otherwise lack the opportunity to capture it on their own.

When homeowners and their remodeling contractors are respectful of the architectural character and proportion of an older house, it can be a challenge to bring in enough natural light to please modern tastes. Experienced remodelers will assist homeowners with design and product solutions, enabling them to enjoy the comfort and cost-saving benefits of natural light while enhancing the value of their homes.

Warm regards,

John Todd
Elite Remodeling
Showroom & Design Center
2930 Preston Road, Suite 980
Frisco, Texas, 75252
(972) 334-9800 - phone
(972) 334-9890 - fax
jtodd@elitehomeremodeling.com
www.elitehomeremodeling.com

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