Reclaimed Flooring - A Grounding Mechanism

Project: Casita Verde, Seaside Ca
- Whole-House Green Retrofit

Stage: Interior Flooring Installation

Scope of Work: Sourcing, Design + Installation

Material: Reclaimed 2 x 6 World War II Era T & G Douglas Fir

Sealer: Environmentally Sensitive Bona Products

Intention:

My house in Seaside is 680 sf. Given the small footprint, we wanted a flooring material that oozed comfort and durability. The primary prerequisites for choosing and sourcing the flooring material was it had to have a previous life/function and had to have been deconstructed/disassembled either here locally or within 500 miles of Seaside. We were in luck. We found 800 sf of old factory subfloor material in Petaluma- 680+/_sf we set aside for the main house and the remaining material for the detached soon-to-be-designed-and-built shed structure in the back yard for extended living space. The flooring had been salvaged from an old mill in the bay area, rich with history and ready for assembly. Note: It was a jouney in and of itself just getting the material- another post entirely!

During our whole-house green retrofit process, the flooring was garaged for two years (thanks Dad for sacrificing your parking spot for so so long) while the rest of the house was being gutted, converted, expanded upon and reconstructed on the exterior and interior. It has been a long time coming and I am grateful for all the hands that went in to this adventurous project. I want to especially thank my sister Kim for coming down from Fremont to help sand- having her artistic eye and 'go for it' spirit is always a pleasure and a joy.

Images Below : Installation Process







Given the flooring's age, thickness and type, the installation was a labor of love to say the least. The installation took about four times longer than a typical engineered flooring.

Below: Images of the sanding, wood filler, and sealing applications.

Final sealing/ buffing

Conclusion- After living with the flooring for (1) month:

Regardless of the obvious challenges that come with using reclaimed flooring, I wouldn't have done it any other way. The home feels cozy and inviting with the floors rich variation of texture and color. It's light enough to illuminate and reflect day light throughout the house and rich enough to ground the white-washed walls. Originally I was envisioning a dark wood floor, but I've found that this material creates an expansive sense of place in such as small limited living space- it also ties in with the doug fir window trim, interior doors and beams, emphasizing simplicity and minimalism which will contrast nicely with the more modern and industrial furnishings of the home.

The flooring is as soft as butta on the feet, easy to clean with warm water, and has been PERFECT for yoga sessions in the living room. I love the slight imperfections and variation of the wood under my feet- I can literally sense the subtle layers of imbedded history as I walk.

The one thing I would have done in addition is applied another final coat of sealer to fill the cracks between boards ENTIRELY . This final step would have eliminated the 'dirt between the cracks' issue... As a result, we take our shoes off before entering the house which has been a blessing in disguise- I have become more grounded and connected in this new home...Who would have thought that this material that caught my eye would become a constant grounding mechanism to my every day? The power of architecture and material alive and real.

200 gallon Rainwater HOG Installation, Seaside Ca

Location: Seaside, Ca

Client: College Art Instructor / Ceramicist

Project Scope: Phase I Rainwater Harvesting System Design / Installation

Storage Capacity: 200 gal Rainwater HOG System

Design Intention:

This is a gravity fed rain catchment system intended to fulfill the landscape water requirements for the client's back yard for a significant portion of the year once fully implemented. The rest of the water needs will be supplied by graywater to support summer and fall months when rainwater supply is running low or depleted. Supplemental units plan to be installed in the near future in multiple locations to maximize storage capacity, take advantage of site placement and the slight slope of the lot and fultill the water requirements for both native and non-native water-loving plant species such as clumping bamboo for wind and privacy screening.

A great little project indeed and I look forward to completing the larger whole-house water recycling vision in the near future.

MARINA, CA - PERMITTED RESIDENTIAL GRAYWATER SYSTEM

LIGHT HOUSES has just completed construction on one of Marina's first permitted residential graywater systems!








Constructed Wetland




Non-potable graywater signage for irrigation valve boxes



















BELOW: IN THE TRENCHES...

Residential Graywater Design + Installation

Project: Harvest LIFE Project, Marina California

Progress Report: Wednesday & Thursday Field Work

Myself and my crew are in the middle stage of implementing our current graywater manifestation in Marina California. Because our client is moving in to their newly renovated and retrofitted home this weekend, we have been working simultaneously on both the Laundry to Landscape and Cistern w/ Effluent Pump system in the front and back yard so they can utilize their washer, two showers and two sinks as soon as they move in. (These are the water fixtures that are tied to the graywater systems.) The entire plumbing of the house has been retrofitted to accomodate these fixtures. The only fixtures that are not tied in to the graywater system is the kitchen sink and toilets.


