Saturday, January 30, 2010

Gorgeous Counter Tops That Are Environmentally Safe

By Paul Hendrich

A counter top is a horizontal work area in kitchens & food preparation areas. Usually, it is accompanied by cabinets above & below. Several different materials, such as stone, to wood, to plastic, to tiles, & even steel, among numerous others, can be used in making counter tops.

But because of the growing awareness for the environment, there are now items for counter tops that are not only durable, but also great looking and eco conscious. So if you're looking for a new countertop and are leaning to materials that's a little kinder on the earth than laminate or stone, there are now many choices available that are made from recycled products, can be recycled at end-of-life -- or are both recycled & recyclable -- or are made from renewable resources.

Some of the greener counter top options are as follows:

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

2. Recycled glass - There are many recycled glass counter tops on the market place nowadays. Each kind has their own unique charm.

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

4. Alkemi - This material is made from 35% of a post-industrial waste product called "fine flake aluminum milling scrap". It is available in 3 different surface treatments (textured, classic & honed) and twelve colors to choose from.

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 comes in a variety of colors & can be used for as kitchen and bathroom counter tops.

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 has to be sealed on a regular basis. It is available in several colours.

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