| You've decided to bring more eco-friendly products | | | | throwing your money away. Part of their job is being |
| into your renovation or design, but you're worried | | | | your adviser and part of their job is making sure |
| about talking to your contractor about your decision. | | | | they finish on time so they can move onto the next |
| If you're new to the renovating or home-building | | | | job. |
| game, don't laugh - this is a more common problem | | | | So, how do you resolve your desire for using green |
| than you might think. | | | | building materials with your contractor's needs for |
| Whenever you discuss using any new product | | | | finishing the job on time and keeping his costs in |
| outside a contractor's comfort zone, be prepared for | | | | order? |
| a "discussion." The discussion could be as simple as a | | | | 1. If you're new to the renovation game and you |
| one-way conversation where he says "No." There is | | | | don't have a contractor already lined up, find one that |
| the occasional contractor who's willing to work with | | | | advertises "green." That is, one who has already |
| you when you ask for certain things, but generally | | | | worked with a variety of green materials, has his |
| you're lucky if you can convince him to use Low | | | | suppliers ready to go, and is not afraid of the |
| VOC paint. | | | | challenge. A good place to start is the US or Canada |
| Here's the thing: you and I look at incorporating | | | | Green Building Council LEED Directory. The general |
| greener building materials into our renovation from an | | | | contractors listed there are all LEED accredited, green |
| end-result point of view. We want to use materials | | | | building professionals. Unfortunately, the directory |
| that are safer for our kids to be around. We don't | | | | does not distinguish between residential and |
| want our kids to breathe toxic fumes from | | | | commercial builders so a little digging is required. |
| formaldehyde-laced particle board or put their little | | | | 2. If you already have a contractor with whom |
| bare feet on chemical-laden carpets or sleep in rooms | | | | you're comfortable - and personality fit is key to a |
| painted with high VOC paints. But from the | | | | successful renovation - before the project even |
| contractor's perspective it's a whole new can of | | | | begins ask him if he's willing to use some green |
| worms involving a potentially huge learning curve and | | | | materials in this renovation. If he's resistant then ask |
| possibly a significant time investment, if not | | | | him what his concerns are. You can be prepared to |
| monetary investment too. | | | | assume the extra time and money cost involved, and |
| Let's face it, time is money and somebody has to | | | | you can help him out by locating and purchasing the |
| pay for something a contractor's never tried before. | | | | materials for the job. Note though that many |
| For example, if you tell your contractor you want to | | | | contractors are uncomfortable with you purchasing |
| use no added urea-formaldehyde plywood, you're | | | | materials because if they over-estimate how much |
| asking them to track it down, because not everyone | | | | they need, they can just use the rest of the material |
| carries this kind of plywood, so they either have to | | | | on the next job. If they under-estimate and it's their |
| charge you for the hours they spend looking for it or | | | | regular supplier, they usually can call them up and get |
| they'll decide to "eat the cost" or bury it in one of | | | | more but not if you're doing the ordering. You have |
| the other project charges. Further, contractors | | | | to be flexible when trying to incorporate green |
| usually work with preferred suppliers who give them | | | | building materials into your job and willing to be a little |
| a contractor's discount for being a steady customer. | | | | more active in the green building project. |
| Asking to use materials that their regular supplier | | | | 3. If you want to incorporate something significant |
| doesn't stock can mean finding a new supplier and | | | | into your green build, like geo-thermal heating, and |
| likely the new supplier won't give him a contractor's | | | | your contractor is trying to convince you otherwise, |
| discount for a small one-off job without a credit | | | | you can either stay firm and tell him you're doing it |
| history. Further, they'll probably have to pay for the | | | | and then work with him to schedule in the job, or |
| material up front. | | | | you can use his HVAC company and see what |
| Another problem is familiarity with materials. New | | | | energy efficient measures you can accomplish with |
| materials a contractor has never used before could | | | | them. When you work outside of his trades while |
| result in a slower installation time (reading instructions, | | | | he's still on the job, be prepared to be on the job |
| making mistakes in installation, calling the | | | | site to handle any problems. Also stay in constant |
| manufacturer for direction), which again will cost | | | | communication with the contractor about when the |
| someone more money. Finally, sometimes contractors | | | | best time to schedule the installation will be. The last |
| are just not convinced that some products will do | | | | thing you want to do is throw the rest of his |
| what they say and they want to protect you from | | | | schedule off. |