Earth Friendly
Demand for construction with eco-friendly materials has generated questions about the use of natural stone, such as granite and marble, in home construction and remodeling projects. The first word of the name "natural stone" is an indication that Refined Stone is proud to work with a product that is 100% natural.
In our stone fabrication shop we use a four step water recycling & filtration system which allows us to continually reuse and conserve the water used in the process. Refined Stone also uses low voc (volatile organic compound) resins and sealants.
The benefits of using natural stone as a green construction material can be found at asnstone.com:
- Natural Stone is not a scarce resource.
- It is not man made. It already exists.
- Quarrying and processing uses minimal energy which = a low carbon footprint.
- Ocean freight is cost efficient.
- Maintenance of natural stone is minimal when you use eco friendly soap and water.
- Natural stone lasts many lifetimes.
If you're looking for a 100% green building material for your new kitchen countertops the U.S. Green Building Council makes the following suggestion: Don't remove your laminate countertops. Instead cover them with a low VOC mastic compound which will give you the look of rough concrete then paint them with a food safe concrete paint for color. Or you may find recycled ceramic tile and stick that onto the mastic. For more information visit http://www.usgbc.org/.
