-- Scotts Contracting - StLouis Renewable Energy: Scotts Contracting

Search This Blog

Showing posts with label Scotts Contracting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scotts Contracting. Show all posts

10.18.2011

Low VOC Paint Project Photos


  • Another Successful Project Completed on-time and with-in budget by Scotts Contracting. 
  •  Martha Stewart Paints- "Ice Rink Blue" Low VOC, Fast Dry, 1 coat Coverage. 


 Scotty writes, "This was my first experience using Martha Stewart Paints. I felt the paint had great coverage, dried fast, and any odors were minimal." See more Paint Project Photos here



For an Firm Job Bid on your next project email Scotts Contracting for a Free Estimate

10.12.2011

Concrete Side Walk Repair

Photos of Small Concrete Repair by Scotts Contracting

Update 10/30/2017: Concrete Repair Pictures.



Click Here to email Scotts Contracting- Estimate on Repairing or Replacing your Concrete Side Walks in St Louis

How to Repair Water Damaged Stucco-Interior Wall

Water Damage Interior Wall Repair

Step 1: Remove Damaged Areas
Step 2: Patch with Wall Repair or Concrete Patch
Step 3: Trowel Smooth using Steel Trowel
Step 4: Sand High Spots to create uniform wall patch
Step 5: Finish to Match Existing Wall
Step 6: For this project I mixed sugar sand with the Paint and Rolled the mixture onto the wall-
Step 7: Repaint the Area to create a uniform Finish




Click here to email Scotts Contracting for FREE Estimates on Stucco Repair in St Louis.

Additional Photos can be found on Scotts Contracting Picasa Web Album

9.14.2011

Online Business Card for Scotts Contracting


Additional Business Information for Scott's Contracting


Description:
Scott's Contracting your Green Building Specialist for the St Louis Area. For us being Green and Eco Friendly is not just a FAD. It has become a lifestyle that we have incorporated into the way we choose to do business and live. Green and Sustainable Home Improvments for your Home or Business. Along with the Normal Repairs or Upgrades- We Provide:Products, Green Design Services, Installation, Construction, Remodel, Rehabbing, and Building Up-Grades
Categories:
Building Construction, Architecture, Carpentry & Woodworking, Demolition & Site Prep, Electrical, Flooring & Tiling, Insulation, Kitchen & Bathroom, Windows & Doors, Energy Efficiency
Hours of Operation:
Monday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMTuesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMWednesday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMThursday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMFriday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMSaturday:8:00 AM - 5:00 PMSunday:Closed

6.16.2011

CAD Detail of Garage Footing Under Construction

This CAD Drawing by Scotty-Scotts Contracting outlines how I feel a Garage Footing and Foundation Should be built.  Note: Additional Rebar for Support and Strength, True Brick Ledge, and Keyway all add strength to the Foundation.  Not the Bare minimum that I was asked to build- in the Second Photo.  
"If you want a building to stand up to the test of time how intelligent of choice is it to: skimp on $200 Worth of Materials & $300 worth of Labor?"

I was hired on to build a Garage Foundation and Footing Detail of Building to this bare minimum design. See Below



CAD Detail by Scotts Contracting - Garage Foundation Wall and Footing Detail

Scotts Contracting Picasa Web Job Site Album Photos 

    


5.15.2011

Building Preservation Job Site Photos For Investment Property

Collection of Photos for work Performed on Investment Property in South St Louis MO.  On this project Scotts Contracting supplied the Labor and Misc Needed Building Materials Fix and Repair:
  1. Replaced Terracotta Roofing Tiles on Porch with Asphalt Shingles

  2. Spot Tuck-pointing on the Entire Building (Including Stone Foundation)
  3. Cleaned and Repaired the Gutters and Down Spouts
  4. Scraped and Painted needed Areas
  5. Rebuilt the Front Porch Column
  6. Replaced Window Screen on Numerous Windows
Scotts Contracting- Investment Property Project Photos

Investment Project Photos of Spot Tuck-pointing

Investment Project Photos of Spot Tuckpointing
Work Performed by Scotts Contracting


  • Scotts Contracting is available to assist in Building or Repairing your Home or Investment Properties.  
  • Scotts Contracting Business Motto: Affordable, Experienced, and Punctual.
  • Email Scotty for a Quote on Your Next Project.  
*Scott's Contracting* http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://scottscontracting.wordpress.com            Twitter                      Facebook

4.22.2011

CSP Business Proposal

Business Proposal1

CSP-Design will enable every homeowner an option for Inexpensive Photovoltaic System for their Home or Business. 

In many of the calls from people who desire a solar photovoltaic system for their property I have found that the biggest hurdles to overcome are:

  • Total Costs of the System (Thousands of dollars that do not produce as reasonable return on the investment that is under 15 years) and or

  • Their Property Lacks the Area Needed (Total square footage of roof space) to install a field of solar panels that are needed to generate the required electricity to supply the needs of their building.

The CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) design I have been engineering and designing will overcome both of these hurdles and can be adapted for any roofing system and ground mount capabilities.


This Business Proposal is open to: People, Groups, and Organizations who are not affiliated with the following industries: fossil fuels or nuclear.

I am not trying to re-invent2 the wheel with my design and plan to adapt and use various individual components from the leaders in the photovoltaic industry that are currently on the market today.

To make this invention a viable solution and bring the product to market. I am seeking investors who are interested in assisting me with this project. To include:
  1. Monetary donations
  2. Copyright and assistance in establishing a corporation.
  3. Engineering assistance to fine tune the CSP design that will include real-world stats on the electrical output that is generated from the CSP system.
  4. Manufacturing assistance once the final design is configured.

At this stage in building the promotional model. I am relatively confident that I can build the system between $400.00-$1,000.00 and it will supply the same electrical output of a a system that uses 3-4 solar panels. This is a savings of 66% when compared to the costs of current solar panels on the market today.

I am still working out the percentages of income that investors are entitled to, and am not seeking monetary donations at this time. If you would like to learn more about the offering use scottscontracting@gmail.com and I will return any inquires for this offering.

View the Confidentiality Agreement

1Initial Exploratory Public Offering For CSP Design-4/17/2011 This heading was changed- to Business Proposal 4/22/11- I do not own a publicly traded company.

