Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Highs and Lows

We hoped to get as many supplies as possible for our basement remodel from Habitat for Humanity ReStore. ReStore is like a thrift store for building supplies, selling  new and used building materials at 50-90% off retail prices. In my area, we've got the  Habitat for Humanity ReStores of Northern Virginia in Chantilly and Alexandria, VA as well as the Manassas ReStore.

Here are the highs and lows from our ReStore visits...

The last day of 2012, armed with an end-of-the-year 20% off coupon, my father-in-law's van (plus trailer), a list of supplies and specs, tile samples, and baby Elden, we headed to the Chantilly ReStore. We were particularly interested in their large tile selection, which we'd scoped out on an earlier visit. We also hoped to find a vanity, medicine cabinet, light fixtures, and whatever else could work.

These stores are not luxury stores. They can be cluttered, smelly, overly hot or cold, etc. While the deals are amazing, you have to be prepared to work to unearth some of the gems. It is very much a self-help environment and you do have to know what you are looking for and pay attention to details. If you have a smart phone or tablet, bring it so you can look up any needed details (e.g., a user's manual for a dishwasher, if the lightbulbs that a old light fixture needs are still made, etc.) Looking through the tile was tedious work. We spent about 45-minutes moving boxes, looking through stacks of open tile, scrutinizing thickness and color, and making calculations.  







While we love incorporating our kids in all kinds of projects, we were glad that Vaughn was hanging out with his grandparents for this part. If sorting through tile tested my patience, it definitely would've tested the patience of a toddler. On the other hand, Elden was in a wrap and pretty happy as long as I kept bouncing.

Thank you, Kindercoat, for keeping us both warm! The store was chilly with the big bay doors open.



We ended up finding a close match for the tile we brought in with us (scavenged from the shed of random things that conveyed with the house) and managed to gather up about 80% of what we needed.

After the tile hunt, things moved faster. We found a medicine cabinet that had some retro appeal as well as enough door handles for the entire basement. While brass doesn't fit in with what we have in mind, these have some style to them. At a mere $2 a pop, we can afford to spray paint them to create the oil-rubbed bronze finish we're planning.

As we walked around, we were struck by the idea of a deep bathtub (with our without jets). Dave loves a good soak and our beloved turquoise 1950s tub on the main floor doesn't quite cut it in terms of size.  But, in a house with a mere 1,100 square foot footprint, a big tub doesn't really fit. We hemmed and hawed.  We moved tubs out of the way to get to other tubs.  We measured. We squabbled. We walked away. We walked back. 

Finally, we agreed on a small Jacuzzi tub that is a standard length, but is a bit wider and deeper than a normal tub. With our coupon, it would cost us just $64 (down from $80). At that price, we wouldn't be out much if it didn't work out.

After paying our tab (about $110), we loaded up and headed out. Victory was ours!

The following weekend, we borrowed the van and trailer again and visited the Alexandra ReStore. The big thing at this store is cabinetry. There is tons of it. We found several things that we sort-of liked--a bathroom vanity as well as cabinets to create a small wet bar (i.e., green cleaner creation station) but neither had a counter top. After much debate, we decided that we were not up to dealing with obtaining those on top of all of the other decisions we needed to make. So, we walked away empty-handed, which was deflating. On the up-side, we had both boys with us for that trip. Vaughn had lots of fun being worn on Dave's back and trying to saw anything he could reach with his toy saw.

For our trip to the Manassas ReStore, we decided to forgo borrowin the van and trailer since that adds at least an hour. Late one Friday afternoon, we packed up the kids in the Matrix and headed out on a whim. We figured if we found something we liked, we'd send out contractor back for it within 24 hours. The Manassas store is really well organized and the staff and volunteers were exceptionally friendly. This is a two-level store. The main level is all kinds of things: cabinets, lights, vanities, etc. The basement is flooring and doors. There was loads of modern looking, new, in-the-box tile--enough to do a whole small project. There also was loads and loads of  plain 4x4 square tiles. Unfortunately for us, there was nothing that matched the other elements we'd already selected for the bathroom. So, we passed. But, someone else is going to be thrilled with those finds. We saw several folks carrying around things that we would've bought, had we been just a few minutes earlier to snag them first. We got there only 30 minutes before closing time, which was very stressful. This is the kind of store that I like to have lots of contemplation time in (let alone time for making calculations, measuring, etc.). Plus, it was almost dinner time and our boys were melting down.

The days we walk away empty-handed are a bit deflating, but as with any secondhand shopping trip: you win some and you lose some. That said, at prices with that huge of a discount, it is worth an attempt (or two, or three). Inventory at these stores changes rapidly, so we know to keep on checking back. We also follow the various ReStore locations on Facebook because they post a few pictures of new items each month.

