From the beginning, my greatest priority for our new home has been to create a space that is as healthy as it is beautiful! Thankfully, my husband, Corey, is also on board and very supportive of this, so we’ve been really intentional about every choice. While building a non-toxic home has required a lot of extra research and decisions, I truly believe it will be so worth it! The last time I blogged about this project, several months ago, we had just broken ground. A lot has happened since then, and I’m excited to share a progress update with you!
Foundation
In September, our slab-on-grade (monolithic) foundation was laid. If you are interested in learning about the radon mitigation system we had installed in the foundation, please see my previous blog post on that topic here.
Framing
Before long, the outline of the house began to take shape. This was a really fun time where almost every time we showed up, obvious progress had happened!
Sheathing, vapor barrier & flashing tape
Our builder, Monument Homes, uses a combined sheathing and vapor barrier system called “zip board.” The purpose of sheathing is to provide a protective cover over the framing boards for structural stability. And the job of the vapor barrier is to help prevent condensation & humidity from getting into the walls and potentially causing mold growth, wood rot, etc.
The black tape you see on top of the green zip boards is called flashing tape. It is a heavy-duty waterproof tape used to seal the gaps between the boards, to prevent water from seeping in. Corey and I decided to take it a step further and also seal the gap between the foundation and the siding, because we learned through our research that this is an area where air, moisture and bugs can enter and potentially cause problems. It was fairly easy and inexpensive to do ourselves and only took a couple of hours one afternoon. We applied this heavy-duty tape around the house on that joint where the structure meets the foundation. Our builder thought this was a great idea and he didn’t know why this wasn’t already standard practice! Maybe one day it will be.
Mold
One thing we asked our framing crew to do was not put any wood with visible mold on it in the house. Unfortunately, before the house is dried-in, the wood can still get some mold growth on it. Thankfully, we know a great mold inspector who helped us identify the areas that needed addressed before we moved forward. As someone who has been deeply impacted by mold illness, this is something I take VERY seriously!
Corey and I got right to work cleaning up moldy areas on the wood. He sanded and I sprayed and wiped with Benefect Botanical Decon 30 solution. It was a big job, but well worth the time and effort for our peace of mind! One thing to know about mold is that on wood like this, it is usually inactive. But if it were to get moist for any reason down the road (water leak, humidity, etc.), it could cause a big problem… and it is much harder to access and clean up when it is covered by insulation, sheetrock, etc. In my opinion, preventing mold growth to the best of your ability is a crucial aspect of creating a non-toxic home!
Siding and stone
For our exterior siding, we decided to go with Hardie Plank. We chose to do a mix of lap siding (horizontal) on the main level of the house and panel siding (vertical) in the peaks. Deciding what color to paint the siding has been quite the process and we have been all over the spectrum. But I think we have it narrowed down to a few options, so stay tuned!
The exterior element I am most excited about is the natural stone we are using from a quarry called Highland Stone, located right here in NW Arkansas! I think it is so lovely & timeless. My inspiration for using this style of stone came mostly from appreciating it on old, historic homes in Fayetteville. Here are a few examples:
Prayer and dedication
The most important thing we have done or will do in this home building process is pray over our home and dedicate it to The Lord, for His purposes and glory! We recognize this is all His & we want to use it to bless others and share His love. It meant so much to have some of our small group there to pray with us & write Scripture all over the framing and foundation!
“You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your hearts. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as the frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23-24
There is so much more we have been doing, researching and picking out besides everything I just shared: HVAC, electrical, insulation, drywall, cabinets, interior paint choices, countertops, trim, flooring, etc. I will share more about these topics in my next post, along with the overall design style we are going to be implementing. Although not very commonly used these days, Corey and I think it is “the bee’s knees”(hint)!
Love all that you and Corey are doing with your house, especially the scripture written throughout! God has blessed you and you in turn will bless many others. Your house looks beautiful, can’t wait to see it when it is finished. Love you guys,
Sally
Thank you, Sally! Love you, too!
This process is so interesting , and I love it for a lot of reasons! God bless you and your home!
Thanks, Kim! That means a lot!
I can’t wait to see when it is finished. What care and thought you are putting into your beautiful home. If we are ever coming that direction, we would love to stop and see it. You guys are incredible!
Thank you, Diane! We’d love to have you come visit anytime!