2Archimedes was the first Concentrated Solar Designer and many companies and individuals have improved upon these principles

3.17.2011

House Coat

NEW YORK ARTIST DRESSES BENTON PARK HOUSE IN SPANDEX OUTFIT



COSIGN PROJECTS of ST. LOUIS PRESENTS
HOUSE COAT BY LEEZA MEKSIN
March 18, 2011 – April 18, 2011

This monumental installation opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2011,
and will continue into the evening as a house party, free and open to the public.

New York artist Leeza Meksin presents HOUSE COAT a site-specific installation for a two-story row house in Benton Park West. At the invitation of Cosign Projects, this interdisciplinary artist brings to St. Louis her unique combination of sculpture, performance, and public art with an opening on March 18. HOUSE COAT is a massive fabric outfit constructed from hundreds of yards of white spandex custom-printed with large gold chains. Set amidst the red brick of South City Saint Louis, Meksin’s installation seeks to invite conversations about differences and similarities between our buildings and our bodies. Not coincidentally, the artist’s personal background as a Jewish exile from Russia relates the pattern of gold chains to freedom and slavery, while evoking pop-cultural motifs of bling and fabulousness.

Working within the tradition of such installation artists as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, this project is part of the artist's ongoing exploration of the visual potential of stretch fabrics. The costumed house explores the gendered terrain between textiles and architecture, evoking the hyper-fitted garments worn by entertainers, drag queens, and super heroes.

Leeza Meksin has been working closely with other artists, friends and family members to realize this project. The creative team includes: Lauren Adams & Jake Peterson, Cosign Projects; Andrea Betai & Ceci Davis, Graphic Design; Laura Divergilio & Andrea Fama, Planning and Development; Victoria Lewis, Pattern Pulse; Kathryn Lofton, Fabrication; Meesha Meksin, Installation; Scotty of Scott’s Contracting, Safety and Common Sense; and Anya Meksin who will be documenting the project via photo and video.

This exhibition is made possible by generous support from over one hundred financial backers via the online funding platform Kickstarter. Once the installation is complete, Meksin will be making a variety of spandex items for all the supporters who made House Coat possible.

‘HOUSE COAT’ will be on display through April 18, and possibly longer, depending upon the weather.

Elizaveta (Leeza) Meksin is a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist who makes installations, paintings, sculptures, films and multiples. Meksin was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and educated in the United States. She received a Joint BA/MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Chicago before continuing on to a BFA from SAIC and an MFA in Painting from the Yale School of Art. She is the recipient of the Robert Schoelkopf Fellowship and the Yale Collaborative Project Grant, and has exhibited her work throughout the US. Recent venues include the Abington Arts Center, Regina Rex, and Columbia College. She has worked as a Production Designer on independent films in New York and has been awarded a grant from the Open Society Institute of the Soros Foundation to co-direct a documentary film about women struggling with drugs in Ukraine (BALKA). In 2010 she was chosen to participate in the Chashama Artist Studio Program in Brooklyn. Currently Meksin teaches at Tyler School of Art, Temple University and The New York Art Studio in Manhattan.

Initiated in 2009, Cosign Projects of St. Louis supports projects by emerging artists. Cosign has invited nine installations from a variety of artists residing in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Colorado, and Missouri. The gallery’s model includes presenting artworks that differ from typical gallery or museum projects, such as signs, banners, and other work visible from the street. HOUSE COAT is Cosign’s largest project to date, and will be a capstone project that culminates the gallery’s mission to present socially relevant contemporary work that engages political history and local communities. Cosign is curated by Lauren F. Adams, artist and assistant professor of painting at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

To learn more about the project, please visit our website:
http://www.cosignprojects.net

Find House Coat on Facebook

2.11.2011

Solar America Communities

Solar America Cities Partnerships
Solar America CommunitiesVisit the Solar America Communities Web site to find more details on all Solar America Communities activities.
Through the Solar America Communities effort, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working to rapidly increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the country.

DOE recognizes the important role of local governments in accelerating widespread solar energy adoption. As the nation's centers of electricity consumption, cities are uniquely positioned to reduce global climate change, strengthen America's energy independence, and support the transition to a clean energy economy by converting to solar energy sources.
DOE has taken a three-pronged approach to identifying and overcoming barriers to urban solar implementation, then sharing lessons learned and best practices to facilitate replication across the nation:
  • Solar America Cities Partnerships are cooperative agreements between DOE and 25 large U.S. cities to develop comprehensive, city-wide approaches to increasing solar energy use. Learn more about the solar activities in these cities. The Solar America Cities partnerships are the foundation of the Solar America Communities program.
  • Solar America Cities Special Projects, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, tackle key barriers to urban solar energy use that were identified through the 25 city partnerships. Read more about these special projects.
  • Solar America Communities Outreach Partnership is an effort to share the best practices developed through the original 25 city partnerships and special projects with hundreds of other local governments, accelerating solar energy adoption across the United States. Learn more about the outreach efforts.
As a result of widespread success in the 25 Solar America Cities, DOE expanded these activities in 2010 by launching a national outreach effort described above. As the Solar America Cities activities evolved to include this new outreach effort, this effort was renamed Solar America Communities to reflect DOE's commitment to supporting solar initiatives in all types of local jurisdictions, including cities and counties.

12.31.2010

Home Repair Service- Storm Damage-Roofing


Scotts Contracting 

Storm Repair Services:
  • Eco Friendly Roofing Options- White Roofs with EverGuard TPO GAF 
  • Green Roofing- Shingles, Metal, Pitched or Flat Roofs,
  • Storm Damage Clean-Up
  • Green Demolition
  • Home Repair
  • Emergency Water Proofing
  • click here to email:Scotts Contracting and Scotty will respond ASAP  scottscontracting@gmail.com 


  • Emergency Service Available
    Scotts Contracting Emergency Service 



10.25.2010

Insulation and Thermal Performance

Insulation: Thermal Performance is Just the Beginning


InsulSafe ® 4, made by CertainTeed Corporation, is a formaldehyde-free, loose-fill, fiberglass insulation suitable for open-blow attic applications. The product contains recycled glass cullet and carries Greenguard™ certification for low emissions.
We last took a broad look at insulation materials exactly ten years ago: in the January/February 1995 issue. A lot has happened since then—manufacturers have introduced new insulation materials, new product formulations have eliminated problem materials such as HCFCs, and improved understanding of performance and health risks has informed our building practices. But the fundamental issues have not changed over ten years. Insulation remains a critically important component of any green building—whether residential or commercial. No matter the type of insulation used, if it is used appropriately, its environmental benefits over a building's life will almost certainly far outweigh any negatives—and dwarf any environmental differences among the alternative materials.
This article provides a survey of insulation materials, beginning with an examination of what insulation is and how it works. Much of the article focuses on life-cycle considerations for different insulation materials: environmental and health issues associated with resource extraction, manufacture, use, and disposal.

