Friday, 11 December 2009

Gorgeous Counter Tops That Are Environment Friendly

By Paul Hendrich

A counter top is a level work surface in kitchens & food preparation areas. Commonly, cabinets are installed above and below. A counter top can be made from several different materials, ranging from stone, to wood, to plastic, to tiles, & even steel, among many others.

Many items are now available which are durable, but also great looking & environmentally conscious, because of the growing consciousness for the environment. So if you're searching for a new countertop and are leaning to something that's a little kinder on the environment than laminate or stone, there are now plenty of options available that are created from recycled products, can be recycled at end-of-life -- or are both recycled and recyclable -- or are made from renewable resources.

A few of the greener counter top alternatives are as follows:

1. Stainless steel - On the average, Stainless steel counter tops consist of 75% recycled steel and can contain up to 100% recycled content. They are non-porous and antibacterial, and emit no VOCs. The only downside is they scratch and show fingerprints quickly.

2. Recycled glass - These days, there are many recycled glass counter tops on the market. Each of them has their own unique charm.

3. BioGlass - This consists of 100% recycled and recyclable glass. It is available in six natural colors and can be used for backsplashes or counter tops.

4. Alkemi - This material is made from 35% "fine flake aluminum milling scrap," a post-industrial waste product. You can choose from three different surface treatments (textured, classic and honed) & 12 colours.

5. Paperstone - Paperstone counter tops are created from either 100% post-consumer office paper or 100% post-consumer cardboard fused with a non-petroleum based resin. It can be used for as kitchen and bathroom counter tops & comes in a variety of colors.

6. IceStone - This is made in Brooklyn, New York. This product has a surface twice as durable as marble, because it uses 100% glass which is otherwise bound for landfill, mixed with concrete. Like a stone product, it does need to be sealed on a regular basis. You can get it in several colours.

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