SketchUp Model 2

Below are some SketchUp drawings of the second story bedrooms, bathroom, and closet space.

Fig. 1 Second floor layout

Fig. 2 Master bedroom and bathroom.


Fig. 3 Upstairs second bedtoom.

Putting on the Paint

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are organic chemical compounds which can be offgassed into the atmosphere either through evaporation or through oxidization. Often times VOCs are found in common household products such as paints, paint thinners, and industrial cleaning products, as well as carpets and laminated furniture. VOC's can contiminate indoor air quality, potentially causing "sick building syndrome" which can have short- and long-term health effects in both animals and humans. According to the EPA, indoor air quality can be 2 to 5 times more contaminated with organic pollutants than outdoor air quality. VOCs may cause the following health effects: nose, throat, and eye irritation; headaches, nausea, loss of coordination; damage to liver, kidneys, and the central nervouse system. Some VOCs have been found to cause cancer in animals and others are suspected to cause cancer in humans.

To reduce the risk of VOC contamination, CHDC used both no- and low-VOC paints and primers for the interior walls of Greenth Street. To meet EPA standards, low-VOC paints and primers must contain less than 200 g/l. For all but one wall of the house CHDC used Sherwin Williams Harmony no-VOC (0 g/l) paint and primer; the north wall of the kitchen/dinning room was painted with low-VOC (43 g/l) Sherwin Williams Duration Home paint (due to the type of pigment used). Adding tint and pigment to paint and primers can raise the level of VOCs up to 10 g/l, which is still a very low VOC content.

The main wall and trim color in Greenth Street is Extra White; the bedrooms and baths are painted Mindful Grey and the north wall of the kitchen/dinning room is painted Real Red. See pictures below for a color sample.

For more information about VOCs and no- to low-VOC paint and primer, please refer to:

EPA's "An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality".
EarthEasy: Ideas for Environmentally Sustainable Living, Non-toxic Paints.

Fig. 1 North wall of the kitchen/dinning room -- paint color is "Real Red".

Fig 2 Downstairs bathroom looking into hallway --
wall color in bathroom is "Mindful Grey", trim and hallway color is "Extra White".

Fig. 3 Stairwell opening looking upwards to second floor --
wall color is "Extra White".

Drywall

12/22/08 -- The drywall is now up in the house and painting has begun on the walls. Below are some pictures of the drywall process.

Figure 1. First floor bathroom.

For the bathtub and shower surrounds, CHDC used Georgia-Pacific DenoArmor Plus High-Performance Interior Panel; a paperless drywall that has fiberglass mats on the front and the back and which is highly mold-resistant. Paperless drywall is required by LEED for Homes in order to reduce the risk of mold and mildew inn moisture-rich environments such as bathrooms.

Figure 2. Second floor bathroom.

3. Kitchen, looking north.

4. Stairway, looking down towards first floor.

5. Master bedroom on second floor, looking north.

Stonework and Insulation

11/25/08 -- Finishing touches are being put on the outside of the house, while on the inside the insulation is being installed.

Front facade: finished roof, siding, windows, decking and stonework.

Detail of the stonework (limestone).

The rain garden planter next to the deck.

Inside the rain garden planter --
this will eventually be filled with soil and plants to help divert rainwater from the roof.

Looking up through the open dormer above the deck.

The concrete pavers for the front and back walkways.
These will be set in place once the landscaping is ready to be put in.

Looking up at the second floor.

The tree in back was marked off to protect the root system during construction.

The garage pad in the back, off of the alleyway.

Insulation in the conditioned space of the upper floor.

Insulation on the stairwell wall, leading to the second floor.

Insulated water pipes, helps maintain water temperature and efficiency throughout house.

SketchUp Model

Below are some SketchUp pictures of the first floor of Greenth Street to give readers a better idea of the interior. Second floor pictures will be added shortly.

An aerial view of the first floor -- looking Northwest.

An aerial view of the first floor -- looking Southeast.

The first floor bedroom.

The first floor bathroom.


The kitchen area (with color).


The living room and kitchen area.