Understanding Insulation

To really understand insulation materials, you have to understand the basics of heat flow. There are three primary mechanisms of heat flow: conduction, convection, and radiation. Thermal conduction is the movement of heat from direct contact: one molecule is activated (excited) by heat and transfers that kinetic energy to an adjacent molecule. We generally think of conduction occurring between solid materials—the handle of a hot skillet conducting its heat to your hand, for example—but thermal conduction also occurs with liquids and gases.
Convection is the transfer of heat in liquids and gases by the movement of those molecules from one place to another. As air is warmed, it expands, becomes more buoyant, and rises—a process called natural convection. Forced convection is the distribution of warm air by use of a fan or air handler.

Finally, radiation is the transfer of heat from one body to another via the propagation of electromagnetic waves. A warmer body will radiate heat to a cooler body. When you sit in front of a fireplace and look into the fire, your face is warmed by the radiant transfer of energy from that heat source to your face. That radiant energy is not affected by air currents and occurs even across a vacuum—as we know from lying in the sun!

Most insulation materials function by slowing the conductive flow of heat. Materials with low thermal conductivity more effectively block heat flow than materials with high thermal conductivity. The R-value of an insulation material measures its resistance to heat flow. R-value is the inverse of U-factor, which is a measure of heat transfer, usually measured in Btu/hr·ft 2·°F or W/m 2·°C. Most insulation materials work by trapping tiny pockets of air (or some other gas). The performance of that insulation material is determined primarily by the conductivity of the air, or other gas, in those spaces. If convection is prevented, a 1" (25 mm) air space has a conductivity of about 0.18 Btu/hr·ft 2·°F (1.02 W/m 2·°C). Its resistance to conductive heat loss, the inverse of that value, is R-5.5 per inch (RSI-38/m). With fiber insulation materials, such as fiberglass, cellulose, and cotton, pockets of air are trapped between the fibers. With cellular insulation materials, such as polystyrene, polyisocyanurate (polyiso), and polyurethane, the air—or other gas—is trapped within the plastic cells comprising the foam.

While resistance to conductive heat flow is the primary operative property of insulation materials, convection and radiation can come into play as well. With polyiso insulation, for example, according to Richard Roe of the Atlas Roofing Corporation in an August 2002 article in Interface magazine, 60–65% of the heat transfer is attributed to the conductivity of the blowing agent gases trapped in the cells, while 20–25% is attributed to the thermal conductivity of the solid polymer matrix, and 10–15% is attributed to radiation. One key design features of an insulation material is keeping the air pockets small enough to limit convection within those spaces and radiation across those spaces. With fiber insulation materials, the fibers have to be packed densely enough to effectively stop airflow through the material. (Air blowing through the insulation would carry heat by convection.)

With insulation materials that incorporate radiant barriers (foil-faced batt insulation, radiant-barrier bubble-pack insulation, and reflective barriers on rigid foam sheathing), the reflective surface functions by reducing radiant heat transfer. To function in this capacity, the reflective surface has to be next to an air space. The surface may function by reflecting heat radiation or (more commonly) by emitting less radiant energy from it. This is why a radiant barrier can reduce heat loss even when the reflective (low-emissivity) surface is facing the cold side.
Note that air leakage is a type of convection. Air leakage allows conditioned air to leak out of a building and unconditioned air to leak in—bypassing the insulated portions of the envelope. In older homes air leakage around windows, through poorly fitting doors, and across poorly detailed walls can sometimes account for over half of the total wintertime heat loss! Air leakage can also occur through an insulation material, which can reduce that material's effective R-value. Loose-fill fiberglass, for example, usually allows more airflow than does cellulose insulation.

Life-Cycle Considerations with Insulation Materials

In this portion of the article, we examine the four primary life-cycle stages of any building material: raw material acquisition; manufacturing; the use phase, including indoor air quality concerns; and end-of-life disposal and recyclability. In each of these life-cycle stages we highlight key differences among insulation materials and discuss recent developments. Summaries of the key life-cycle considerations are presented by insulation material in the accompanying table.

Raw material acquisition


All Johns Manville fiberglass insulation is now produced with formaldehyde-free binders.
Fiberglass. The most prevalent type of insulation in North America, fiberglass is produced from silica sand with various additives, including boron. Most fiberglass also contains a fairly high percentage of recycled glass. The recycled content can be pre-consumer (post-industrial) glass cullet from float-glass manufacture or post-consumer glass collected through bottle recycling programs. In 2003 the fiberglass insulation industry used 1.1 billion pounds (500 million kg) of recycled glass, according to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), though the industry-wide split between pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled glass is not available. According to Robin Bectel of NAIMA, fiberglass insulation represents the second-largest market for recycled bottle glass (after the packaging industry).

Most U.S. fiberglass insulation has a minimum 20–30% recycled content. Owens Corning, for example, has been third-party certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to contain at least 30% recycled content—4% post-consumer and 26% pre-consumer, according to Jim Worden of the company. Johns Manville has an SCS-certified minimum recycled content of 25%; CertainTeed claims a minimum recycled content of 20–25% to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements under the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG); and Knauf Fiberglass claims a minimum 20% recycled content, all of it post-consumer. Recycled-content information for Guardian Fiberglass was not available.

