Now more than ever, it’s essential for companies to incorporate eco-friendly practices into their business models and do their best to go green and give a little back to Mother Nature. Although Earth Day is April 22nd, practicing sustainability is in season all year round. We’re proud to share some of our eco-friendly methods that we conduct in an effort to significantly lower the environmental footprint of our projects.

Reducing Waste

Reducing waste is one of the easiest ways to practice sustainability. Regarding our projects, we do our best to order the correct amount of materials so there’s no waste. If there are usable leftovers, we will store them in our warehouse for use on another project or by one of the staff.

The construction industry creates more waste than most industries. We try to offset this by finding ways to recycle any extra materials that are not left with the homeowner. While the ultimate goal of a renovation is to blend new and original construction seamlessly, we also try to source materials that are as local as possible to reduce the environmental impact of shipping them. When our projects take us outdoors, we do our best to minimize the disruption we create to the surrounding ecosystem. Sustainability isn’t just about creating a healthy space for humans but also creating one that will be harmonious with the environment.

Eco-friendly Materials

LED lights have become the norm as an effective way to make any building more green. We always use LED bulbs and strip lights in all possible fixtures in our projects! They can last up to 20 years and will use less electricity than a traditional lightbulb in that time.

Using environmentally safe cleaning products is a simple way for homeowners to be sustainable. We use eco-friendly cleaners when we use soap and water on our jobs to clean up after ourselves. By incorporating environmentally safe cleaning products into our operations, we reduce the risk of exposing harmful chemicals to our workers, protect surfaces and materials we work with, and meet the expectations of our eco-conscious customers.

Sustainability Tips for Homeowners

At the end of every project, we leave the homeowner with a binder detailing all the finishes, fixtures, and equipment. This also includes cleaning and maintenance instructions, so that materials last longer and continue looking great. The less often that fixtures need to be replaced, the less waste there is. Even if you aren’t renovating, or planning to do it anytime soon, keeping your home clean and adequately maintained reduces excess waste caused by replacing fixtures and finishes.

Of course, sometimes going green can come with a steeper price tag than alternative materials. It may seem like you’re saving money by going the cheaper route. However, high-quality, eco-friendly materials typically have a longer life, and over time, the cost of upkeep can be less.

At Classic Remodeling, we strive every day to reduce our carbon footprint and offer more sustainable material options. The journey to a healthier planet for all begins with a single step. We’re honored to continue our work creating your dream home while maintaining respect for the beautiful Lowcountry environment around us.

Ready to make your home inspiration a reality with our 30 years of superior performance, craftsmanship, and service? Contact us today!

Our story starts with our homeowners who were relocating to Charleston. Their purchase was a stunning abode with plenty of living space, tucked away in the woods to create a peaceful retreat – the perfect place to call their forever home. However, while this house was nearly perfect, it didn’t have quite the personalized touch the couple was looking for and needed professional remodeling to include everything the homeowners wanted.

The house had good bones, though the inside was a bit dated, and there wasn’t enough natural flow for the client, according to our project consultant, Christy Ammerman. “They wanted to update the home and also open up the main living spaces of the kitchen/dining/living room to better suit the way they ‘lived,'” she explains.

Our team started with the flow problem by opening the wall between the living room and kitchen, creating an airy and spacious open floor plan. With this new modification, the homeowners also got the added benefit of an unobstructed view of their beautiful backyard.

Their primary bedroom was the next room to be remodeled. We gave the owners a larger bathroom and closet space and created a perfectly functional space.

“Another important space in the house was the screen porch,” explains Ammerman. “The original house came with a small screen porch that had little function. We tore off the existing porch and built a new larger screen porch for them that included both a sitting space and a dining space.” This outdoor renovation created a beautiful extended living space perfect for enjoying warm Lowcountry evenings surrounded by the property’s natural beauty.

Of course, every job comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities to get creative.

“When we initially met with these homeowners and started the design process, we knew that we would need to accomplish some of the changes in phases as they were on a time crunch of making the move down from up north,” says Ammerman. With such a tight time constraint, a master plan of all the tasks our team wanted to accomplish was created, and the different project phases were laid out so that we could stay on task and complete everything on time.

Another challenge required our team to redesign a set of stairs that was being added to an existing bedroom. The goal was to create a functional transition from the first to the second floor and provide the owners with easy access between floors that looked great and followed proper building codes, which we completed successfully.

This home had plenty of opportunities throughout the renovation to add little touches and details that perfectly suited its new owners and their lifestyle, from incorporating large skylights to help bring in as much natural light into the home as possible to building a custom bookcase in the entryway for the homeowners to showcase some of their art and artifacts from their travels abroad. “We had to design each cubby based on the certain sculpture that it would house. The piece turned out beautifully and is a great feature as you enter the home,” says Ammerman.

Of course, our team prides itself on using high-quality materials for our projects. This home featured Cambria quartz countertops, custom Greenfield cabinetry, wide plank, white oak flooring with a custom stain, Sherwin Williams paints, porcelain tiles, and Brizo plumbing fixtures for an effortlessly luxurious look.

When the project was finished, the homeowners moved into their newly renovated abode, which featured an open, airy floor plan, beautiful outdoor living space, functional rooms and storage, and intricate details, making their dream home complete.

Ready to make your home inspiration a reality with our 30 years of superior performance, craftsmanship, and service? Contact us today!