The R.E.X. Project

Working at the REX Project

2008-08-24T02:43:00.001-07:00

PROGRASS Gregg and Ellis Landscape Design worked very hard incorporating our original materials into the landscaping of the REX Project. Christine Ellis built pathways from our old brick and the crew of PROGRASS used our broken sidewalk and leftover foundation for our patio. That saved us close to $400.00 in having to buy new materail, and transportation of material.

Standard Supply Company. You have got to ask for Tina! our tub, and faucets all came from them. It's a one stop shopping. No crowds, you receive one on one attention and Tina is always one step ahead of you. Prices were good too. That's me getting at the tub!!

Crews Behind the Scenes

2008-08-24T02:17:00.001-07:00

Once a home is complete you only see the exterior and interior beauty of it. But there are so many on site that are behind the scenes, or should I say behind the walls that contribute to the success of great building.

NW FOAM HOME were our spray foam insulation company that we chose. I mentioned earlier that they used Demilec Spray. Well, they were an incredible group of people to work with. They accidentally got some foam on the garage door and before I noticed it, they told me about it, cleaned it up and all was good. That is a strong sense of character. They were professional, believed in their work, communication was awesom and we love the results.

KEMPER DRYWALL of course was our drywall company we went with. I would make a call and boom within hours or a day they were on site and completed whatever needed to be done. There was even a major repair that needed to be done and they fixed it at no charge. Ask for Dan or Kemper and trust me, you can't go wrong.

PREVENT TECH NW, they sprayed to prevent mold and mildew to our wood framing before the sheetrock went up. Less then one day, actually just hours and they had completely covered the whole house. Emery is the fella you want to chat with. Less mold and Mildew is always a win-win in my book.

WOOD CRAFTERS and MOULDINGS AND MILLWORK, Carl and Bryce from Wood Crafters and Nate Freese from Mouldings and Millwork are 100% on the button with any question you might have. Their suggestions save money. And the green materials they recommend are top notch.

If you are remodeling or new construction, go with these companies. You will NOT have builder nightmares.

Wood Crafters, my escape!

2008-08-12T22:54:00.000-07:00

If you ever want to work with a great bunch of guys who know their stuff, head down to Wood Crafters in Portland Oregon. Ask Bryce and Carl and tell them Shannon sent ya. Both were extremely helpful in finding just the right columns and railings for the REX Project. Carl even hand made the balcony caps himself! What I love about Wood Crafters is they have all the bells and whistles related to wood products that make your house shine.

Exterior Siding Old and New

2008-08-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

The whole east side of the REX House was installed with the original shiplap siding from the old house. A major portion of the west side is also our old siding. We found matching new shiplap siding at Lakeside Lumber and Aspen Siding and Windows did a great job piecing it all together. I even asked them not to plug the holes so we can see the old stuff. It turned out amazing.

There was lead paint on the siding so we had to have it stripped. We took it to Houck's Stripping Process center in Portland. Then the crew at Lakeside lumber sanded it and primed it. It turned out great!

REX Flooring

2008-08-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

The flooring has been installed at the REX Project and looks fabulous! Why not? The work was done by Fabulous Floors. They installed the entire floor in two days and by using the Osmo finish, it only took two more days for completion. We choose Chest Nut, and it's a reclaimed wood that we purchased at Ecohaus. Random lengths and random widths. One downer is that we were told that we would receive equal amounts of widths of 5", 4", 3" and 2". We only received a very small amount of 5" width. So when ordering, get it in writing the actual amount of product that you will get. If the order is not what you purchased, request the correct amount at no charge or a reduction in price. Also in writing before you purchase. To seal the chestnut we chose Osmo wood finish. I checked out Ecohaus's website and pulled this information about Osmo.

..."Makes wood look, feel and stay beautiful. This product has a satin finish, but it can be polished for a slightly higher sheen.

Because this is a semitransparent stain, the final appearance will be influenced by the natural color of the wood. Best results are usually obtained by using a color that is the same or slightly darker than the bare wood. We recommend light shades only for new, light-colored wood.

Because the finish is microporous, any moisture found in the wood can evaporate without causing peeling. This feature makes Wood Wax Finish a good product for rooms with high humidity, such as kitchens and bathrooms. It has been used for decades in Europe in rooms with high moisture—even around indoor swimming pools.

Ingredients

Depending on the tint, 50 to 60 percent solids (the part of a finish that remains on the wood after the finish dries): natural vegetable oils and waxes, iron oxide and organic pigments, and white titanium dioxide pigment—all approved for use in the food sector in Germany. This finish also contains water-repellent additives and lead-free dryers.