We have excavated the earth (predominantly fine sand (sand dune)) beneath one foot of top soil, organic matter and roots that have accumulated over the years from a neighboring Monterey Cypress and Coast Live Oak tree along with the previous owners trees that were on site and since removed and ground down to mulch which we will use. We will be replacing these ornamental trees with more beneficial and multi-functioning species that will be key positioned to absorb graywater in a highly effective manner, provide edible fruit, coastal native habitat and protection from seasonal coastal winds and summer sun rays.




Picture Above & Below:
Back Yard Constructed Wetland + Marsh Drain Field
System: Cistern W/ Effluent Pump

KEY FEATURES:

1. The main overflow basin for the 1500 gallon cistern
2. A catch basin for (3) Infiltration Chambers for graywater being pumped through irrigation system
3. Mortared walls and wetland floor to be constructed out of 'urbanite' (recycled broken up concrete from on & off site local demolition sources) and finished with a local stone cap.
4. Home to cattails, rushes & marsh species.

















Picture to Left- Foreground: Mulch Basin # 3
System: Cistern W/ Effluent Pump

1. An overflow mulch basin for the Constructed Wetland & Marsh Drain Field (seen in the background of photo)

2. A catch basin for (2) Infiltration Chambers for graywater effluent being pumped through irrigation system.

3. Integrated into the basin will be a lemon tree (for water absorption, fruit, shade, cooling & interest) and seating wall as it terminates at the edge of the back patio and the living room space in the house.






Back Yard Mulch Basin # 4
System: Cistern W/ Effluent Pump

1. Catch basin for (5) Infiltration Chambers for graywater effluent being pumped through system.
2. Rain Garden for harvesting and diverting roof water catchment and overflow for future potable water cistern.
2. Blue elderberry tree, native shrubs & goundcovers.





Back Yard Mulch Basin #5
System: Cistern W/ Effluent Pump

1. Catch basin for (4) Infiltration Chambers
2. Rain Garden for harvesting and diverting roof water catchment and overflow for future potable water cistern.
3. Fig tree, native shrubs and groundcovers




Speaking of, I must return to the site pronto. Coming with more 1/2 tubing and couplings guys!

Graywater: Harvesting, Harnessing, Building & Growing LIFE

Project: Harvest LIFE Project: Marina, California

Project Scope: Design + Build Services

Stage of Development: Installation In Progress

Type of Systems Designed For Client's Home Ecosystem & Lifestyle:

1. 1500 gallon Cistern and Effluent Pump System with

Constructed Wetland + (3) Mulch Basins / Mini Leach Fields

2. Launday to Landscape with (2) Mulch Basins

3. Edible Canopy & Shade Trees, Wetland & Native Coastal Dune Plant Species & Monterey Cypress Species.

Edibles Include: Citrus (Lemon), Fig, Blue Elderberry, Banana, Apples

Natives Include: Buckwheats, sages, bunch grasses, ca. fuchsia, toyon, ceanothus, lupine...

Purpose of Green Retrofit:

To dramatically cut back on potable water consumption by harvesting used on-site graywater for edible and native coastal dune landscape, groundwater recharge, habitat creation, biodiversity building. This project is about shifting priorities and what is important, choosing a more self reliant and sufficient lifestyle, recognizing a precious untapped resource and taking FULL advantage of its potential- Reevaluating and redesigning the daily usage, requirements and cycle of water at the home scale. Here we have designed systems to diverted the 'waste' water stream and create multiple resource and nutrient streams that literally build and support life. It's about recognizing that potable water is in high demand and short supply and it doesn't need to be used in most home applications. Its about choosing a daily lifestyle that enbodies reuse and repurposing, harvesting, harnessing, redistributing, infiltrating, building (soil, delight and potential), attracting and welcoming (beneficials & diversity) and growing a healthy balanced connected nutritious life experience at home.

Pic: Contoured Mulch Basin / Mini Leach Field / Swale In Progress

Breaking Ground:

Here we are defining the constructed wetland for the cistern overflow planter. Here, cattails and rushes will filter, slow, and redistribute water for infiltration and plant requirements, attract beneficial insects, diverse wildlife, happy homeowners and a sense of peace and well being.

Mulch Basin Excavation, Contouring & Grading Work