There Are Many Environmentally Friendly Countertop Options
There Are Many Environmentally Friendly Countertop Options
There may come a time when you are in the market for a simplified kitchen makeover. Moreover, you may be in a place where you have a healthy lifestyle in place for yourself and your family, and you would like to incorporate that into your new kitchen makeover as well.
It is not necessary for a complete demolition of your kitchen in order to give it that extra lift you seek. Refacing cabinets or simply replacing worn and dated countertops is an excellent way to give your kitchen a mini-facial if you are not ready for a complete facelift.
Incorporating environmentally friendly countertop options with your already existing healthy lifestyle is a win/win situation in that regard.
Environmentally friendly countertops offer many benefits, including lasting value, long-term beauty, good for your health, and beneficial to the environment.
Recycled Paper Is an Interesting Option for Your Countertops
Recycled paper countertops are made from paper that is recycled, combined together with resin and then heated and compressed. This combination makes for a durable, attractive, and eco-friendly countertop but high heat can cause delamination.
- Recycled paper countertops have many benefits:
* Less porous
* Easy to clean
* Wear longer
* Lightweight
Another benefit is that recycled paper countertops are more likely manufactured by companies that are also aware and utilize environmentally friendly transportation practices as well. Companies that are aware of environmentally friendly products typically find unique and creative ways to be that way from product start to delivery.
- Reclaimed Wood or Bamboo Countertops
Reclaimed wood countertops are an excellent idea in that they offer many benefits.
* Saving forests
* Durable
* Attractive
* Keeping landfills cleaner
Reclaimed wood countertops come from many sources. Many companies that are eco-friendly manufacture them, or you can go to a salvage yard for a do-it-yourself project. Houses, barns, and old restoration projects are often the best source for reclaimed wood. However, they are porous and require sealing.
- Recycled Glass Countertops
Recycled glass countertops are an amazing eco-friendly choice. There are many benefits, both for the environment and for aesthetic purposes:
* Durable
* Fashionable
* Versatile
* Environmentally friendly
Recycled glass countertops come in an assortment of colors and are made into many different design patters and with just as many color combinations. Recycled glass is an excellent way to create a look that you love that is sturdy and beautiful, all the while helping the environment.
There is no end to the array of patterns and designs that you can make with recycled glass for your countertops. Once combined with porcelain and cement, you have yourself a durable and beautiful set of countertops. Recycled glass is heavy. At 2-2 ½ inches thick it is just as heavy as granite, marble, slate, or concrete. When dealing with heavy countertops as those made with granite, marble, slate, concrete, or recycled glass, you need to be concerned about support, especially if there is going to be an overhang at the end of a counter or a kitchen island. To properly support the overhang, you need a special bracket. These are made by several manufacturers such as Ego Bike, Ekena, Ecotrie, 7 Blacksmith, Centerline, Original Granite Bracket, Kitchensource, Hyperdraum and Tech Team https://techteamproducts.com/ however the ones we liked the best are made by Tech Team. Their model 732 https://www.amazon.com/Countertop-Brackets-Countertops-Heavy-Duty-Construction/dp/B07G1KQPPQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1547587979&sr=8-3&keywords=tech+team+countertop+brackets+for+granite and model 781 (link) are different from the other manufacturers in that they are a full 8” x 8” as opposed to 6” x 8”, therefore giving you additional support and they are a full 12mm/ ½” thick as opposed to 10mm/ 3/8” from all the other manufacturers. They are truly the best ones you can buy for this type of project.
These are a few of the many eco-friendly countertops available in today’s eco-friendly market.