The natural oils include sunflower, soybean and thistle.

The finish uses two hard, natural waxes—carnauba and candelilla. A Brazilian palm tree, Copernica cerifera, produces the carnauba in its leaves, berries and stalks. Villagers cut down fronds, dry them for several days, and then beat off the wax. The candelilla comes from the outer coating on a desert shrub, Euphorbia antisyphiliti, that grows in northern Mexico. Farmers boil the leaves and stems with water and sulfuric acid to release the wax.

The remaining 40 to 50 percent of the contents are aliphatic low-odor mineral spirits that meet the German standard for purity.

Benefits of OSMO Wood Wax Finish Transparent

Environmental benefits include:
· Made mostly from readily renewable, natural ingredients.
· Meets European safety standards for use on children's furniture and toys and resistance to perspiration and saliva.
· Contains no biocides or preservatives, only aliphatic low-odor mineral spirits that meet the German standard for purity.

Practical benefits include:
· Easy to apply—just one coat on woodwork, two on furniture and floors.
· Does not raise the grain of wood, so there's no need to sand between coats.
· Won't peel, rub or flake off. Finish resists water, dirt and abrasion.
· Dries to a satin sheen but can be polished for greater gloss.

How much do I need?
One liter covers approximately 200 square feet.

How to use this product

Preparation

Wood surface must be clean and dry (maximum moisture content of 20 percent).

Old paints and varnishes must be removed. Old microporous stains only have to be cleaned.

On new wood, where possible, apply the finish to all sides of the wood before installation. It's easier and neater.

Do a trial application on a scrap or in a hidden spot. You can deepen the color by applying a second, thin coat after the first one dries. You can also mix colors.

Application

Open windows. Make sure ventilation is good.

Stir the finish slightly. Don't thin.

Using a stiff OSMO brand brush or a clean cloth, apply a thin coat evenly and thoroughly. Brush or rub in the direction of the wood grain. (We recommend an OS brush because its short bristles were designed to work efficiently with this finish.)

Drying
Drying takes about 12 hours. Maintain good ventilation.

Storage

Can be stored for five years or longer.
Freezing doesn't ruin this product. If the can freezes, the finish may thicken. But it will regain normal consistency and be ready to use after two or three days at room temperature.

Safety
WARNING: Spontaneous Combustion Danger!
Oil-soaked materials (rags, steel wool, sanding dust, etc.) may spontaneously combust.
Immerse oil-soaked materials in water and store in an air-tight container.

WARNING: Contains Flammable Solvents!
Use only in areas with no open flames or other sources of ignition. No smoking. Provide good ventilation.
Observe all local and federal laws that pertain to the handling and storage of these types of products."

Guidance with Kitchen and Bath

2008-07-30T02:02:00.000-07:00

It doesn't happen very often but when it does you know immediately that something special has just occurred. I met Trisha Anderson with Abode Design on a whim. She and I were hanging out at a printers shop both to pick up copies of house plans. One conversation lead to another and I discovered she wasd a kitchen and bath designer. Fast forward, our kitchen and bathrooms are gorgeous. Trisha totally helped me with faucets, sinks, textures, style, you name it. What I enjoyed most about working with Abode Design is they don't waste any time. And trust me, that is a breath of fresh air.

Demilec Spray Foam

2008-07-30T01:39:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that the REX Project will become an Earth Advantage Platinum certified home. This would not even be possible unless our house was insulated with spray foam. We chose Demilec spray foam because they are pioneers of green insulation products made of renewable resources such as recycled plastic. check out their website www.demilecusa.com. Even though spray foam is more expensive up front, the savings down the road are endless. A decrease in utility costs. A more efficient home energy wise. No dust, mold or mildew, that's a huge plus for our family. We will even receive a tax credit. Like I said, neverending!

Best Painters in Town

2008-07-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

Paintegrity. I call them my inhuman painters becuase there is no way in this world that any one can paint a cleaner line than they can. Paintegrity painted the entire interior of the REX Project with no VOC paint from Yolo Colorhouse. My paint of choice. And at the same time their painting techniques saved my money. They have a unique spray gun that also sucks in any extra paint will being sprayed. This means less paint used, less prep work and less tape and paper. Bottom ine. I saved money!

ECOHAUS, a green candyland

2008-05-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

I've never claimed that the new house on Southeast Rex Street would be completely green. My goal was to eliminate waste.

But I do want to make environmentally friendly choices.

