Reclaimed on the hill

April 24, 2012

Progress can really be seen on our new construction project in Grouse Mountain Estates.   As mentioned before, the entire siding package is made from reclaimed material.  The colors from the board and batt to the rust of the wainscott steel blend together to give us a very natural palette and earthy appeal to this home. 

We focus on the details. Bringing in the greys from these hand split cedar shakes that were retrieved from the roof of an old church to the edge trim detail on the doorways, we love it all.  The clients on this project want the natural beauty of the materials to speak for themselves and to have the rough, unpolished finish that this lends itself to.

The details do not stop on the exterior.  We have incorporated reclaimed detail inside the home.  The bridge washers shown below are salvaged from a quadralam beam from an airforce base.  As we start detailing throughout the interior of the home, we will highlight more of these items.

Mindful Designs in now producing and using Biodiesel

April 17, 2012

Mindful is currently collecting used grease from local restaurants and converting to biodiesel. 

WVO (Waste Veggie Oil) is collected, transported to our facilty and pumped into the WVOtank. 

From the tank we pump to the first filtration station using recycled blue jeans. 

From there it goes thru the 10 micron filter into the SVO (Straight Veggie Oil)tank. 

Once filtered,  it is used to make Biodiesel.  Mindful is currently using the Biodiesel in our work vehicles and potentialy in the field equipment.

Remodel of a 100 year old house

April 11, 2012

Home Remodel Overview:

Clients purchased home several years ago with the intention of remodeling the home. Mindful Designs conducted an extensive study of the home and, upon client request, provided a several phase approach to remodeling their home and upgrading the insulation, windows, and mechanical systems along the way. The first phase which began in March of 2012 and is still underway, focuses on a complete basement remodel, a new mechanical system throughout the home, and upgrades in insulation in areas where it makes the most sense at this point in time. The scope of work is summarized below, and as we continue the project, we will add more pictures and bits of interesting information.

1. The Chimney has been removed , in order to both eliminate it as a significant source of heat loss and to provide a mechanical chase from the basement to the attic. The original craftsmanship of the chimney was quite impressive and we will be re-using some of the brick in the basement with a decorative piece which will imitate the original architecture of the upper chimney.

 
2. In the attic, we discovered some vermiculite contaminated with asbestos. This area was quarantined and the asbestos was professionally removed and disposed of. No other suspect areas have been discovered since.

3. The Basement was gutted and new footings were created so that the home could be supported by new I-beams, creating an open floor plan in the new basement and also allowing us to excavate as much material as was practical from beneath the old slab. We were able to add gravel, 2-3” of polyurethane spray foam, and a radiant heated slab. Even with the added gravel and insulation, the new basement will have 4-6” of additional headroom. The sub-slab spray foam provides an incredibly high-performance thermal encapsulation for the radiant slab, helping us squeeze every calorie of heat possible out of the slab and into living space rather than into the earth which surrounds the basement.

4. Historically, the Original Stone Foundation would leak some water into the basement when groundwater was high. By adding a 10 mil vapor barrier up the wall of the original foundation to exterior grade height, and integrating it with a french-drain system, we will manage any incoming water in the future and ensure that it does not make its way into the finished basement or the wall cavities along the exterior wall.

5. Along the stairwell into the basement, we restored the original stone foundation – removing the old grout and cleaning the stone, packing the wall solid with new grout, and finger-wiping the new grout lines between rocks as they did originally over 100 years ago. This section of the foundation was excavated from outside so that we could apply exterior insulation. The exposed stone work will be a finished feature within the home, and it will also allow us to maximize the width of our stairwell which was constrained due to the existing kitchen layout above (the clients have no intention of remodeling the existing kitchen on the main level and widening the stairway opening would have had major repercussions on the existing kitchen).

Stone before cleaning

Stone after cleaning

Excavating exterior of wall in prep for insulation

Opening from the upstairs

New Construction

April 3, 2012

We are currently under construction on a new energy efficient 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath, 3000 sq ft. home in Whitefish.  This home features SIPS (Structurally Insulated Panels) and the entire siding package is reclaimed materials.  Mindful Designs worked closely with the home owner to design this home on a very tight construction site. Stay tuned for more photos and fun facts on this home.

A look at the Kitchen

September 13, 2011

Whether you are planning a remodel or planning for new construction, the kitchen is such an important room in the home and deserves extra attention.  For years the kitchen has been the heartbeat of the home and the place where people congregate.  It has become the room where the homework is done, entertaining happens and family time may take place here.  It is important to spend a little extra time designing the kitchen so you love every minute you spend there.

As shown in the pictures below of a recent remodel, opening up the kitchen can give the entire home a new feel and energy about it.

After

Glass Recycling in Flathead Valley

July 26, 2011

There are so many options for recycling in the Flathead, but only recently have we had a place to recycle glass.   Thank you to the Target store in Hutton Ranch for providing that service to our Valley.

http://pressroom.target.com/pr/news/target-launches-recycling-stations.aspx

Links to some of our subcontractor’s Websites . . .

April 16, 2009

Check out one of our top electrical contractors @ www.newcastleelectric.com 

More to come. . .

