Hello everyone!
The whole process of planning and building is really difficult and slow. At every new step, I feel like no one can tell you the right way to proceed, and a lot of it is learning by doing...
Well, we managed to complete a design draft with our architect that we like. I will share it in another thread soon. Now I am focusing on how the house could be built. Ideally, I would like to build turnkey with a local general contractor (GC), alternatively by contracting individual trades – but looking at the price expectations from the architect and the structural engineer, that might be too expensive for me...
I would like to build a “healthy” home for my family. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not obsessive about it. But when I read brochures from companies like Baufritz and others, it makes you think. Wall construction is one thing – I prefer solid construction and no polystyrene, that already makes me feel quite comfortable. But what about all the sources of volatile substances, adhesives, PU foam, and so on...
What can I do, and what have you done, to ensure the healthiest possible living environment? Do windows have to be installed without foam? Should parquet flooring not be glued? What should the homeowner keep in mind?
Thanks,
Gerddieter
The whole process of planning and building is really difficult and slow. At every new step, I feel like no one can tell you the right way to proceed, and a lot of it is learning by doing...
Well, we managed to complete a design draft with our architect that we like. I will share it in another thread soon. Now I am focusing on how the house could be built. Ideally, I would like to build turnkey with a local general contractor (GC), alternatively by contracting individual trades – but looking at the price expectations from the architect and the structural engineer, that might be too expensive for me...
I would like to build a “healthy” home for my family. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not obsessive about it. But when I read brochures from companies like Baufritz and others, it makes you think. Wall construction is one thing – I prefer solid construction and no polystyrene, that already makes me feel quite comfortable. But what about all the sources of volatile substances, adhesives, PU foam, and so on...
What can I do, and what have you done, to ensure the healthiest possible living environment? Do windows have to be installed without foam? Should parquet flooring not be glued? What should the homeowner keep in mind?
Thanks,
Gerddieter
P
pagoni20206 Sep 2021 18:48In particular, I would give some thought to the interior furnishings and their components.
We are approaching this in a similar way, but it should be clear that ultimately, this is probably not entirely possible—at least not with the usual suppliers. For us, this means choosing things like screwed hardwood flooring instead of glued, oil for wooden floors, wall paints, and lime plaster (I would have preferred clay) specifically with this in mind.
Otherwise, your kitchen furniture will off-gas just like the foam in the sofa or bed, or the bedding, and so on. I know someone who recently had an analysis done in his holiday home after he had sprayed too aggressively with an insecticide (he fogged the entire place!). The problem is that once you know the values, you might focus on them and start to feel uneasy; this is the case for ihm 🤨.
Although I am certainly not a role model, I believe that the building materials we work with are of a high standard when applied correctly. The real risk, in my opinion, is more likely to come from the bag of chips or chocolate bars—that is, fats and sugars—rather than from harmful emissions from building materials.
I would also rely somewhat on my intuition about which areas I want to build with "healthy" materials (flooring, walls, etc.). You can then look more closely at the specific products (paint, adhesives, etc.). There are also interesting tests available, for example by Stiftung Warentest, Ökotest, and similar organizations.
As you would at the checkout counter, I would be cautious and look more carefully; not everything labeled as eco-friendly actually is. Stiftung Warentest often reveals this repeatedly.
We are approaching this in a similar way, but it should be clear that ultimately, this is probably not entirely possible—at least not with the usual suppliers. For us, this means choosing things like screwed hardwood flooring instead of glued, oil for wooden floors, wall paints, and lime plaster (I would have preferred clay) specifically with this in mind.
Otherwise, your kitchen furniture will off-gas just like the foam in the sofa or bed, or the bedding, and so on. I know someone who recently had an analysis done in his holiday home after he had sprayed too aggressively with an insecticide (he fogged the entire place!). The problem is that once you know the values, you might focus on them and start to feel uneasy; this is the case for ihm 🤨.
Although I am certainly not a role model, I believe that the building materials we work with are of a high standard when applied correctly. The real risk, in my opinion, is more likely to come from the bag of chips or chocolate bars—that is, fats and sugars—rather than from harmful emissions from building materials.
I would also rely somewhat on my intuition about which areas I want to build with "healthy" materials (flooring, walls, etc.). You can then look more closely at the specific products (paint, adhesives, etc.). There are also interesting tests available, for example by Stiftung Warentest, Ökotest, and similar organizations.
As you would at the checkout counter, I would be cautious and look more carefully; not everything labeled as eco-friendly actually is. Stiftung Warentest often reveals this repeatedly.
