How to Make Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

There’s no place like home. And nobody appreciates a clean, fresh smelling home more than we do, but living in an eco-friendly home is also a huge priority for us. That’s why we believe in eco-friendly roofing, eco-friendly products and have put together this list of natural, eco-friendly alternatives to your typical store-bought cleaners.

And while many people think that being friendly to the environment comes at a high financial cost, these solutions will actually leave more money in your pockets!

Use Alcohol to Disinfect Floors & Other Surfaces

When it comes to disinfecting surfaces in your home, we could all learn a thing or two from hospitals and medical clinics, who often turn to rubbing alcohol for eliminating germs and bacteria.

Simply mix seven parts alcohol (70% to 99%) with 3 parts of water. You can then use the solution in a spray bottle to disinfect surfaces like counters, appliances, toilets, and sinks and then wipe off with a dampened cloth. Or apply the mixture with a mop, to disinfect your floors. (Source: eHow.com)

DIY Disinfectant Wipes

While heavy-duty disinfecting calls for diluted alcohol, nothing beats the convenience of a disinfectant wipe for germ fighting throughout the day. Consider re-filling an old container of wipes with paper towels soaked in:

1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/4 cup of water
8 drops of tea tree oil
8 drops of lemon essential oil

Your surfaces will be pristine clean… and smell great too!

Clean Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons

A great way to clean your garbage disposal is to simply throw in two lemon halves, and let your disposal do its thing.

In just minutes, the acid of the lemons will pack a cleaning punch, and your entire kitchen will be filled with fresh scent.

Clean Silver with Baking Soda & Aluminum

Polishing silver can be an onerous task, especially when you’re dealing with ornate utensils with intricate grooves and patterns. Try this ingenious alternative, from WikiHow, which will have you soak your silver pieces in a mixture of boiling water, baking soda, and aluminum paper.
Your silver will be gleaming again in no time!

Clean Glass with Lavender Oil

Looking for an alternative to Windex that is environmentally friendly? The solution is simpler than you think. Simply mix 10 drops of lavender oil – or the essential oil of your choice – into two ounces of water. Fresh-smelling, streak-free shine awaits!

Polish Furniture with Oil & Vinegar

Oil and vinegar isn’t just for salads! Mix equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, then add a generous quantity of essential oil for sent. (We like lemon oil for this purpose.) You will have to shake this solution before you spray it, since it tends to separate. But we think you’ll be pleased to see how far it goes!

Use Cornstarch to Freshen your Carpet

Do you have an old rug that needs freshening up? Try reaching into your pantry for some cornstarch or baking soda, and sprinkle it onto your carpet before you vacuum. Either one will absorb the odors in your carpet and breathe new life into it.

Remove Marker Stains from Wooden Furniture with Toothpaste

Have you had the alarming experience of finding permanent marker stains on your wooden furniture or hardwood floors? For parents with young children, the experience is more common that you might think. Here’s an ingenious solution from MyLifeAndKids.com: Simply dab on some white toothpaste with a damp microfiber cloth and watch the stain disappear!

We hope you’ve found this post useful and that you will try some of our eco-friendly cleaning recipes. If you are looking to make some larger changes in your home, and want to deal with an evironmentally conscious construction company, please contact Keith Green Construction today!

16 Ways to Maximize the Potential of a Small Bathroom

What word best describes your bathroom? If it’s somewhere in the vicinity of “small”, “tiny”, or “minuscule”, then you may feel very limited in your renovation options.

In fact, there are many ways to remodel your bathroom to make it feel bigger. Read on for 16 of our favorite tips.

Transitional Bathroom by Robert Frank Design

1. Pocket Doors

To make the most of your small bathroom, start from the outside in. Rather than fret over allowing for your bathroom door to open, opt for a pocket door that recedes into the wall.

Contemporary Bathroom by Magdalena Keck Interior Design

2. Sliding Shower Doors

Open doors can eat up precious space inside your bathroom too. Select a shower curtain or sliding glass door instead of one that opens wide.

Traditional Bathroom by Linda McDougald Design

3. Keep Things Light & Bright

In a bathroom, like in any room, keep your color palette light and bright, in order to supersize your small space.