Mineral wool. Mineral wool is made from both iron ore blast-furnace slag (an industrial waste product from steel production) and rock such as basalt. In 2003 the mineral-slag wool industry used 514 million pounds (233 million kg) of slag. This is down 45% from the slag use in 1992. Mineral-slag wool production is down in part because building codes are shifting away from the passive fire resistance that mineral wool provides toward active sprinklering of buildings.
Cellulose. Cellulose insulation is made primarily from post-consumer recycled newspaper, with up to 20% ammonium sulfate and/or borate flame retardants. While cellulose insulation used to be one of the highest-value uses of old newspaper, today dozens of de-inking plants in North America turn old newspaper into new newsprint. Producing cellulose insulation from old newspaper can be referred to as downcycling; from an environmental standpoint, turning a waste product back into a new form of the same material is preferable to turning it into a lower-grade material. (Note that producing fiberglass insulation from beverage bottles or glass cullet is also downcycling.)

Plastic foam insulation. Plastic foam insulation materials, including extruded polystyrene (XPS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polyisocyanurate, and the various types of spray polyurethane insulation, are all produced primarily from petrochemicals. Both natural gas and petroleum are common feedstocks, and both have significant environmental impacts associated with their extraction, refining, and transport.

At least two open-cell, spray polyurethane insulation products are manufactured in part from soybeans. Two-component BioBase 501 (see EBN Vol. 12, No. 9) and HealthySeal 500 are produced with soy oil comprising approximately 40% of the polyol component. (Polyurethanes are produced by reacting an isocyanate with a polyol, which is a type of alcohol.) The resultant polyurethane foam ends up being about 25% soy-derived and 75% petrochemical-derived.

Polystyrene. Recycled polystyrene can be incorporated into polystyrene foam insulation fairly easily, since polystyrene is a thermoplastic. At least one EPS insulation product contains recycled polystyrene: Polar 10 from Polar Industries is made with up to 40–60% post-industrial recycled content (see EBN Vol. 10, No. 2). The only XPS product that includes recycled content today is Owens Corning Foamular®, which is SCS-certified to contain a minimum of 15% pre-consumer recycled polystyrene.

Polyisocyanurate. Polyiso insulation incorporates a relatively small amount (9–10%) of recycled content to comply with CPG minimums. A portion of the polyol used in polyiso is produced from recycled PET bottles. The polyiso industry is one of the largest users of recycled, mixed-color PET bottles, according to the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA). The foil facings on many polyiso boardstock products may also contain some recycled content.

Bonded Logic's cotton insulation is manufactured from pre-consumer recycled denim waste.
Cotton insulation. Cotton insulation is made today by two manufacturers. Bonded Logic, Inc. and Inno-Therm, Inc. make batt insulation products from pre-consumer recycled denim scrap. The cotton or cotton-polyester fibers are treated with a nonhalogenated flame retardant. UltraTouch, produced by Bonded Logic, contains approximately 85% pre-consumer recycled fiber saturated with borate flame retardants to provide fire resistance. Inno-Therm is believed to be using a mix of borate and ammonium sulfate flame retardants. In addition to its use in batt insulation products, cotton insulation is used by Payless Insulation, Inc. in insulated flexible duct products; Bonded Logic supplies the cotton insulation for these products.

Cementitious foam insulation. The totally inorganic, cementitious Air Krete ® is produced from magnesium oxide, derived from seawater, and from a ceramic talc mined in Governor, New York. While essentially the same material as it was when last covered in EBN ( Vol. 6, No. 7), Air Krete has undergone some modest refinements, according to vice-president Bruce Christopher. "We have continued to improve both the product and the equipment for installation," he told EBN. But he noted that friability—the fragility of the cured foam—remains their biggest challenge. "If there is a downside to Air Krete, it's its friability." Despite its resistance to the idea, the company may decide to add a little plastic to make it less friable, said Christopher. The challenge in adding plastic would be maintaining the superb fire resistance of the insulation material. While cost is highly variable, depending on location, size of the job, and other factors, it averages 30–50¢ per board foot, according to Christopher.

Air Krete remains a very good alternative to another foamed-in-place insulation material used primarily for insulating masonry block, Tripolymer ® foam, produced by the C. P. Chemical Company. Tripolymer foam is a foamed phenol-formaldehyde insulation—a material that some manufacturers of urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) switched to after formaldehyde emissions from UFFI led to its discontinuance in the 1970s.

Radiant barriers. Radiant barriers could be produced with recycled aluminum, but this is rarely if ever done, because very pure aluminum is needed to achieve the thin foils. Recycled polyethylene, however, can be used for the foam that is sometimes used with radiant barriers. Low-E ® Insulation, produced by Environmentally Safe Products, Inc., uses polyethylene foam with 40% post-consumer recycled content. In its TempShield™ radiant insulation product, Sealed Air Corporation uses 20% recycled-content cellular polyethylene for the insulation laminated between layers of reflective foil. A number of manufactured panel products have reflective facings glued to one side.

Manufacturing and transport

Fiberglass. Fiberglass insulation is manufactured with binders (typically phenol-formaldehyde) that hold the glass fibers together. The only fiberglass insulation material that did not contain a binder, Owens Corning's Miraflex™ (see EBN Vol. 4, No. 1) was pulled off the market late in 2004. Manufacture of Miraflex was actually discontinued at the beginning of 2003, according to Gale Tedhams, Owens Corning's product manager for residential insulation, but enough material had been stockpiled to sell it through 2004—mostly through Lowe's stores. "It just had a very limited market," Tedhams told EBN. Owens Corning did not promote the health benefits of not having a binder but focused on the packaging benefits—rolls of the insulation take up half the space of standard fiberglass. While the product carried a "slight price premium," according to Tedhams, it was "very expensive to manufacture." See additional discussion of binders used in fiberglass insulation under "Use phase and IAQ concerns."

Cellulose. Because cellulose is inherently combustible, flame retardants are required to make it an acceptable material for building insulation. As has been the case for the past ten years, the primary flame retardants used in cellulose insulation are ammonium sulfate, borax, and boric acid. According to Daniel Lea, executive director of the Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association (CIMA), these additives are typically used in combination, though a few manufacturers offer products that use all-borate retardants.

