Green Restorations

Homes require restoration work for many different reasons. Sometimes a house is just old and decrepit. Other times, extreme weather events force homeowners like you to take immediate action or face further damages and costs from accumulated deterioration. The Insurance Information Institute has research showing wind and water damage are the first and second most frequent losses claimed by homeowners respectively. With the effects of climate change becoming commonplace, homeowners are especially susceptible to events that can force a remodeling of your home. When water damage occurs it usually requires tens of thousands of dollars in restoration work, and while this may not seem like a good thing at first, it does provide an excellent opportunity to upgrade with the latest green materials, services and eco-friendly methods.

What Exactly Are Green Materials And Methods?

There are many different kinds of eco-friendly materials on the market, and many different methods of doing restoration work that are more sustainable and energy efficient in the long run than conventional approaches.  These are just a few of the ways that a restoration can be green or greener:

Materials…

• Repair. Repair. Repair. May things these days are planned to fail after a certain period of time. A good restoration company can repair many of the materials in your home so that you don’t have to spend money buying replacements.
• Recycled or Salvaged materials make excellent replacements for existing constructions that have been damaged beyond repair.
• Natural products that don’t require treatment or processing are best. You can replace any wood surfaces with bamboo for a similar look without killing the rainforest. Bamboo grows up to ten times faster than trees and can be farmed for wood resources sustainably.

Methods…

• Waste not. Want not. A responsible restoration company won’t talk you into things you don’t need, and they’ll salvage whatever possible from your existing construction.
• Work with the environment and not against it. Many times buildings are designed for the efficiency of the builder and not the house itself or the homeowner.
• Utilizing sustainable suppliers may be a higher up-front cost but will save the earth in the long run.

Green restorations are the forefront of the home remodeling business and will continue to envelope an increasing share of the construction industry to the point at which homes won’t be built that aren’t sustainable, recyclable and green.

How Much Does A Green Restoration Cost?

Home restorations needed because of extreme weather events are typically covered by your insurance policy, and that means not only do you save after installation from the increased energy efficiency of green practices, but also during the initial installation because these materials and methods would normally be an out of pocket cost to you. While no one wishes for a bout of water damage or a fire in the home, it can provide an excellent opportunity to go green without breaking your bank.

What Are The Benefits Of Going Green For My Restoration?

The benefits of going with a green restoration are many, but usually the ones that make homeowners the most satisfied have an immediate investment return. Roofing restorations can be an excellent opportunity to go solar which will immediately save you money on your power bills. Eco-friendly insulation jobs seal in your home so heating and air conditioning costs are lowered due to reduction of air loss to the outside. Replacing damaged woodwork with bamboo or other renewable wood alternatives is not only environmentally sound, but also cost neutral and it looks fantastic. Sourcing materials locally can be cheaper, and when those materials aren’t dragged halfway around the earth before arriving at your local big box home improvement store, it saves the planet dramatically. Green materials are largely produced naturally and organically which makes them vastly safer for you and your family live with. It increases your property value. With the constant escalation of green building techniques and materials, homes without these amenities will become increasingly harder to sell in the very near future. Another benefit of going green for your restoration is the praise and jealousy you’ll no doubt receive from family and friends for leading the way in saving the planet and your home.

 

About The Author

Alexander Ruggie has been working and writing for the entertainment industry and green movement for more than a decade. Currently he writes for 911 Restoration, a green home rejuvenation company.