If we end up with a free day to drive up to Baltimore, I'd love to check out Second Chance, which has an impressive 200,000 square feet of architectural salvage retail space. Baltimore has so many old homes that they get in really unique things as well as modern stuff.

Navigating Second-Hand Construction Materials

One of the top ways that my family lives more green for less green is through the wonder of second-hand items. We love used things because they come to us without concerns about responsible raw material usage or ethical production. Plus, we are keeping something out of a landfill. Also, those select plastic or composite things that we do bring into the house are typically done off-gassing. Win, win, win, win!

Between Freecycle, Craigslist, household item swaps, yard and consignment sales, and thrift stores, we don't have to buy much new.  But, is this strategy possible with construction materials? We're sure trying! Here's how:

Salvage: Unfortunately, old water damage, cockroach infestation, and general neglect rendered most things in our basement unsalvagable. We are still contemplating rebuilding the toilet innards and reusing that, but we may splurge on a dual-flush toilet instead. The biggest thing we can save is our stairs. We will reuse the knotty pine panels to spruce up the stair walls (they will be painted) and the stairs will be sanded and painted rather than being demolished and rebuilt.

Scavenge: I sent hubby out to the shed to look through the random things that the previous owners of our house left behind. Sure enough, we found several boxes of wall tile to use around the bathtub. There is not enough for the entire area, but we  hope to supplement with similar tile from other sources to create a look like this:

ReStore: Habitat for Humanity runs the ReStore, which is like a thrift store for home improvement materials. There are retro things, modern used things, as well as some brand new materials. I plan to do a whole post on our ReStore adventures, but I will share that we found tile to supplement what we found in the shed (though we still will have to buy a smidge more, new)

Craigslist: The materials section on Craiglist is loaded with a variety of items. Just like ReStore, there is a mix of new and used, retro and modern. We bought a new bathroom vanity for a mere $50 from a guy who bought in on close-out at Home Depot, brought it home and his wife didn't like it, so he put it in a storage facility to sit.

Freecycle: Over the summer, someone in our community listed brand new tile flooring that they had never gotten around to using on Freecycle. We knew it would be enough to floor the entire bathroom and perhaps a closet, too.

When using reclaimed items  from many sources, it is key to go in with an open mind and aim for mostly neutral items. Now that we've managed to piece together neutral flooring, neutral wall tile, and a neutral vanity, we can start thinking about pepping things up. For example, buying a bit of new tile to create an accent stripe around the bathtub stall, or using bright paint, or refinishing the vanity with a color.



Vanity Inspiration



Accent Tile Inspiration

Demolition Has Started!

Demolition started on Wednesday and has progressed very quickly.

Day 1-We've made some discoveries: the walls and ceiling actually have some insulation in them; behind the drywall we found old-school knotty pine walls (we'll salvage some, but most is icky); there is indeed asbestos tile under the vinyl, as we suspected; we did not find any moisture on the exterior walls, however the wall near the bathroom is wet and one of the workers fell through the squishy subfloor (once we found out that he was not hurt, we had a good chuckle about what a surprise that must have been while using the...ahem...facilities). I couldn't bring myself to ask how many cockroach bodies they found behind the drywall. By the time I came downstairs, it had been vacuumed.

Day 2- We've discovered all kinds of sketchy electrical wires hanging out in the walls and ceiling. Yikes! We've also discovered the source of the wet bathroom, the big, iron pipe that takes waste-water from the main floor bathroom to the sewer line has been leaking. Think about that for a moment. Yes, that kind of water has been leaking under the basement bathroom subfloor. So, so gross. I guess that explains the humidity and unpleasant smell down there. Shudder! On the up-side, this is fixable, and since we have identified the root of the odor, this may mean that the completed basement will be even more pleasant than we imagined.

Day 3- Our basement is a clean slate, in terms of design. (Though nothing about it is clean.) Next up is plumbing and electrical demo, then re-framing the exterior walls begins.

Come on downstairs and check out our progress so far.

(Illegal) Kitchen
 

When We Moved In

(Ugh, I forgot about those upper cabinets. They were filled with roaches.

  

Last Week



 

Day 1 Demo

  



Day 2 Demo



Main Room



Day 2: Knotty Pine Revealed



Old Damage From When The House Didn't Have Gutters



Day 3: Bye, Bye Walls



Bathroom

 

Unfortunately, the house was so neglected before we bought it, that not much is salvageable. I've had some moments of freak-out about all of the waste, but what's done is done. All we can do is move forward responsibly. We do plan to recycle the iron pipes that will be removed shortly (from plumbing and remnants from the old oil heat system) and we're hoping that Habitat for Humanity Restore will take the old bathtub and any of the good knotty pine panels that we do not reuse. 