Polyisocyanurate. The biggest environmental news in foam boardstock insulation has been the elimination of HCFC-141b in polyiso. The industry completed the transition from that ozone-depleting compound to the blowing agent pentane at the end of 2002. (Some manufacturers continued using stockpiled HCFC-141b in early 2003 while plant modifications were completed.) The transition to an ozone-safe formulation was a big step for polyiso, and it renders the product significantly better environmentally than extruded polystyrene (XPS), which in North America is still made with an HCFC blowing agent.

In an industry that is generally slow to change, these changes in polyiso have been dramatic. In 1992 polyiso was all produced with CFC-11. By mid-1993 the polyiso industry had shifted completely to HCFC-141b, which has only about 10% the ozone depletion potential of CFC-11. Atlas Industries then led the transition away from HCFCs, introducing its ozone-friendly AC-Ultra™ in February 1998 (see EBN Vol. 7, No. 5). By May 2001 the company had fully converted three of its plants to pentane (see EBN Vol. 10, No. 5), with others converted early in 2002.

Polystyrene. Polystyrene has some fairly troubling chemical precursors in its production. The polystyrene used in both XPS and EPS is made by reacting ethylene (from natural gas or crude oil) with benzene (from crude oil, via naphtha catalytic reforming) to produce ethyl-benzene. The ethyl-benzene is converted into vinyl-benzene or styrene monomer, which is then polymerized into polystyrene. Benzene is listed in the 10th Report on Carcinogens, put out by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a "known carcinogen." The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization lists benzene as a "confirmed human carcinogen" and styrene monomer as a "possible human carcinogen." Some material safety data sheets (MSDS) for polystyrene list residual styrene monomer as a constituent of the foam at levels up to 0.2%. While benzene is also used in polyiso and polyurethane production, these insulation materials are less likely than polystyrene to contain residual toxic chemicals.

Extruded polystyrene. XPS and EPS differ in how the foam is expanded—and they use quite different blowing agents. EPS has long been made with non-ozone-depleting pentane, but XPS still relies on HCFCs. Though the XPS industry led the charge in replacing CFCs with far-less-damaging HCFCs, it is today the only type of boardstock insulation that remains harmful to stratospheric ozone. Amofoam (now Pactiv) was the first company to switch from CFC-12 to HCFC-142b, in 1990, and the entire XPS industry completed that transition in 1992. The transition away from HCFC-142b is not likely in the U.S. until close to the 2010 EPA deadline for doing so (see EBN Vol. 11, No. 7), according to Worden at Owens Corning. While European manufacturers of XPS shifted to either HFC-134A or carbon dioxide in 2002, more stringent energy standards and different construction systems in North America make the same sort of conversion more difficult here, says Worden. European XPS is a higher-density product with a lower R-value.

Expanded polystyrene. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) continues to be made with non-ozone-depleting pentane as the expanding agent. Some manufacturers are using a low-pentane formulation that results in lower pentane emissions. (While not an ozone-depleting compound, pentane can generate ground-level smog.) The more distributed production of EPS, compared with XPS, may reduce shipping energy consumption to some extent.

Flame retardants and polystyrene. All foam plastic insulation materials rely on flame retardants to meet fire-resistance standards. EPS and XPS are produced using the brominated flame retardant HBCD (hexabromocyclododecane) at concentrations of 0.5–2.0% by weight. HBCD is not the focus of as much attention as another class of brominated flame retardants (PBDEs), but some evidence indicates that it is more bioaccumulative than PBDEs and just as likely to be toxic to humans (see EBN Vol. 13, No. 6).

Flame retardants and polyisocyanurate. Ironically, until recently flame retardants were not used in most polyiso insulation. With HCFC blowing agents, this thermoset plastic foam was able to achieve the required Class I fire ratings without any added flame retardant. But with the substitution of pentane blowing agents for HCFC-141b, manufacturers now must add flame retardants. Although manufacturers rarely divulge their formulations (and can apparently get around the requirement to list the flame retardant in the MSDS because it is part of one component or the other (the polyol or isocyanate), the most common flame retardant used in polyiso today is believed to be TCPP (tris(chloropropyl) phosphate), a compound that relies on both phosphorous and chlorine as the fire-retarding components. The typical concentration in the foam insulation is 5–14% by weight. While a halogenated compound, TCPP is much less likely to be a persistent bioaccumulative toxin than HBCD, according to the PBT Profiler software from EPA.

Spray polyurethane. While polyiso manufacturers had to eliminate their use of HCFC-141b by January 1, 2003, manufacturers of closed-cell (high-density) spray polyurethane were given an extension for the transition to non-ozone-depleting blowing agents. HCFC-141b for spray polyurethane cannot be sold after December 31, 2004, though polyurethane installers can use inventoried HCFC-based chemicals until July 1, 2005, according to Ken Gayer, the global business manager for foam blowing agents at Honeywell Specialty Materials, which produces the non-ozone-depleting blowing agent HFC-245fa under the tradename Enovate 3000.

Most spray polyurethane companies are converting to Honeywell's HFC-245fa. While significantly more expensive than HCFC-141b, the resultant foam achieves similar energy performance. The ozone depletion potential of HFC-245fa is zero, but the global warming potential is similar to that of HCFC-141b. Hydrocarbon blowing agents are avoided with spray polyurethane because of flammability concerns and difficulties with the vapor pressure, according to Gayer.


Low-density, open-cell polyurethane produced by Icynene is material- efficient and uses water as the blowing agent.
Open-cell polyurethane, including the products made by Icynene, Inc. and Demilec, Inc. as well as the newer soy-based foams, are produced with water as the blowing agent. They do not achieve R-values as high as those of closed-cell polyurethane, but they are more resource-efficient, using just one-fourth to one-third the material used for a comparable volume of closed-cell polyurethane.

Flame retardants and spray polyurethane. Both closed-cell (high-density) and open-cell (low-density) polyurethane insulation contain flame retardants, but these are non-brominated flame retardants. While manufacturers are reluctant to share this information, the best available information indicates that the two flame retardants most commonly used in spray polyurethane are TCPP, which contains chlorine but not bromine, and RDP (resorcinol-bis-diphenylphosphate), which is totally halogen-free.