Contemporary Bathroom

4. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Using a large mirror to fool the eye is the oldest trick in the book… and extremely effective at making your minute bathroom feel airy.

Contemporary Bathroom by Rise Construction

5. Full-Length Mirrored Medicine Cabinet

Let your mirror perform double duty, as a full-length medicine cabinet.

Traditional Bathroom by Kohler

6. Shelving Above the Toilet

In a tiny bathroom, look for charming ways to make use of space that is often overlooked, like the wall above the toilet.

Contemporary Bathroom

7. Shelving Above the Door

Install a shelf above a door to stow items to which you need less frequent access.

Traditional Bathroom by Amoroso Design

8. Build In Extra Space

Built-in units are a good way to elegantly pack heavy duty storage into a small area.

Beach Style Bathroom by Evens Architects

9. Time for Recess

Recessed shelving in the wall or shower offers the perfect opportunity for more space-efficient storage.

Contemporary Bathroom by Rockwood Cabinetry

10. U-Shaped Drawers

Use U-shaped drawers under the sink to maximize usable storage around the pipe.

Traditional Bathroom by Haddad Hakansson LLC

11. Wall-Mounted Faucet & Vessel Sink

Consider the space-efficient combination of a wall-mounted faucet and vessel sink, which leaves room to hold additional items, and frees up an extra drawer that a traditional sink would have monopolized.

Traditional Powder Room by Design Cube Inc.

12. Trough Sink

Opt for a trough sink, which steals less real estate from a small bathroom, leaving you more room to move.

Transitional Bathroom by Peter S. Balsam Associates

13. Cut Some Corners

Save yourself from bumping into hard corners in a confined space, by choosing a round vanity.

Contemporary Bathroom by C.P. Hart Bathrooms

14. Make the Most of your Corners

Make maximum use of your corners, which are all too often wasted space, with a stunning corner shower like this one.

Modern Bathroom by Product Bureau LLC

15. Be Off the Wall

Corner vanities also make optimal use of small corners. Choose a wall-mounted model to make your small bathroom feel less confined.

Contemporary Bathroom by Elad Gonen

16. Claw-Foot Tub

Finally, opt for a claw-foot tub, which lends an airier feel to a small bathroom than its more modern counterpart.

Are you inspired to turn your diminutive bathroom into a thing of beauty? Call Keith Green Construction to get started on your bathroom remodel today!

Living in an Eco-Friendly Home

While research shows that almost 85% of Americans would like to live in an eco-friendly home, only about 30% of us actually do.

Making environmentally friendly decisions doesn’t always require a massive investment. Sometimes, it’s just a question of finding quality eco-friendly products to decorate, organize, roof, and clean your home.

In this infographic, find out how you can start making a difference, one baby step at a time!

Are you ready to start doing your part to protect the environment? Call Keith Green Construction Inc., your sustainable roofing company in Portland, Oregon!

The Party’s Over: Getting Rid of Dry Rot in Your Roof

There’s a little wood, a little moisture, a little warmth… and the next thing you know, there’s a fungus party being thrown right above your head in your roof!

This party is what we call dry rot: invasive fungi that destroy wood, making it weak and brittle. The wood doesn’t decay because it’s wet, but rather because moisture allows fungi to grow in the tissue of the wood.

Fungal Frolicks in your Roof

So what harm can a little fungus revelry cause? Well, quite a lot, if you let it thrive – especially as much of it can be unseen.

Unlike the obvious decay of dry rot in neglected wooden windows and doors, dry rot is far sneakier. It finds its way in concealed parts of your roof, wherever moisture is present, and reproduces at a rate of more than five million spores per minute in a few days. It even lies in wait for years until it’s in contact with water again to become active.

Moisture provides all that fungi need for rapid growth into the wood, which will weaken and destroy the timbers of a roof. Many of us now have weatherized or energy efficient materials in our attics and structural elements of our home, making it even harder for moisture to evaporate. To fungi, even a tiny water leak from a roof is the equivalent of an all-you-can-drink party: it’s just a question of time before something gets damaged.

