Granite Countertops
The ever-popular choice is a symbol of class and elegance for some, but there are big-time question marks and a few serious blemishes for granite.
Pros of Granite Countertops
It's quite durable, has a high degree of heat resistance, and comes in a huge variety of colors, mosaics, and styles.
Cons of Granite Countertops
It can absorb stains; it's a porous rock, after all, even with periodic sealing and maintenance, and it's very expensive.
How green are Granite Countertops?
Not very green at all. It's quarried from the ground in huge chunks, and once it's out, it doesn't go back, making it very non-renewable.
You can only slightly improve its green score by sourcing local granite, using low- and no-VOC sealants, and using remnant slabs leftovers from previous cuts.
There are also some concerns about levels of radiation in granite, which is a pretty serious health issue. Best avoid this stuff if you're looking to be green.
Installation of Granite Countertops
If you decide to go with granite, it's pretty tough stuff to install yourself. Every job is different, but for another over about six or eight square feet, you'd better be pretty strong and pretty handy to do it yourself. Best left to the pros.
Concrete Countertops
It's not just for foundations anymore. Concrete is growing in popularity as an interior building material, and can be a smart (if not entirely green more on that in a sec) choice if you have a custom kitchen or need oddly-shaped counters. Its aesthetic may not be for everyone, but the spare, simple style goes well in some kitchens.
Pros of Concrete Countertops
It can be custom-poured, which can be really handy if you have an unusual kitchen or need custom counters. Since it's customizable, you can also add pigments to create almost any color you like, though carefully consider the toxicity of the dyes in use.
Concrete is very heat-resistant, and extremely durable if installed properly it could be the last countertop you'll ever need.
Cons of Concrete Countertops
Concrete also requires periodic maintenance, in the form of sealing, every now and then, and it can absorb stains even if you keep it perfectly sealed.
How green are Concrete Countertops?
Unfortunately, concrete is not a very green choice. It has a huge embodied energy bill, which often leads to a humongous carbon footprint.
If it isn't maintained properly, bacteria can sneak in and inhabit the counter, which is pretty gross and potentially hazardous to your health.
Though some concrete materials can be sourced locally, somewhat reducing the overall impact, and it can sometimes be crushed up and used for other aggregate materials when you're done with it, there are definitely a variety of options that are greener than concrete.
Installation of Concrete Countertops
Unless you have experience pouring concrete, better to leave this one to those who do it can make a real mess if you don't do it properly.
Glass Tile Countertops
When you're looking for more than one color, and like your countertop to have a little texture to it, glass tile might be the material for you. It's a versatile, colorful, and stylish option that works well in many kitchens.
Pros of Glass Tile Countertops
Glass tiles are available in a rainbow of styles and colors, making it easy to select a style that matches your decor or desired look. Because they're generally a few inches or less square, it's easy to mix and match to create a one-of-a-kind mosaic that's perfect for you.
Cons of Glass Tile Countertops
They can be very difficult to remove if a couple gets damaged and cracks, or if you need to replace some or all of them, and so fixing just the broken tiles can be pretty problematic.
They also scratch a bit more easily than ceramic tiles and aren't always as uniform, which can require more grout when installing.
How green are Glass Tile Countertops?
Glass tiles can be made from some or all recycled content. Some tiles use glass that comes from curbside recycling programs, actually, and the process of creating the tiles, called sintering, is more energy efficient than making them from virgin materials. They're among the greener choices for countertops out there.
Installation of Glass Tile Countertops
Installing glass tiles yourself can be tricky, especially if you've never worked with grout before. You'll need some hardware and power tools to cut the tiles, and some specialized gear to deal with the grout makes it much easier. Ask a friend to help, or you may spend a day, or more, up to your elbows in a grouty mess.
Ceramic Tile Countertops
Made from natural clays, minerals, and sand, ceramic tiles are durable, modular options for kitchen countertops. They come in a wide range of price points and styles, and can be custom-made to fit your exact specifications.
Pros
Ceramic tiles don't scratch as easily as glass tiles, so they can be more durable. They're also quite heat-resistant, and, in some cases, can be replaced one at a time if some get broken or chipped.
Cons of Ceramic Tile Countertops
They can be hard to keep clean, thanks to the grout, so bacteria and undesirables can sneak in and make for a gross scene. The finished surface is a bit uneven, and if you drop something on the tiles, they can chip, crack, or break.
How green are Ceramic Tile Countertops?