Use phase and IAQ concerns

Fiberglass and mineral wool. Concerns about mineral and glass fibers possibly being carcinogenic have been widely publicized over the past ten years—especially by competing industries. These concerns resulted in cancer warning labels being required for most products, but more recently these concerns are waning. In October 2001, IARC changed its classification for fiberglass and mineral wool from "possible human carcinogen" to "not a known human carcinogen." This change has allowed mineral wool (slag wool and rock wool) manufacturers to drop the warning labels.

Fiberglass insulation continues to carry the cancer warnings because, in addition to the IARC listing, the National Toxicology Program added glass fibers to its Report on Carcinogens in 1990. According to Angus Crane, the vice president and general council for NAIMA, glass fibers were added to the NTP possible-carcinogen list because of the IARC-reported studies. Now that IARC has dropped the possible-carcinogen listing for glass fibers, the material is likely to be dropped from the NTP list. NAIMA has petitioned NTP to delist glass fibers, but that process typically takes several years. Crane hopes to see the listing removed in late 2005 or early 2006. If and when that happens, the industry will petition the State of California to remove the requirement under Proposition 65 that fiberglass insulation products include a warning about cancer.

Meanwhile, the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde, which could be released in very small quantities from the phenol-formaldehyde binder used in most fiberglass insulation, has recently been upgraded. In June 2004, IARC changed its classification of formaldehyde from a "probable human carcinogen" to a "confirmed human carcinogen." Most of this binder is volatized and dissipated during a baking stage of the manufacturing process, but residual formaldehyde may remain in the product. Johns Manville, one of the five major producers of fiberglass insulation in North America, switched to 100% acrylic binder for its fiberglass insulation product line in 2002 (see EBN Vol. 11, No. 3). The other major fiberglass insulation manufacturers have all had their products certified as low-emitting by Greenguard™.

Mineral wool. For cavity-fill and attic applications, rock wool and slag wool are similar to fiberglass in look and feel, though the density is greater and the sound control better. The fire resistance of mineral wool is also significantly better than that of fiberglass, because of both the higher density and the significantly higher temperatures required for melting. While these fire-resistance properties used to be a major selling point, greater reliance on sprinklers in buildings, rather than passive fire resistance, is resulting in decreased use of mineral wool, according to Crane of NAIMA.

For below-grade applications, one rigid mineral-wool product, Roxul drainboard, offers superb performance, owing to its hydrophobic properties and its excellent drainage characteristics (see EBN Vol. 4, No. 6). This material has never been actively marketed in the U.S., but Roxul products in general are becoming more widely available here.

Cellulose. Cellulose insulation has never been required to carry indoor air quality warnings, and the fiberglass and mineral wool industries remain upset that their products have come under greater scrutiny than cellulose. "Our competitors have not gone through the testing," said Angus Crane of NAIMA. "It is dangerous to assume that an untested material is safe," he told EBN. The editors at EBN continue to take the position that all fiber insulation products (fiberglass, mineral wool, and cellulose) are safe if properly installed, and we would much prefer to see insulation manufacturers focus on the positive benefits of all insulation, rather than potential risks of their competitors' products. The health concerns with cellulose range from inhalation of dust during installation to VOC emissions from printing inks (which are now almost entirely vegetable-based) and limited evidence of toxicity of boric acid flame retardants. For more on health issues with cellulose insulation see EBN Vol. 2, No. 5.

As for installation and performance, cellulose insulation has evolved considerably over the past 20 years. According to Daniel Lea of CIMA, the average installed density of cellulose insulation has dropped from 2.6 pounds per cubic foot (42 kg/m 3) in 1984 to 1.6 pcf (26 kg/m 3) today. "R for R, today's cellulose insulation products are almost 40% lighter than those of 1984," said Lea. Most cellulose insulation today is being installed as "cellulose wall-cavity spray," a process that has sometimes been referred to as "wet-spray" cellulose. CIMA is trying to discourage the use of the term wet-spray because it implies a process that is far wetter than is the case. "I think there is a perception that the material is applied almost as a fibrous papier-mâché," said Lea. "That is far from the case; if you were to touch wall spray seconds after it's applied, you probably couldn't tell that water was added during the installation process," he said. The typical installed moisture content today is 30–35%, according to Lea, while a moisture content as high as 60% was not uncommon 15 years ago.

Fiber insulation installation. Quality dust masks or respirators should be used while installing fiberglass, mineral wool, and cellulose. (Cotton insulation is the only fiber insulation material that can be installed safely without protective measures.) Building design and detailing should ensure that fibers cannot enter forced-air distribution or ventilation systems. Airtight construction practices should be used to ensure that fiber insulation stays where it was installed.

Polystyrene. Indoor air quality concerns with XPS and EPS are similar to concerns addressed previously relating to manufacturing: the potential release of residual styrene monomer and flame retardants. The brominated flame retardants used in polystyrene present a greater health concern than the nonbrominated flame retardants used in polyisocyanurate, spray polyurethane, and cellulose insulation.

Polyisocyanurate. Now that polyiso is no longer produced with HCFCs, it is the environmentally preferred rigid boardstock insulation for above-grade applications. (Polyiso is not recommended for below-grade applications because it can absorb moisture.) Polyiso manufacturers disagree as to whether rigid foam produced today with hydrocarbon blowing agents achieves an R-value comparable to that of the older material made with HCFC-141b. The conductivity of the hydrocarbon blowing agent is higher than that of HCFC-141b, and this has led Dow Chemical to downgrade the rated R-values for all of its polyiso insulation, including Thermax ®. However, Richard Roe of Atlas Roofing argues that the smaller cell size of foam produced with hydrocarbon blowing agents, the slower diffusion rate of the hydrocarbon out of the polymer cells, and the lower absorption of the hydrocarbon blowing agent by the polymer collectively result in better long-term R-value stability.

Most polyiso manufacturers are now using new long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) values for reporting aged R-values. This method was adopted in Canada in mid-2002 and in the U.S. in January 2003. This method produces 5-year aged R-values that are lower than the 6-month aged R-values that had previously been reported. The bottom line is that the rated long-term stabilized R-value of polyiso is now between R-6 and 6.5 per inch (RSI-42 to 45 per meter), depending on thickness and facings.