Check out this Link to DCD Home Magazine

March 23, 2009

http://www.dcdhome.com

Green Building — Recycling Information for Whitefish, Montana

March 17, 2009

Here’s a Mindful breakdown of recycling information for the Whitefish, Montana area.  This list is updated and provided to all of our homeowners as part of our Home Information Booklet, provided upon move-in.  I hope some of you find this information helpful and encourage you to share this blog with your friends, family and co-workers in an effort to support local recycling.

JOBSITE RECYCLING SERVICES:

Bugges Construction Clean-up: On-site; hand sorted recycling and debris removal services:

253-4836 Brandon

Flathead County has a launched a website for their “Waste Not” project where there is compilation of information relative to recycling in the Flathead County.

http://www.wastenotproject.org/

RECYCLING CENTERS:

There are 3 recycling centers in the flathead county,

1.       North Valley Recycling - 5445 Hwy 93 S., Whitefish;  862-4381

2.       Pacific Steel and Recycling - Flathead Lane, Kalispell; 755-7128

3.       Valley Recycling - 1410 Hwy 2 W., Kalispell; 257-2574

DROP OFFS:

There are currently 6 recycling drop-offs that are in the relative vicinity of your home (look for the blue bins).

1.       North Valley Recycling - 5445 Hwy 93 S., Whitefish;  862-4381

2.       The City Beach Overflow Parking lot

3.       The Business park North of the Alpine Market on Wisconsin Ave.

4.       Kalispell Avenue, Between 6^th and 7^th streets

5.       Whitefish City Hall, 418 East 2^nd St, back lot

6.       The County Landfill located at 4098 Hwy 93 N.; 758-5910

CURBSIDE PICKUP:

New World Recycling offers curbside recycling services for a small fee.  863-9311

FLATHEAD FREECYCLING:

A grassroots organization that you can easily join for no fee.  How does it work?  One rule: everything posted must be free.  Whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano or old door to be given away, it can be posted on the network.  You can also look here for items that you may be looking to acquire.  Find out more by visiting their website at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecAycleFlathead/

METALS:

Recycling metal helps in conserving our supply of raw materials and reduces the amount of energy used in production.  In addition to aluminum and steel cans, most kinds of metals can be locally recycled including steel used in building, bronze and copper.  Make sure your metal cans and containers are empty and clean when you put them in the recycling bins.  Local recycling firms prefer that aluminum cans not be squashed as they can more easily be made into bales if they have not been pre-squashed.  Lids of steel cans should be pushed into the clean can and the open end squashed together to prevent the lid falling out.

Aluminum Cans: Accepted at all drop off sites and recycling centers.

Tin/Steel Cans: Accepted at drop off sites and recycling centers except Whitefish City Drop offs and Valley recycling.

Scrap Iron & Steel, Scrap Aluminum, Scrap Stainless Steel, Brass and Copper: Pacific Steel and Recycling; 755-7128.

PAPER:

Paper is easy to recycle because it is made from wood, and it separates back into fibers when soaked in water.  Paper can be recycled seven times and thus reduces the need to harvest timber to make new paper.

North Valley Recycling (862-4381):

• Corrugated cardboard
• Magazines and catalogs
• Newspaper
• White paper with black ink, computer paper, brown paper bags

Pacific Steel and Recycling (755-7128):

• Newspaper
• Magazines and catalogs
• Corrugated cardboard and brown paper bags
• Office paper
• Computer paper

Valley Recycling (257-2574): Valley Recycling recently changed its policy for sorting paper.  Instead of dividing products into four or five piles, only two are required now.

• Newspapers, magazines, phone books, all white and colored paper, file folders, mailings, index cards, fax paper, envelopes (with or without windows), notebook paper, carbonless paper, computer paper.
• Cardboard (corrugated and cereal box type paperboard), brown paper bags

PLASTIC:

ALL #1 and #2 plastics: any color any size! Remove the lids and dispose of them in the garbage.  Acceptable at all drop off sites and recycling centers.

Plastic Bags: Most grocery stores have return bins for plastic shopping bags, as do libraries.  The best thing you can do here, though, is minimize your consumption of plastic bags and use fabric, reusable ones whenever possible.

MAILING MATERIALS:

Recycle bubble wrap and Styrofoam packaging materials at The UPS Store, Whitefish, 862-8300; OR the Whitefish Pottery Store, 862-1417.

AUTO/MOTORIZED REFUSE:

Used Motor Oil: .  You can recycle your motor oil at: Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984; The Flathead County Landfill.

Used Oil Filter: contains dirty motor oil.  Puncture the filter and drain for 12-24 hours.

Recycle the oil and throw the drained filter in the trash.  You can recycle your motor oil at: Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984; The Flathead County Landfill.

Antifreeze: can be recycled and should be disposed of properly.  Most antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which is toxic.  As antifreeze moves through your engine it picks up heavy metals which are toxic to fish and other water organisms.   Drain it into a leak-proof container and take it to the Flathead County Landfill recycling drop-off.

Transmission Fluid:  You can recycle this at Dave’s Lube and Oil, Whitefish, 862-0984.

Car Batteries: Generally, when you buy a new battery, the auto parts store or garage wants your old battery in exchange.  Batteries are a hazardous waste - they contain acid which is corrosive and they should be disposed of properly.  If you have other old batteries, most auto parts stores and garages will take them for recycling and some may pay you for it.  They are also accepted at the Flathead County Landfill (758-5910).

Incentive Programs for Green Remodeling (March, 2009)

March 17, 2009