With the new house being built at warp speed, I was biting my nails, worried about where I could find a variety of green interior products without shopping the entire metro area. It didn't take long to discover Ecohaus.

In a short time and with a tremendous amount of hand-holding from Ecohaus' Sadie Carney and Karla Martin and Abode Design's Trisha Anderson, I managed to find my dual-flushing Caroma toilets and sinks, Yolo Colorhouse paint, cork and wood flooring, tile and countertops all in one swoop.

Not only are all of the materials environmentally friendly, they are drop-dead gorgeous, too.

But, remember, these new things are replacing materials that are being put to new uses: The old carpet is the weed barrier in the flower beds, for example, and the outdated parquet flooring is turning into play blocks for children.

Each day, the pile of the old house gets smaller and smaller. I'm loving it.

Green Painters Extraordinaire at the REX Project

2008-05-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

The crew of Paintegrity, a green painting company is in the middle of painting the interior of the REX Project. Using YOLO Colorhouse paint, a noVOC paint, they are painting nearly 20 different colors throughout the house. Plus at the same time educating me on how to paint the most perfect edge. Their secret...Appy blue masking tape on the ceiling then add a bead of clear cauking. Start painting immediately. Peel back the tape before the caulk dries and voila, you have a perfect edge. Thanks Paintegrity.

Reused original front door

2008-05-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

The original front door of the little REX house has found a new location as the backdoor in the new house. Aspen Siding and Windows installed this 1920's dental work design wood door and it looks wonderful. But the best part is I saved nearly $400.00 by not having to buy a new door!

Stairway to Heaven

2008-05-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

My siding company Aspen Siding and Windows who are an amazing group of guys have begun the exterior transformation of the REX Project. They will be infusing the old lath as a rain screen, incorporate my old siding with the new along with all the other bells and whistles. At times I do drive the crew crazy with my eye for detail. Mike D. from Aspen Siding and Windows knows that first hand. All in fun though. In the end we will be reusing a ton of original materials from the little house that once was there.

REX project framing

2008-05-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

James Ray Arnold Green Building Construction (my framers) have been the most amazing group of guys to work with. On a daily basis I witness first hand the way they care for our environment. At the end of each work day they sort all building materials, reuse and recycle and even search through the scrap wood for framing construction. That saves me money.

2008-04-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

ROOM WITH A VIEW

As I grow older the winter's blues or should I say Portland grays are
wearing me down. When designing the REX house one of my top priorities was
having an abundance of windows. When the sun is shining, I want it pouring
inside. Well my wish has come true but I think I might have over done it a
bit. Every room has a view, some are spectacular, overlooking the blooming
camellia's that we transplanted and a glimpse of Westmoreland*cq park. The
south side is a reality check that we live in the city. Roof tops, backyard
toys and storage sheds.

To be honest, that doesn't bother me one bit. What I am really biting my
nails about is I chose windows over walls. The main floor feels like we are
out in the open. I could bump into one of my neighbors at the grocery store
and they could say "So I noticed you were watching Survivor last night."

The R in R.E.X. stands for Reuse. With all the sunlight streaming in, I
think I will bottle it up and reuse it when I invite friends over to watch a
little telly.

Shannon

Because I Can

2008-04-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Constant change is happening daily at the REX Project. James Ray Arnold*cq head framer, and his framing crew can take credit for that. Their team effort and work ethic are beyond all my expectations. On a regular basis, James will phone me (I switched to an unlimited minute package) and suggest different ways to safe money and build our home more efficiently. For example, our original plans showed a partial enclosed staircase. We wanted an open stair case so changes needed to be made. Instead of bulldozing ahead and charging us an arm and a leg, he spoke with Mike Perrotti*cq our number one plumber, and they decided that it would be less expensive to relocated the plumbing rather than rebuild the structure of the building. Savings, close to $500.00

It’s also the little things that make a big difference. James’s crew spends time recycling everything they can, no garbage is tossed around, and the attitude is always positive. They will take the time and rummage through smaller pieces of wood instead of cutting up new boards. That is saving me money on new lumber.

Growing up in my household, we were not allowed to say the word “can’t” and I believe that way of thinking has given me the courage to try new things. And believe you, me, the REX Project is definitely something new.

Shannon

Working Hard

2008-04-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

James Ray Arnold, head framer, and his crew can take credit for many of the changes occurring these days at the Reuse Everything eXperiment.

