Ask A Pro
Ask GreenHomeGuide a question about greening your home. We'll put your question to our network of the best and brightest green architects, designers, contractors and consultants across the U.S. If you have a question, Ask A Pro.
Fernando Feldman
Can you recommend a nontoxic spackle for patching walls?
Asked by Marisa Marquez, Riverside, CA
What should an electrician know about working with SIPs?
Asked by Teresa Taylor, Hamilton, OH
Can you help me find affordable blueprints or designs for a green home?
Asked by William Robles, Roswell, NM
Shannon Demma
Is it safe to remove vinyl flooring while I'm pregnant? What's the best material to replace it?
Asked by Carrie Smith, Cincinnati, OH
Are Paperstone or IceStone countertops good choices for indoor air quality?
Asked by Sean Sullivan, Milltown, NJ
Should we install cork flooring in our moisture-prone basement?
Asked by Jennifer Krentz, Mount Prospect, IL
Florian Speier
Can I configure an electric tankless water heater to run a baseboard hot-water heating system?
Asked by Larry Cassis, Brooksville, ME
Our Oregon home is not a good candidate for solar. How can we make the house more energy efficient?
Asked by Brittany Sims, Portland, OR
I want to help get my mom's house "off the grid." Where do I start?
Asked by Jackie Mellen, Chipley, FL
Martine Paquin
For a baby nursery, is refinishing the hardwood floor better than installing new carpet?
Asked by Anna Hilton, Philadelphia, PA
Can we avoid formaldehyde in adhesives by choosing hardwood flooring that is nailed into place?
Asked by Herbert Lichtman, Chicago, IL
What's the best replacement for a wood floor in a home with a pool, teenage boys, and two dogs?
Asked by Nancy Meisch, North Richland Hills, TX
Paul Rosen
I'd like to power our home with solar and sell the excess back to the grid. Can you help?
Asked by Wendie Hall, Albertville, AL
I am interested in solar PV. What do you recommend for an old house?
Asked by Exton Quinn, Santa Monica, CA
Can you tell me how well solar hot-water heaters work?
Asked by Betsy Humes, Brooklyn, NY
Kirsten Flynn
What resources are used to manufacture natural fiber carpet?
Asked by Christine Wong, Ithaca, NY
Where can we find inexpensive cabinets for our hobby room?
Asked by Anne Osher, Houston, TX
How can I reupholster furniture sustainably?
Asked by Amy Wallace, Darien, CT
Susan Wisniewski
Are there alternatives to cypress and pressure-treated pine for fences?
Asked by Tim Martin, St. Petersburg, FL
What's the difference between a green roof and a white roof?
Asked by Angela Corcoran, Brooklyn, NY
Can you offer landscaping ideas for a small urban backyard?
Asked by Robyn Shaw, Brooklyn, NY
Susan Davis
Can I insulate my roof without destroying the vintage pressed-tin ceiling?
Asked by Betsy Humes, Brooklyn, NY
Should I choose vinyl or non-vinyl replacement windows?
Asked by Laura Burdick, Alexandria, VA
Can you offer advice for building our kitchen cabinets sustainably?
Asked by Jennifer Housel, Kingsley, PA
Richard Parker
Can you help me select a high efficiency furnace?
Asked by Jeffrey Vigneault, Redding, CT
What should we consider when buying land for a green home?
Asked by J. Nussbaum, Alameda, CA
Is there an eco-friendly sealer for my granite countertops?
Asked by Nancy Spiccia, Alpharetta, GA
Greg Upwall
Moisture is leaking through our new basement windows. What should we do?
Asked by Laurie Jack, Lloydminster, SK, Canada
Large gaps have formed between the boards of my wood-paneled walls. Can they be saved?
Asked by Alison L., Baton Rouge, LA
We want to design a passive-solar home for a hot climate. Can we still have views to the east?
Asked by Dorothy Shannon, Charlotte, NC
Miriam Landman
How can I become a green builder?
Asked by G. Marshall, Oakland, CA
Can you recommend sources for green furniture?
Asked by Ross Levin, Lafayette Hill, PA
Is brick a good option for siding? How green is it?
Asked by Ken Yaber, Bonneau, SC
Marian Keeler
What green options are there for wall coverings other than paint?
