Like we explained in our earlier post about the best eco-friendly paints, the whole sustainable materials and products world can be a bit overwhelming. Because of this, we thought we'd share some of our favorite eco-friendly countertops. Take a look, after the jump!
posted originally from: AT:San Francisco
There are three series of paper-based PaperStone products:
1) 'Original', which is made from 50% post-consumer waste, recycled paper 2) 'Certified', the FSC, Smartwood and Rainforest Alliance-certified product which is made from 100% post-consumer waste paper. 3) 'Virgin Series' made from virgin fiber. We've used the Original and the Certified, both were outstanding. Gorgeous, deep colors. They almost look like stained (and sometimes textured) concrete. The photo above the jump has a PaperStone countertop.
From $40 per sq/ft, uninstalled
Vetrazzo is (based out of the east bay!) a line of surface materials crafted from recycled glass and used anywhere natural stone is used; countertops, tabletops, flooring, architectural cladding and more. All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up approximately 85% of the final material. Their largest source of glass is their neighborhood curbside recycling programs. (See if you can spot last night’s Heineken bottle…)
Other glass comes from post-industrial usage, windows, drinking glasses, stemware, automotive glass, stained glass, laboratory glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, and other unusual sources such as decommissioned traffic light lenses.
From $100 per sq/ft, uninstalled
Squak Mountain Stone is made from coal fly ash, recycled glass and paper, and low-carbon cement.
Roughly $56 per sq/ft
Image: North Star Surfaces, St Paul, MN
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
IceStone (similar to Vetrazzo) is another gorgeous option. It's made in Brooklyn, NY and is Cradle-to-Cradle certified.
http://www.icestone.biz/new/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=482
view JL in QNS's profile
I just had Richlite (the main competitor to Paperstone) installed in my kitchen this year and love it so far! The paper gives it a softer and warmer hand than stone. It has held up great to our heavy kitchen usage, just needs a little mineral oil once every month or two, and also we try to avoid standing water (like, under the handsoap bottle, where if it sits for days, it will stain).
view ginafly's profile
we had paperstone countertops installed in our new house about 10 months ago. i'll say this much - i'm still glad we chose them, but i was not prepared for the amount of maintenance they require. every time i set a glass of ice water down i end up with a huge water mark. to it's credit, the paperstone cleans up very well and the water marks are never visible after you've wiped everything up.
another thing is that you really should plan on buying the paperstone cleaner and refinishing wax. regular countertop cleaner temporarily dulls the color of the paperstone. their cleaner contains oils that renew the look of it nicely. i would say once or twice a year, depending on use, you'd want to actually refinish them. all that involves is wiping the wax on and leaving it alone for at least 12 hours. not hard or too inconvenient, really.
i would still happily recommend them, but wouldn't want anyone to be taken by surprise either.
view muro.lamere's profile