Stopping Dry Rot in your Roof

There’s no such thing as a small dry rot problem. If you don’t treat dry rot, the strength of your structural roof timbers could be compromised, and the rot can even spread to bricks and plastering in the building. Load-bearing beams, rafters, ceilings, floor joists and other important structural elements can quickly weaken if you let dry rot attack the wood in your roof.

You may not realize you have a dry rot problem until it becomes apparent, at which stage you may smell or see the fungus. A professional roofer will be able to tell you if it is indeed dry rot caused by water leaks or moisture rather than an insect invasion that mimics the signs of dry rot.

The good news is that you can call it a day and send the fungi packing. Once the water supply is cut off, this removes one of the most important conditions in which dry rot can thrive. Repair the leak in your roof or water pipe, and the fungi will stop spreading. The affected wood won’t heal, but you’ll stop it from getting worse.

If you have a dry rot problem, or if you’ve had a water leak in the past or notice molds or moisture in your attic or house, contact a professional roofer right away. You’ll have to have any affected wood removed and replaced, and neighboring wooden structures may be treated with a biocide.

Prevention is Better than Cure: Maintaining your Roof

The best way to prevent dry rot is to find any source of moisture and repair water leaks as quickly as possible. Some of the wooden structures can be pressure-treated with preservatives that will slow fungal growth; these need to be reapplied every few years.

Have a professional roof inspection of your roof regularly. Trust the professionals: they know how to kill a party (of fungi)!

24 Things to Do in Hillsboro, Oregon

Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives

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Whether you call Hillsboro home, or you are just here for a visit, you may be looking for some fun ways to spend your leisure time. We’re here to help!

Here are 24 of our favorite things to do in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Be sure to visit our interactive map below. You can click on the list icon at the top left of the map to see a list of all activities, then click on each one to visit the location on the map.

Looking for a little more information on these activities? Click on the links below to visit their websites or Google Plus pages.

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Getting Out of Hot Water: Finding and Fixing Leaks in your Roof

You may have heard the famous Benjamin Franklin quote, “A small leak will sink a great ship”, and it’s the same for your house. Leaking roofs can cause havoc in your home and destroy your furniture.

If you’re lucky, you’ll have spotted damaged or missing shingles or tiles, or noticed water marks on the ceiling long before water makes its way through your roof and into your home.

Regardless of the type of roof you have, flat or pitched, at some stage during your roof’s lifetime you’re likely to experience a leak if you don’t annually inspect it.

Fixing the leak isn’t actually the hardest part, but finding it can be! The reason leaks are so hard to find on a roof is because water can seep in from damaged areas on the roof, such as worn or broken shingles or loose nails, and trickle down to another point before it drips down to your ceiling.

If water is seeping into your home, check for roof leaks as soon as you can to prevent further damage. Need an urgent roof repair? Call emergency roof repair professionals available 24/7.

Roof Leaks: the Usual Suspects

Water leaks may not come from the roof itself. Water can seep in from air condition or plumbing leaks, drains or scuppers, or even from pest infestation. Blocked gutters can make it look like the roof is damaged. Before you try taking your roof apart, make sure that’s where the water is actually seeping in from.

Some parts of the roof are more prone to leaks, so start your search there. Flashings at chimneys, air conditions on the roof, skylights, dormer vents and roof protrusions often turn out to be the source of the problem.

If you want to avoid making an emergency call to roofing specialists, safeguard your roof with regular roof maintenance and inspections.

Finding the Leak

Step 1: A Visual Inspection of the Roof

Standing on the ground, start by looking for the obvious roof leak. Look for:

• exposed roofing tacks
• cracked asphalt or shakes
• ice dams
• broken or damaged shingles
• water stains or discolorations
• holes
• popped nails
• fallen branches

Many of these can be easily fixed, like replacing a shingle, but if you see uneven ridge lines or sagging rafters, this could be a more serious structural problem, and you’ll need to call in the professionals.

Step 2: Checking the Attic for Roof Leaks

If you had no luck with the visual inspection, examine the attic, if you have access to it. Look for wet frames, soft spots or water marks, and examine the ridge, sheathing and rafters. Water flows downhill, so work your way up if you see a drip.