Ceramic tiles can (but don't always, so do your homework) contain up to around 70 percent recycled materials, and, like other quarried materials like granite and concrete, can come from local sources.
However, extracting the materials and performing two high-temperature firings, needed to finish the tiles, consumes a very large amount of energy, and the tiles are very heavy when finished, so shipping them is very energy-intensive, as well.
Installation of Ceramic Tile Countertops
It's trickier than the (usually smaller) glass tiles, so, unless you're experienced, best to leave it to somebody who knows what they're doing.
Wood and Butcher Block Countertops
Wood and butcher block counters are a great way to bring warm, organic beauty into your home. Though not as durable as some of the other options, they can have a long, beautiful life if cared for properly, and many different woods and finishes can be used to match up your home's style or your personal aesthetic.
Pros of Wood and Butcher Block Countertops
The smooth, flat surface is easy to clean, and it can be sanded down and refinished, making it look just about like new.
Cons of Wood and Butcher Block Countertops
It's sensitive to water damage, so it isn't very useful right around a wet area (like the sink), and it can be burned or scorched more easily than many other counter options.
It's also softer than many options, so it requires regular maintenance to keep it in good shape. It's also more expensive than many other options.
How green are Wood and Butcher Block Countertops?
When sourced responsibly, wood is a truly renewable resource, so this is one of the greener materials out there. Be sure to look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood, and finish it with low- or no-VOC varnishes and finishes to help maintain good environmental health in your home.
Installation of Wood and Butcher Block Countertops
If you're experienced with woodworking, then you can probably handle the installation yourself.
Paper Composite Countertops
It might sound strange to have paper be the main ingredient in your countertop, but paper composite countertops are a durable (and pretty green!), stylish option for many kitchens.
Pros of Paper Composite Countertops
Paper composite handles the heat well and won't burn or scald nearly as easily as wood or butcher block. It's easy to care for and keep clean, requiring just the occasional mineral oil treatment rather than a complete re-finish; usually, no major maintenance is required. The darker colors will help it resist staining, and it's one of the more affordable options out there, too.
Cons of Paper Composite Countertops
Lighter colors can stain, and the finished countertops can require sanding and maintenance to keep them looking fresh.
How green are Paper Composite Countertops?
Paper composite is just what it sounds like — a composite of paper and adhesive. Often, the paper is recycled, but the resin holding it together is not, making the finished product unrecyclable.
So it's great that some of the materials are recycled, but not so good that the resulting materials don't have a very green end-of-life scenario. Still, overall, it's definitely on the greener side of things.
Installation of Paper Composite Countertops
It's definitely easier to work with than stone, which it mimics in look and feel, though it won't be a walk in the park if you've never installed or worked with countertops before. Proceed with caution.
Terrazzo Countertops
Instead of using paper as the composite, terrazzo substitutes glass and stone, bound with epoxy or cement. This makes for a very durable product and an exotic mosaic-like look.
It comes in a variety of styles, and, because many different colors and materials go into it, the finished product can match up with your existing decor or style.
Pros of Terrazzo Countertops
When finished, terrazzo is smooth to the touch, so it's easy to clean and keep clean. At 40+ years, its lifespan is long enough that you may never have to buy another counter again.
The brands that bind with epoxy also don't require any regular maintenance, resealing, or refinishing as some other countertop materials do. It's a good idea to seal the cement-bound counters to protect against wear. Once sealed, either version resists scratching and wears well for a long time.
Cons of Terrazzo Countertops
Like other slab products, if a little bit gets damaged, it gets tricky and/or expensive to fix it, since you can't just replace one tile, for example, so be careful not to mess it up!
How green are Terrazzo Countertops?
Glass, stone, and other recycled materials can make up as much as 95 percent of the materials in terrazzo, giving this high green marks for material sourcing.
The balance, anywhere from about 5 to 30 percent, is either epoxy resin or cement, both of which have not insignificant environmental impacts; epoxy is a petroleum product that can't be recycled (though old products can be crushed and used in counters again) and contains chemicals that nobody wants to have around (like phthalates).
The cement binder used in some products, like the cement countertops themselves, has a very high embodied energy bill, which can also lead to more carbon dioxide emissions. Overall, it's pretty green stuff, though.
Installation of Terrazzo Countertops
Again, since it comes in big slabs, if you've never worked on countertops before, it'll be tricky, and you're better off having somebody who knows exactly what they're doing handle it.
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