Asked by Anne Osher, Houston, TX
What are the best green alternatives to wood for decking?
Asked by Jodi Ropert, Windsor, CA
Is linoleum a good flooring choice for our baby's nursery?
Asked by Lauren Raymond, Avon, CO
Cassandra Adams
Is limestone tile a sustainable choice for a pool and patio surface?
Asked by Lynne Latham, Los Angeles, CA
What's the best way to capture solar heat from south-facing windows?
Asked by Jeff Kushner, Victor, MT
Are whole-house fans effective in northern latitudes?
Asked by J.C. Cahill, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Mari Strain
Can you recommend healthy flooring for a home with kids and pets?
Asked by Mary Haeberle, Brecksville, OH
Will bamboo flooring splinter under a wheelchair?
Asked by G. Grimbley, Fort Worth, TX
Is cork a good flooring choice for a basement? Will my cats damage the floor?
Asked by Erin Davidson, Richmond Heights, MO
Maggie Wood
How can I green my rented apartment?
Asked by Alicia Lipinski, Burbank, CA
Can you recommend solar window blinds that are not made of PVC?
Asked by Lisa Dow, New York, NY
How do I select safe natural fiber products for my home?
Asked by Amber Doyle, Spokane, WA
David Bergman
I want energy efficient lighting, but hate the cold light of fluorescents. Can you help?
Asked by Maya Leonard, Huntington, NY
Tankless water heaters: electric or gas?
Asked by Michelle Allman, North Hollywood, CA
Are old appliances green because we are reusing, or not green because they are not Energy Star?
Asked by Chris Tissot, North Hollywood, CA
Tracy Stone
Is there locally quarried stone near Southern California?
Asked by Caroline Kaplan, Mission Viejo, CA
Can you help me find information about earth-friendly interior doors?
Asked by Jen Dyl, San Diego, CA
Where can I find unfinished wheatboard cabinets?
Asked by Paul Hurty, Los Angeles, CA
Connie McCullah
Can I switch to solar-heated water in my radiant heat system?
Asked by Lynn Freeman, Sandy, OR
How can I keep costs down during the permit and construction phases of my green home?
Asked by Andy Chase, Atlanta, GA
Which is greener: fiber-cement or vinyl siding?
Asked by Patty Boyce, Berea, KY
Mitch Boucher
Is there a greener alternative to polyethylene housewrap?
Asked by Oresta Korbutiak, Ottawa, ON
We are installing a radiant heat system. Can you recommend safe flooring adhesives to use?
Asked by Kimberly Keene, Nevada City, CA
Can you point me to resources for building an energy-efficient home?
Asked by Jeff Kushner, Wentzville, MO
Eric Corey Freed
Should I worry about the mercury in fluorescent light bulbs?
Asked by Craig Dunlappe, Albany, CA
What can I do to reduce my home's carbon footprint?
Asked by Kathryn Stewart, New York, NY
Matthew Bremer
What are the environmental benefits or concerns about engineered stone countertops?
Asked by Luisa Prescott, Cape Girardeau, MO
Can you recommend a nontoxic waterproof wood sealer for my outdoor window boxes?
Asked by Sam Beck, Brooklyn, NY
We're remodeling our bathroom due to faulty construction. Can you offer some green pointers?
Asked by Jennifer Teufel, Atlanta, GA
Ricky Cappe
Are induction cooktops better for indoor air quality than gas?
Asked by Sara Edelman, Hillsboro, OR
Can you recommend flooring for a basement that tends to get moldy?
Asked by Mary Walters, Sharon, CT
We're buying a house with 25-year-old solar panels. Should we have the system updated?
Asked by Michael and Amy Bergman, Alexandria, VA
Cynthia Phakos
How can I remodel my oceanside property for maximum energy efficiency?
Asked by Tricia Mittens, Nassau, Bahamas
I want to convert my home to solar energy. Should I install panels on the roof or build a trellis?
Asked by Mark Conrad, Venice, CA
Where can I dispose of carpet the environmentally sound way?
Asked by Sarah Scholze, Bloomfield, CA
Brad Hubbell
Are there nontoxic alternatives to vinyl and lead sheeting for shower pans?