If nothing turns up, switch off the lights and look for holes that let the daylight through.

Lastly, examine the underside of the roof nails that are badly placed in the framing member, causing condensation and frost in cold weather.

If you find a hole, gently run a bit of wire through so you can find it easily from the roof.

Step 3: Getting the Ladder Out: Up on the Roof

The attic didn’t yield any results? You may have to check the roof itself.

Walking on the roof or standing on the eaves can cause damage and can be very dangerous. If you’re not comfortable going up on the roof, or if you don’t have the right equipment, call the roofing contractors – it’s no small task, and sometimes it takes professionals to do it right – and do it safely!

First, look for corrosion or broken seals on the flashings of anything that protrudes through the roof, such as vents, chimneys or skylights. Next, check the whole surface of the roof with binoculars for holes, rusted areas, worn or loose shingles or dry rot.

If you fail to uncover the leak, there is one more thing you can try before you call in the professionals: a water test with a garden hose.

Slowly, isolate and soak one small area of the roof at a time while a friend looks for the leak in the attic. Start at the bottom of the roof (never go straight up-roof), one small area at a time. If you find the leak, push a wire or nail through so you can identify the area on the roof.

Step 4: Fixing the Leak in your Roof

Now that you’ve found the leak, you’re halfway to staying dry! How you fix the leak will depend on the material and construction of your roof.

Single roofs can often be easier to fix, by replacing or securing curled or missing/damaged shingles. Flat roofs that have a large area of water under the roof will require a professional to fix the problem. If you’re not sure how to proceed, call a professional roofing company who can fix emergency roof repairs and ensure your roof – and your whole home – stay dry!

A Word about Safety

You should never climb onto a roof during a storm, and never on a steeply pitched roof. Ladders can be dangerous and need to be set up properly. You should always wear a safety line and harness if you’re climbing onto a roof or up a ladder. Never work from the ladder – set up a scaffold that will provide a safer platform. Gloves and goggles are recommended for the attic. Avoid stepping on ceiling joins or other delicate surfaces and be careful of any wet plastic. Attics can contain badly insulated electric wires –stay away from these and call an electrician or professional roofer if any are exposed.

Annual Inspections of your Roof

Roofs are the first level of protection for your home, and they need some TLC, too. Did you know that you can have your roof inspected and maintained annually? Before winter, consider hiring experts to examine your roof and provide improvements to add years to your roof!

Home Improvement Made Easy With Mobile Apps

Summer has arrived … and with it the perfect time to do some home renovations! Are you looking to add a new sink to your kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel? What about finally painting that spare bedroom, or replacing the carpet with tile? The following applications, available on all mobile platforms, can help you get the job right … the first time!

HomeSpot HQ

This website is one of the more comprehensive tools available out there. It not only includes organizational and calendar sections, but how to maintain and protect your house, as well as planning your next project. One of the bigger frustrations in do-it-yourself home renovations is figuring out what to do next – this app is ideal for those hard-to-complete projects.
Mobile rating: n/a, website only

Home Improvement Calcs

This application is entirely focused around calculators. It helps you calculate how much mulch or fertilizer you need for your lawn, what amount of attic insulation is required and much more. This app costs $1.99 for iOs, but the couple of dollars is well worth getting the number of calculators for all matter of projects.

iOs rating: 4+ stars
Android rating: n/a

Family Handyman DIY Tip Genius

From the makers of the Family Handyman Magazine, this “genius” provides tips and ideas to getting your next project done right – it highlights what needs to be done for the project to work, and be safe, all while saving money and stress.

iOS rating: 4+ stars
Android rating: 3 stars

Home Depot

The Home Depot’s app includes a store locator, advertisements and specials. If you’re looking for somewhere to purchase supplies for your next project, this app is ideal, as not only can you search for products you need, but you can also order them on-line.

iOS rating: 2 stars
Android rating: 3-1/2 stars

Lowe’s

Like the Home Depot app, the Lowe’s app also includes a product search and store locator. This app also has something called MyLowe’s, which allows you to access your purchase history, home profile and MyLowe’s card wherever you are.

iOS rating: 4+ stars
Android rating: 4 stars

Portland Interior Designers: Aronel Design Studio

This installment of our Portland Interior Designers segment showcases the work and talents of Lenora Smith, founder of Aronel Design Studio, Inc.