James regularly phones me (I switched to an unlimited-minute package) to suggest ways to save money and build our home more efficiently. Our original plans showed a partially enclosed staircase, for example, but we wanted an open staircase. Instead of charging us an arm and a leg, James spoke with plumber Mike Perrotti. The two of them figured out it would be less expensive to relocate the plumbing that was to go under the staircase, and then the stairs could be reinforced from underneath. That way the stairs could remain in the planned location and not need a partial wall. Savings: about $500.

It's also the little things that make a big difference. James' crew takes the time to rummage through smaller pieces of wood instead of cutting up new boards. That saves me money on new lumber.

Growing up in my household, we were not allowed to say "can't." I think James must have had the same lesson.

Shannon

Framing with new and old

2008-03-22T23:42:00.001-07:00

It's a reality, the house is being built, and still no dumpster!

Blue Print into Foot Print

2008-03-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

The winter blues are coming to an end and what started out as a conversation over a cup of cocoa, the REX Project is getting closer to completion as we step into spring time. The foot print of the house has been built and for the first time the house is at ground level. In just five days the sewer and water line have been installed. First floor HVAC and plumbing are complete and framing has begun.

If you have never had the experience of remodeling or building a house, for most, it can be extremely overwhelming and stressful. Who to hire? Can you trust their work? Are they going the drain the bank account? The REX Project is a once in a lifetime experience and I wanted to enjoy the process instead of gaining gray hairs. The secret to not losing sleep and going over budget is two fold. Hire the right company but more important hire the right people. Black Cat Plumbing and James Arnold, our house framer fit that bill. Strong communication, completing the job ahead of schedule and staying within the original bid is common practice for both Arnold and Black Cat Plumbing. Both are key to saving a ton of dough and guaranteeing the home owner plenty of zzzz’s. Their imprint on the REX Project will forever be embedded in great memories.

In my book nobody can fill their shoes.

Glenn My Hero

2008-03-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Just because it's a saturday doesn't mean it's a day off at the REX Project. We are in the framing stage of construction and its finally time to incorporate the old wood from the original house into the new home. Not so easy of a task. Nine hours later and rain showers throughout the day, my husband Glenn unloaded, sorted, and stacked the wood that we are going to use for structural purposes.

The lumber was all mixed up so Glenn had to organize it in a sequence of when and how it will be reused. The framing materials were seperated into units of 2"x4", 2"x6", 2"x8" and four inch pieces. These were left outside for immediate use. The one inch boards, sheetrock backing and floor boards will be used for trim, finish work and cabinetry had to be transfered back inside the container. I am looking forward to finding out how much money we will save by using our own wood.

I noticed that Glenn never complained about the physical labor, cruddy weather and giving up the weekend. I asked why and he replied "I like the smell of lumber." I stood there dumbfounded until I realized it's no different when I can lose an enitre day engulfed in planting fragrant flowers. I also think the hand delivered homemade brownies didn't hurt either.

Blue Print into Foot Print

2008-03-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

The winter blues are coming to an end and what started out as a conversation over a cup of cocoa, the REX Project is getting closer to completion as we step into spring time. The foot print of the house has been built and for the first time the house is at ground level. In just five days the sewer and water line have been installed. First floor HVAC and plumbing are complete and framing has begun.

If you have never had the experience of remodeling or building a house, for most, it can be extremely overwhelming and stressful. Who to hire? Can you trust their work? Are they going the drain the bank account? The REX Project is a once in a lifetime experience and I wanted to enjoy the process instead of gaining gray hairs. The secret to not losing sleep and going over budget is two fold. Hire the right company but more important hire the right people. Black Cat Plumbing www.blackcatplumbing.com and James Arnold, our house framer fit that bill. Strong communication, completing the job ahead of schedule and staying within the original bid is common practice for both Arnold and Black Cat Plumbing. Both are key to saving a ton of dough and guaranteeing the home owner plenty of zzzz’s. Their imprint on the REX Project will forever be embedded in great memories.

In my book nobody can fill their shoes.

Scrap Happy

2008-03-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

While deconstructing the REX house we had quite a few wanna-bee takers of our scrap metal. People would slowly drive by and ask us for our water heater, or politely offer to take all our gutters, flashing, air conditioner, and floors vents. My head cocked in puzzlement until Glenn, (the hubby) shared with me the value of metal these days. I started to panic. Are our materials going to grow legs and mysteriously walk away? Is the REX Project, the great attempt to reuse and recycle everything experiment going to disappear? I wasted no time gathering up my newly discovered monetary treasures and tucked them into the storage container.