Closed-cell polyurethane. Closed-cell, high-density polyurethane is a very good performer owing to the low-conductivity gas in the cellular structure. It is used both for cavity installation and as an insulating roofing material, which is typically referred to as spray polyurethane foam or SPF. The closed-cell structure gives SPF structural properties. There should be no significant impact on R-value with the shift to non-ozone-depleting HFC-245fa blowing agent, which is becoming the industry standard. Polyurethane also exhibits superb adhesive properties and good compressive strength.

Open-cell polyurethane. Open-cell polyurethane is most commonly installed into open cavities, though formulations are available for filling closed cavities from holes at the top. This is a nonstructural foam, though these materials seal very well, and their flexibility allows for some movement of the framing materials as shrinkage and expansion occur. These properties make them very effective insulation materials for older buildings.

Both closed-cell and open-cell polyurethane must be installed by trained professionals. Special care is required to ensure the safety of insulation installers working with these materials; other people should not be in the space while polyurethane insulation is being installed. Once cured, polyurethane insulation is considered by most IAQ experts to be quite inert.

End-of-life reuse and recyclability

Loose-fill and batt insulation. It is difficult to salvage loose-fill or batt insulation and reuse it, though this can be done. Virtually no fiber insulation is recycled after use in buildings—due to contamination with dust and other materials. Scrap insulation generated during installation can be collected and reused quite easily.

Insulation Materials – Summary of Environmental and Health Considerations

[enlarge image]

Rigid boardstock insulation. Rigid insulation can be salvaged and reused if it is protected during removal. For roof insulation applications, reuse is most feasible when protected-membrane or inverted roof configurations are used (see EBN Vol. 7, No. 10). In this system, a non-water-absorbing rigid insulation, such as XPS, is laid on top of the roof membrane, and ballast is installed on top of the insulation. When re-roofing is required, the insulation can be removed and stored for safekeeping, then reinstalled after the new roof membrane is laid down.
Of the rigid insulation materials, only polystyrene can be recycled. This thermoplastic can be melted and re-expanded into either polystyrene insulation or packaging. Unfortunately, very little polystyrene is being recycled currently. Polyiso and polyurethane cannot be recycled because these foams are thermoset plastics.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Insulation is a key component of any green building. More important than the decision of what type of insulation to install is the decision of how much insulation should be installed. From an environmental standpoint, a thicker layer of a relatively nongreen insulation material is almost always better than an inadequate thickness of the greenest insulation material available. This point cannot be over-emphasized.

However, assuming that adequate R-values can be achieved, choosing a green insulation material over a nongreen one can be a very good decision. The accompanying table should help to identify materials that meet your needs and satisfy the environmental priorities of your project.

Summary recommendations:

• Provide the highest feasible insulation levels.
• With lower R-value materials, increase insulation thickness.
• Avoid extruded polystyrene due to the ozone-depletion potential of blowing agent.
• Except where moisture may be an issue, use polyiso instead of either XPS or EPS.
• Rigid mineral wool, such as that made by Roxul, is a very good foundation insulation material due to its superb drainage properties.
• With highly conductive framing systems, especially steel, minimize thermal bridging by wrapping the frame with a layer of rigid board insulation.
• Choose high-recycled-content insulation materials when doing so will not result in significant loss of R-value compared with other materials.
• With roof insulation, consider a protected-membrane roof so that insulation can be reused.
• Address air leakage and moisture resistance in insulation detailing. A good source of information on building science issues is http://www.buildingscience.com/.
• For chemically sensitive individuals, test potential insulation materials for reaction before installation.
• Choose an insulation contractor who recycles scrap insulation.

7.03.2010

Company Info- Scotts Contracting

Your Green Builder for the St Louis Area. My Crew of Dedicated Green Pros: will bring you the Greenest Products and Green Expertise available- while working on your Project. For us being Green and Eco Friendly is not just a FAD. It has become a lifestyle that we have incorporated into the way we choose to do business.

When you contact Scotts Contracting for a Green Site Evaluation. Scotts Contracting- will bring you Cost Effective Solutions for your Green and Eco Friendly Projects.

Here are just a few of the Ways we will save you $money$ on your Green Projects:

  1. The Bid / Estimating Process- Our Knowledge and Experience of the Buildings Structure allows us to foresee any unseen building components that are causing: Energy Losses, Inefficient Design, Building Flaws, and other Issues.

  2. DE-Construction or Demolition- we provide outlets for all the Recyclable Materials. Some of these Outlets even pay Cash for your Recyclable Goods which will help off-set the Cost of your Project. Others such as a Habitat For Humanity gladly accept donations of used Building Materials. (Tax Breaks and Incentives are available)

  3. Because of the Extensive knowledge of your Buildings Structure- the Estimating Department will not add extra materials into the Bid/Estimate Proposal. This translates into Savings for You! We will not be wasting Time and Money:

        1)Procuring the extra materials and then

        2)Transporting the Extra Materials Weight to the JOB Site and then the Transporting of UN-needed materials back to the Store after the Job is over.

  4. While we are working on your Job Site: We work as efficiently as possible, while being acutely aware of the- Customers Needs, Budgeting Concerns, and Time Frame.

To Schedule your Green Site Evaluation click here to email Scotts Contracting for an Affordable Green Solution in the Construction of Your Next Project- Large or Small.

5.13.2010

The 5 Best—and 5 Worst—Home Improvement Projects for Your Money

Before you get started on that family room addition, take a moment to consider its potential return.
(Opinions are of Author-Scotty)
Each year, Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value Report provides a fascinating look at the percentage of a home improvement project's costs that are likely to be recouped at resale. The report finds that not all home remodeling jobs are created equal—you'll probably get more of your investment back after building a wooden deck, for example, than adding a sunroom. To help consumers better understand which jobs offer the highest potential returns, we used the 2009–2010

Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report to compile a list of the 5 best—and 5 worst—home improvement projects for your money:

The 5 Best

  •  1. Steel entry door replacement: Homeowners who install a steel front door recoup on average nearly 129 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Sal Alfano, the editorial director Remodeling magazine, says that's in part because a steel door is less expensive than the alternatives. A fiberglass front door replacement project, for example, costs about three times more than a steel door replacement, according to the report. But a steel door can still be attractive enough to boost your home's curb appeal. "A brand new door makes a big first impression on somebody who is looking at the house," Alfano says. A steel door can also make a home more energy efficient, says home improvement expert Danny Lipford. "Steel most of the time has a magnetic weather stripping," Lipford says. "So you close it and that magnetic weather stripping seals it up very nicely." But Lipford cautions that while steel makes for a nice painted surface, it doesn't work with all design tastes. "If you are going for a stained look, a rich wood look, you can simulate the stain, but as soon as you knock on [the steel door] you know that it has an unrealistic look to it." 