In solid wood construction, openings such as for windows can be crafted more precisely than in masonry. A sealing tape was used there.
I didn’t focus much on this. Healthy living was more of a byproduct, as it was standard. Actually, many things are quite normal. No clay plaster, glued and lacquered parquet flooring. Presumably, you just have to choose the one product among the common ones that avoids certain substances. For a one-time project, this is very time-consuming; for a general contractor, it’s easier. For example, in 2017, there was no vinyl flooring available in the product range. At that time, he was still searching.
Otherwise, you have to live it. Everything inside must be selected accordingly. Otherwise, the new carpet will ruin everything.
If it is important to you, you should carefully choose your partners who can implement it. The tiler needs to know that when they hear "healthy living," they must use the bio-ecological, non-toxic adhesive and understand how to apply it.
I didn’t focus much on this. Healthy living was more of a byproduct, as it was standard. Actually, many things are quite normal. No clay plaster, glued and lacquered parquet flooring. Presumably, you just have to choose the one product among the common ones that avoids certain substances. For a one-time project, this is very time-consuming; for a general contractor, it’s easier. For example, in 2017, there was no vinyl flooring available in the product range. At that time, he was still searching.
Otherwise, you have to live it. Everything inside must be selected accordingly. Otherwise, the new carpet will ruin everything.
If it is important to you, you should carefully choose your partners who can implement it. The tiler needs to know that when they hear "healthy living," they must use the bio-ecological, non-toxic adhesive and understand how to apply it.
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nordanney6 Sep 2021 19:07Myrna_Loy schrieb:
The dose makes the poison. And depending on the building material, the VOC concentrations in new constructions are certainly not negligible or harmless. So, are limits being exceeded? When and in which cases? Who has determined this? What actions are being taken by the authorities to ensure that limits are met again? Is this also the case with interior furnishings?
What is a “healthy indoor climate”?
A serious question.
Or, conversely, what is an “unhealthy indoor climate”?
I work for a company that focuses exclusively on healthy nutrition. One of our many guiding principles is this: a burger from MD is not healthy. But it’s not unhealthy either. It’s actually neutral. Of course, eating only burgers is bad. But eating only cucumber is just as bad.
The question of healthy eating can’t be answered that easily. Let’s call it a “healthy nutrition climate.”
So, what does a healthy “indoor climate” look like?
A serious question.
Or, conversely, what is an “unhealthy indoor climate”?
I work for a company that focuses exclusively on healthy nutrition. One of our many guiding principles is this: a burger from MD is not healthy. But it’s not unhealthy either. It’s actually neutral. Of course, eating only burgers is bad. But eating only cucumber is just as bad.
The question of healthy eating can’t be answered that easily. Let’s call it a “healthy nutrition climate.”
So, what does a healthy “indoor climate” look like?
For example, no or very little formaldehyde is released into the indoor air.
We measured almost none in our air.
Other than that, I’m out of the picture. I have it, but never really dealt with it.
I think it’s like sugar. Enjoying a piece of cake occasionally isn’t the problem. The sugar cube in coffee, the sugar in cereal, the hidden sugar in salad dressing, and so on.
The pollutant released into the air from adhesive is minimal. Then there’s the varnish, the carpet, and suddenly it becomes too much.
Can you notice it? Probably not, unless you measure it. Will I get cancer from it? Maybe. But maybe it was also the packaging on the food.
Just use common sense and that’s it.
We measured almost none in our air.
Other than that, I’m out of the picture. I have it, but never really dealt with it.
I think it’s like sugar. Enjoying a piece of cake occasionally isn’t the problem. The sugar cube in coffee, the sugar in cereal, the hidden sugar in salad dressing, and so on.
The pollutant released into the air from adhesive is minimal. Then there’s the varnish, the carpet, and suddenly it becomes too much.
Can you notice it? Probably not, unless you measure it. Will I get cancer from it? Maybe. But maybe it was also the packaging on the food.
Just use common sense and that’s it.
haydee schrieb:
For example, almost no formaldehyde is released into the indoor air. When we measured, there was hardly any detected.
Beyond that, I’m out of my depth. I have it but never really looked into it.
I think it’s like sugar. Having a piece of cake occasionally isn’t the issue. The sugar cube in coffee, the sugar in cereal, the hidden sugar in salad dressings, and so on.
The pollutant released into the air from glue is minimal. Then you add the varnish, the carpet, and suddenly it adds up.
Can you notice it? Probably not, unless you test. Will I get cancer from it? Maybe. Or maybe it was the food packaging.
Just use common sense and that’s that.Similar topics