Do-It Center

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

Here's why barns are painted red

Here is a historic reason behind why barns are mostly always painted red.

Lumber Prices Are Falling—Here's How You Can Save Money On Your Next DIY Project

If you have home projects to complete, now is the time.

Why Barns are Red and More Paint Color Cues

The stories behind certain hues associated with the American landscape

Why There Are Diamonds on Tape Measures

In a perfect world, you could use the red marks to identify the placement of the studs. To locate a center between the studs, simply find the black diamond.

Using hemp as a sustainable building material

Hempcrete is made from a mixture of the woody part of the hemp plant and lime. When used as a building material, it "has an energy saving of 67 percent over using traditional concrete." And, when it is mixed with other materials such as sand or cement, the result becomes a versatile building material that can be used to make plywood, insulation, sills, roofs, floors, wallboard, pipes and bricks. This article examines the sustainable aspect of research and development of hempcrete as a…

Building Materials, Fossil Fuels' Ugly Cousin

Green building materials are being developed all around the world using recycled, rapidly renewable, or easily sustainable content.

Clever Construction: 6 Green Building Materials of the Future

Think of the future. What comes to mind? Flying cars perhaps? What about robots? Most people would probably go to the extreme and think of these two things. But, why don't we take a look at some green building materials of the future? These 6 materials are seeing increasing usage in the building industry, so their entrance into mainstream home construction might not be so far away from our present time after all. SensiTile You wake up in the middle of the night…

7 Questions To Help Choose Green Building Materials

In green building , the lifecycle analysis (LCA) of materials is critical. The stages in this cycle as we know them are: raw material, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life management ….. so-on-and-so-forth. I’m sure many of you have heard this more than once. But what does any of that mean? Well, the simple answer is, products that we can use fully with little to no waste…

Green Building Materials: Paint and Other Wall Treatments

Looking for info and tips on eco-friendly paint and other wall treatments for your home? If you're into green building materials, this is a must read!

Wooden Wonders: Innovative Updates to an Ancient Building Material

Despite the fact that wood has been in use as a primary building material for millennia, it’s being hailed as the material of the future. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Wooden arch…

The Ultimate Green Building Material: Dirt?

Dwell Earth has high aspirations for a humble building material: Dirt.

Truths and Myths: Green Building Materials

Many companies are going green and using sustainable, renewable construction materials. Still, some people are misinformed about green building materials.

These Green Building Materials Don't Just Feel Good. They Look Good!

At TerraMai, we think most people want to be eco-minded and believe that using green building materials on a project is the responsible thing to do. But, a sense of environmental goodwill isn’t the only benefit of using these sorts of materials. They can lend a unique aesthetic appeal to any space, and when combined, …

The positive health effects of wood as a building material

The positive health effects of wood as a building material

Energy Efficient Building Materials

Using renewable, recyclable materials is an increasing trend in building. Both builders and consumers are more concerned about energy efficiency and leaving a s...

Is timber a sustainable building material?

Timber is a renewable resource that can lock away carbon dioxide, but deforestation is wiping out fragile ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

Building Materials by Mother Earth

Hempcrete is the newest green building material.

Hempcrete is made from hemp fiber, lime and water. When cured, it floats, has excellent insulating power. It's fireproof and resists insects and termites.

The Building Materials Of The Future Are . . . Old Buildings