Basement Flooring: Cork, Here We Come!

The current flooring in most of the basement is vinyl, but it is not in good enough condition that we would keep it exposed. Initially, we thought that we would go with the simple option of getting the floor down to concrete and then painting it. Painted concrete is affordable and more attractive than you might think. With an eco-friendly paint or stain, this is also a good choice in terms of indoor air quality.

But, that wasn’t meant to be. First off, we realized how cold the floor would be—not so pleasant in the winter. But, then the even bigger problem showed up. As we started to talk with contractors, we began to wonder if there might be asbestos tile under the vinyl (due to the age of the house and because we have some of the tell-tale 8 inch square black tiles in our laundry room). Removing the vinyl would risk disturbing any possible asbestos, which would then have to be removed at great cost and health risk. In contrast, intact, undisturbed asbestos tile is perfect harmless. So, the current floor (and whatever is under it), needs to stay.

So, what can we put down over top of the vinyl that is environmentally responsible, suitable for a sub-grade space, and won’t freeze our toes off when we hang out down there? It turns out there is no universally right answer. However, here is how we processed through the options to find the best fit for us:


Carpet? Synthetics off-gas. Wool costs a fortune. I am not a fan of wall-to-wall carpet in the name of minimizing dust, dirt, and lead. This is a concern in an older neighborhood like mine that has old paint flaking off houses, which then becomes part of the dirt again. Plus, it is a basement and there is always that “what if” worry about moisture.

Hardwood? Our main floor is original 1950 hardwood and we love it, but most hardwood is not a viable sub-grade flooring option. If we went with a floating option, I knew I would obsess over how the wood was sourced and finding something that met my standards would lead to blowing the budget.

Bamboo? A floating bamboo floor can be OK for basements, but it isn’t a great choice for sub-grade. Plus, it is pricey and it can be difficult to install (or so we’ve heard). We do love that bamboo is rapidly replaceable, though.

Vinyl? Being that we minimize plastics in our home we never really considered this one. I mean, the good news is that vinyl is cheap; but the bad news is that it has no redeeming value in terms of production or indoor air quality. It is probably the most popular basement option, but adding new vinyl is not the right choice for our green goals.

Linoleum? Yes, actually linoleum made from linseed oil is still around. It is a great, eco-friendly choice and comes in every color of the rainbow. We looked at Marmoleum and quite liked it, but were not convinced it was the best choice for a sub-grade space.

Tile? This is another one that is a natural for possibly damp spaces like basements, but it is too cold for the main part of the basement. Plus, the firmness is too hard on my back—I need a slightly springy floor. Plus, that whole obsessing over the source thing: where was the stone quarried, was it done responsibly, is it over-quarried, etc. That said, I know that tile is a good choice for the bathroom. Amazingly, someone posted 70 square feet of new tile on Freecycle and we got it. Yay for free. Plus, since we are repurposing cast-offs, I feel freed of ethical obligations about manufacturing.

Cork? The first thing that came to mind when we heard about cork was a floor that looked like a giant bulletin board—spongy and light brown. Ugh! But since cork naturally resists mildew and comes from a renewable source, we wanted to learn more. We went to Amicus Green Building Supply and checked out several brands. We knew that everything at Amicus was carefully vetted to meet high environmental standards. There, we saw that some brands look very much like hardwood, plank floors and come in many shades. We discovered that cork has a natural warmth to it and has a very gentle springiness but yet is quite sturdy. Finally, we had a winning material! Read more about how amazing cork is, here.

Cork floors (like any product) are not equally durable or green—some cut corners on the backing, others don’t protect the cork well with a coating (or use an off-gassing sealant), some must be installed with formaldehyde-laden adhesives. Ultimately, were impressed by USFloors/Natural Cork, which is the only US producer of cork flooring. (Bonus points: they use solar at their facilities). We went with their Greenguard Certified Almada line, which is click-together planks (so no glues to install it), comes with a solid warranty, and is lovely.  Here is the stock photo of the flooring we chose:

US Floors' Almada line  in Marcas Areia

In terms of cost, a high-quality cork floor is more expensive than vinyl , basic carpet, or basic tile, but is less than hardwood or bamboo. Coming in at over 10% of our project budget, flooring is likely our highest cost material.

Final Flooring Verdict:

-Living areas of the basement (about 600 square feet) will have cork with QuietWalk Floating Floor Pad as the underlayment
-Bathroom will have tile that we got off Freecycle
-Closets will have tile or cork, depending on which material we have extra of
-Unfinished laundry room remains the same with vinyl and asbestos squares (the laundry room is not part of the renovation)