Lenora is the brain behind three collections of environmentally conscious furnishing products:

the Dare to Dream collection of textured wall coverings
the Break Some Rules collection of light upholstery fabrics made of 100% recycled content
the Labor of Love collection of wall coverings printed on pre-pasted pater with a water activated adhesive

Here is what Lenora had to say in response to our questions.

What makes you different from other designers?

Although I studied interior design, I am most passionate about pattern/surface design and I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to turn that passion into three collections of sustainable interior furnishing products.”

What is your idea of what a beautiful home should feel like?

I think a beautiful home should feel like wearing a well-worn glove that fits you perfectly and always feels like a warm embrace.”

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

The instant gratification of someone falling in love with a product that was once just an idea.”

What was one of your favorite projects to date, and what made it so special?

I was able to be a co-sponsor of Eco-Bungalow LA. It was an opportunity for me to give me to a family that had lost everything in a fire. I was able to work with the homeowner (wife/mother) directly to create a custom wallcovering and she it was particularly rewarding when she called me to say how much she loved it when it was installed.”

What’s your approach to interacting with clients?

Because my products are sold through design showrooms, I rarely have the opportunity to interact with the end-customer directly but, when I do, I love the process of finding out who they are and what will make them happy. The process mostly involves listening to their likes/dislikes and figuring out how to deliver what they want in a way that is beyond what they could have imagined.”

How can a homeowner discover their signature style?

Review design magazines and visit new and different interior spaces. Make a note of colors, textures and products that captivate you and start to develop a sense of the common thread that ties these things together.”

When you are not designing, what are you doing?

I have developed a passion for cooking over the past few years so I am usually researching new foods and experimenting with new recipes.”

We invite you to browse some of Lenora’s work below, and to consider Keith Green Construction for your Portland roofing and construction needs.

Portland Interior Designers: Kimberlee Jaynes

In today’s installment of our Portland Interior Designer segment, we interview Kimberlee Jaynes, the talented owner of Kimberlee Jaynes Interior Designs, Inc.

Although Kimberlee may well have inherited her artistic flair — her mother is fine arts painter Jeanne Graham and her grandfather was renowned photographer, Julian P. Graham — her natural abilities are backed by a strong foundation in fashion, art and design.

Kimberlee’s designs are bold in their simplicity, and marry modern and traditional styles in a beautiful and unique way.

What makes you different from other designers?

I use an extensive interview system that I have developed over many years. It gives me the insights I need to bring my client what they desire without wasting time and money.”

What has been your key to success?

Tending to my client.”

What is the highest compliment you’ve been paid for your work?

This feels like us.”

How would you describe your design style?

Bold simplicity.”

What inspires your creativity?

Travel.”

What excites you about design these days?

New paint, wall coverings and fabrics!”

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?

At the big reveal when the client is thrilled with the outcome.”

What are your favorite ways to add color and texture to a space?

Art work and throw pillows are great ways to add color and texture to a space.”

What’s your approach to interacting with clients?

I like the process to be a collaboration and welcome my clients input.”

What are the most common decorating mistakes made by homeowners?

They paint first instead of last. Purchase artwork and area rugs then furnishings and window coverings then choose a paint color.”

How can a homeowner discover their signature style?

I wrote an e book called “Design it Yourself a step-by-step work book for interior design” available on Amazon. It has a whole chapter on discovering your style.”

What improvements can a person make to their home without spending a lot of money? You pick the room.

Living room redesign: New lamps, end tables, area rug and throw pillows all add an uplift to a dated living room.”

When you are not designing, what are you doing?

I love to cook, read and exercise! And of course travel!!!”

Share something you would like the world to know about you or your ideas?

I love my interior design career because I change peoples lives. When you have a comfortable and inviting home …connecting with others and yourself becomes an everyday occurrence. You have a place that feels just right to you and your relationships change for the better. I hear it time and again from my clients.”

We invite you to browse some of Kimberlee’s work below, and to consider Keith Green Construction for your Portland roofing and construction needs.