Now what do I do? I have protected my belongings but it doesn’t do much good just having them sit there. Stephen Aiguier*cq my Project Mentor from Green Hammer Inc.*cq referred me to Keith Bailey*cq the owner of Taylor Metal Inc.*cq www.taylormetal.com*cq a roofing company. Taylor Metal Inc.*cq products are 100% recyclable and can increase my home’s energy efficiency by saving as much as 20% on summer utility bills. Oh, it gets better, the roof has a life span of 75 years. Keith and I met at the REX site and I showed him my metal stash. He pointed to it, plus all my broken sewer pipes and said these are what our roofs are made of. I have never been so happy about scraps.

Tresured Junk

2008-03-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

While driving by the REX Project at 2030 SE Rex in the Westmoreland neighborhood, most would just see a house being built and two large containers sitting on the property. But if you slow down, and take a moment you will notice innovative building practices happening all over the place. Condtioned crawl space installed and old growth trees transplanted but look like they’ve been in the same spot for the past 50 years. And if you time it just right, you’ll catch me in one of the storage units unloading the old house parts and giving them to people who will help me incorporate them into the new home.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to speak at the Good Earth Home, Garden & Living Show*cq in Eugene and met an amazing artist Tim Boyden*cq. He has such an original talent creating functional furniture out of ordinary junk. In a blink of an eye he can change a bowling ball into a table lamp and his willow garden pieces are a knock out. I am so excited to have Tim part of our REX Project team. Recently, we met at the REX site and when I opened the container doors he acted like a kid in a candy store. In less then an hour Tim’s van was full of interior wall boards and various shapes and sizes of laurel wood branches. Next time I see him, the old Beast a.k.a. laurel will be beautiful benches, trellises and maybe even a side table. I can hardly wait.

It's cement time

2008-02-24T22:14:00.000-08:00

For Valentine’s Day, instead of asking for a rock on my finger I asked for a rock wall. My wish came true a day early. The remaining foundation was poured and the forms removed. Never have I ever been so excited about concrete. The cement crew probably thought I was a few bubbles off level watching me spinning in circles singing, my walls are alive with music. A very bad impression of Julie Andrews*cq

I thought it couldn’t get any better when Stephen Aiguier*cq from Green Hammer Inc.*cq our REX Project Mentor pointed at my muddy boots and said we could benefit by getting rid of the dirty soon to be crawl space.

For around $1,000.00 and one day’s work, we can stop mold growth, rotten framing, say good bye to drafty spaces and hello to lower utility bills. Check out this link about conditioned crawl spaces; http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/bp_foundation/article/0,2617,HPRO_20146_3463221,00.html, it will make you wonder why anybody who is building a new house would ever want to deal with spider webs, dry rot, termites, and throw money out the window, or in this case, foundation vents.

I tip my glass to Stephen who gives rock solid advice, and then I start singing, Celebrate Good Times, Come On.

Shannon

Great Advice

2008-02-15T23:43:00.000-08:00

One of my goals with the REX Project is to share everything that I have learned on the way of completing this great endeavor. Christine Ellis and Carolyn Gregg my landscape designers have been with me from the very beginning. They have provided key information that has been crucial to the landscaping planning, design, implementation and ultimate beauty of our new yard.

Plan before construction begins:
Know zoning regulations for your area, such as storm run off containment and tree removal permits.
Inventory existing plant material to save and protect during construction.
If large trees and shrubs are being saved, they need to be protected from construction damage and soil compaction or moved.
Analyze site and assistance with home placement for best advantage.
Think about views, privacy and potential drainage issues.
Plan for access to yard from home, hose bibs, and outlets.
Prepare a master plan matching budget and priorities.

During construction, appropriate landscaping phases can be done to maximize access and possibly come under the construction loan if a landscape plan is ready.

Do before construction begins:
Serve top soil for future plantings.
Create a nursery area to heel in plants being saved.
Fence around trees at drip line to project roots from compaction and possible damage to trunk and limbs.

Shannon

Saving History

2008-02-15T23:22:00.000-08:00

It took less than four hours, a 50 ton crane, the crew of ProGrass and Gregg and Ellis Landscape Design and a bit of luck to move our trees from one location to another. The REX Project, Reuse Everything eXperiment once again proves that you can make a difference. We saved 50 year old trees, preserved the history of the Westmoreland neighborhood in Portland Oregon and $15,000.00 dollars! That's right! According to Steve Varga of ProGrass landscaping we had $25,000.00 worth of original landscaping materials. To save everything, hire the crane company and move it all cost us $10,000.00. To me, that's a major duh! All win-win.

Come by and see our progress, 2030 SE REX ST. Portland Oregon