  •  2. Attic bedroom: Homeowners who turn their dusty old attic into a functional bedroom recoup on average about 83 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. At around $49,000 a job, converting an attic into a bedroom is certainly more expensive than replacing your front door. But when it comes to adding new livable space to your home, building an attic bedroom is often easier on your budget than the alternatives. A family room addition, for example, can run around $83,000. "When you are adding to the footprint of the house you have foundation costs, dirt work, and all of that," says Paul Zuch, the president of Capital Improvements. "But if you are doing an attic conversion you don't have all of those." At the same time, modern households can encounter all sorts of scenarios that require additional living space. "Whether it's because an elderly parent is moving to the house and is taking the first floor suite and so the kids are moving upstairs, or a child has come back to live with the family after graduating from college," Alfano says. When faced with situations like this, an attic bedroom conversion can sometimes be your best option. 

  •  3. Wood deck addition: Homeowners who add a wooden deck to their properties recoup on average nearly 81 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy home editor at Consumer Reports, says the wooden deck's appeal is linked to today's more thrift-conscious consumers, who are looking to save money by spending more time at home. "Since they are staying home they want to enjoy their exterior, they want to enjoy their outdoors," Kuperszmid Lehrman says. "So [adding a deck] is one of those areas that can add value." Like steel, the popularity of wooden decks is also associated with costs. A similar project built from composite materials can run you about 50 percent more. Lipford, meanwhile, highlights another key benefit of building a wooden deck. "That's not heated and cooled space, but it is an opportunity to make you feel like you have a lot more space in your home than you actually have," Lipford said. 

  •  4. Vinyl siding replacement: Homeowners who replace their vinyl siding recoup on average nearly 80 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Alfano says the project's low costs—the job averages less than $11,000—deserves part of the credit for its impact. But curb appeal plays a significant role too. "New siding is going to make a house look brand new," he says. "It is going to really change the way the house looks from the street." In addition, vinyl siding is extremely low-maintenance and lasts up to 25 years, Alfano says. By comparison, houses typically need their exterior repainted every five to seven years, he says. "That's sort of a trend among homeowners and home buyers over the last five to ten years—moving toward low maintenance or low maintenance materials." 

  •  5. Wood window replacement: Homeowners who replace their wood windows recoup on average about 77 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Zuch notes that window replacement projects can be appealing because they can make the home more attractive while increasing its energy efficiency. "Not only does it add value but it reduces your energy bills," Zuch says. At the same time, homeowners who make certain window replacements can qualify for federal tax credits. But Kuperszmid Lehrman cautions that the project's cost—of nearly $12,000—means homeowners shouldn't replace their windows simply to lower their energy bills. "It's just too expensive," she says. "The payback period—even with the federal tax credits—is still going to be pretty long." Instead, homeowners should replace windows if they are beaten up or broken and consider the project's energy efficiency benefits the icing on the cake. 

The 5 Worst 
  •  1. Home office remodel: Property owners who remodel a home office recoup on average less than half of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. That's because even though more people are working out of their homes these days, not all buyers want a space dedicated exclusively to work. "That space in your home—when your square footage is so precious—may serve your needs very well, but the next person might say, 'I need a bedroom, I don't need a home office,'" Lipford says. "And that specialized work that's needed in that home office just doesn't pay you back." 

  •  2. Sunroom addition: Homeowners who add a sunroom to their house recoup on average about 51 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Like the home office, the sunroom represents an inefficient use of interior space, Zuch says. "If you are going to add a room, what people are looking for, especially now, is [perhaps] a mother-in-law suite with a universal design," Zuch says. "[Or] for a family that is growing, they want a nursery on the first floor [because] they don't want to climb stairs." Homeowners who are willing to sink $73,000—the average cost of a sunroom addition—into their house would be better off investing in a different home improvement project. 

  •  3. Bathroom addition: Homeowners who build a bathroom addition recoup on average only about 60 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Lipford says the project's relatively low return on investment reflects its cost, of around $39,000. "When you are talking about a bathroom, you are talking about a footprint that has lots of plumbing, you still have your air conditioning, heating, you still have your electrical concerns, and you are putting in fixtures," Lipford says. "It doesn't matter how big it is because your concentrated square footage costs in that scenario are way up there compared to building a closet." But Kuperszmid Lehrman argues that a homeowner's true return on this particular investment depends on how many bathrooms they already have. Homes with one less bathroom than comparable properties in the neighborhood would be better served by this project. "If you are a bathroom short, depending on what's going on in your neighborhood, then it is going to make more sense," she says. 

  •  4. Backup power generator: Homeowners who obtain a backup power generator recoup on average only about 59 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Although most homeowners don't consider a backup power generator essential, its popularity varies a great deal from one region to another. Those living in communities where tornados, hurricanes, or blizzards could knock out power for days are more likely to be drawn to homes with this feature, Alfano says. "Being out of power in Florida might not be that big of a deal in February, whereas in Vermont [a backup power generator] makes a huge difference," Alfano says. 

  •  5. Garage addition: Homeowners who build a garage addition recoup on average about 62 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Lipford argues that the limited versatility of a garage doesn't necessarily justify its high cost, which can average more than $58,000. A garage addition project is a labor intensive effort, often requiring builders to pour a slab, construct walls, and build a roof, among other things. "The only thing that is keeping it from being legitimate living space is insulated walls for air conditioning and heating—so it does represent a high cost to do that for strictly sheltering cars [or storing belongings]," Lipford said. "So when you start going down the check list of things you have to do, [the garage addition] starts moving down the list."
 By Luke Mullins, Posted: January 27, 2010 

Scott's Contracting GREEN BUILDER, St Louis "Renewable Energy" Missouri. http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com,

Connect with Scotts Contracting

FB FB Twitter LinkedIn Blog Blog Blog Blog Pinterest