Asked by Sheila Brody, Brooklyn, NY
Is concrete flooring eco-friendly? What's the best way to finish it - stain, paint, polish?
Asked by Nancy Hengerer, Hemet, CA
Can radiant heating be installed under our existing flooring?
Asked by Ben Pinder, San Jose, CA
Steve Rush
We're expecting twins soon. How can we refinish our floors now with the least harm to air quality?
Asked by John Salerno, Hoboken, NJ
How do you deal with existing, possibly toxic, wall and floor finishes?
Asked by Elizabeth Cummings, Iowa City, IA
My wife is chemically sensitive. What's the best way to get rid of stubborn paint odors in our home?
Asked by Andy Doyle, El Cerrito, CA
John Messerschmidt
How do I build a green doghouse?
Asked by Lorraine Conti, Staten Island, NY
What are the best financing options for building green in New York?
Asked by Cecilia Dean, Brooklyn, NY
Is it possible to build a green home in southeastern Pennsylvania for $200,000?
Asked by Jenamarie Daviton, Rochester, NY
Peter Kellner
What are the best green construction materials for framing a house on the rainy Oregon coast?
Asked by Shane Daugherty, Coos Bay, OR
Our new loft is being built in St. Louis. Should we insist on green upgrades?
Asked by Stella Tanner, Los Angeles, CA
Can you offer tips for comparing the indoor air quality effects of different cork flooring products?
Asked by Jeff Carlson, Boise, ID
Kevin Burrell
My house uses well water, and the water from my tankless heater often runs cold. What's going on?
Asked by Ronald Symecko, Sugar Land, TX
Do hot water recirculation systems work? What kind would you recommend?
Asked by Mei Lie Wong, Santa Clara, CA
Is it true that tankless water heaters are expensive and complicated to install?
Asked by B. Chiselbrook, Fort Worth, TX
Dietmar Lorenz
I need to add insulation beneath my wooden floor. What materials or systems do you recommend?
Asked by Eric Goldfarb, Belmont, CA
Are structural insulated panels (SIPs) the right choice for building a healthy home?
Asked by Allen Stone, Memphis, TN
Can I safely re-use old cotton batting for attic insulation?
Asked by Paul Richard, Vancouver, BC
Polly Osborne
Can you suggest an alternative to pressure-treated wood for garden borders and raised planters?
Asked by Phoebe Tureen, Los Angeles, CA
We want to replace our small concrete patio with an inexpensive green material. Suggestions?
Asked by Susan Graven, Redondo Beach, CA
How much does green construction add to the cost of a new home?
Asked by Larry Chamblin, Pensacola, FL
Piper Kujac
How do I strip wood trim without using toxic chemicals?
Asked by Andrea, Vancouver, BC
Which wood finishes are safe to use on children's furniture?
Asked by Karen Bird, Denver, CO
It’s nice to know about green flooring, but can you shed any light on not-so-green products?
Asked by Karen Kieny, Teaneck, NJ
Carl Seville
What's the best affordable sustainable siding option? Any thoughts on roofing materials and gutters?
Asked by Wendy Jebens, Carrboro, NC
Does DensArmor drywall replace green board? Should I worry about formaldehyde?
Asked by Eric Fixler, Oakland, CA
Should we insist that our contractor use expanding foam insulation around our new windows?
Asked by Sally Kieny, Colchester, VT
Chris Benedict
Which foam insulation is best for the south coast Atlantic region: closed cell or open cell?
Asked by Jud Laird, Miami, FL
Is it better to control heat with the thermostat or switch it on and off according to need?
Asked by Jon Lange, Collegeville, PA
Does installing a recirculation pump cause the tankless heater to stay on, eliminating savings?
Asked by Donald Hill, San Diego, CA
Lily Livingston
I plan to replace my kitchen countertops and don't want to spend a lot of money. Any suggestions?
Asked by Richard Graves, Toluca Lake, CA
Doesn't sprayed insulation tend to settle, leaving areas in the wall where there is no insulation?
Asked by Beth Dyack, Stuart, FL
We are considering radiant heat. Will manufactured bamboo flooring stand up to the challenge?
Asked by Julie Reimers, Stony Brook, NY
