Counter intelligence; Most natural, recycled materials are stain-, heat- and ...

There is an old saying that "the kitchen is the heart of the home."

That's certainly true today as newer homes are built and older ones remodeled with more open floor plans to accommodate the return of the kitchen as the common area for gathering and entertaining, says Steve King, a certified remodeler and owner of Davis Kitchens in Albuquerque.

Kitchens are frequently being integrated into a larger space that may include a family room and home office area. Even in an economic downturn, he says, "people are much less hesitant to put money into a kitchen (remodel) because they know they'll get a greater return on their money there than in any other room in the house."

A focal point in these kitchens is the countertop space, and as long as people are investing in the heart of the home, so to speak, they're increasingly looking for environmentally friendly "green" materials, King says.

Depending on how green you want to be and how much "green" you want to spend, there are plenty of choices, including natural materials, recycled materials and some that aren't normally thought of as being particularly ecofriendly, King says. Nearly all of them are stain-, heat-, chip- and scratch-resistant, and many lend themselves to sanding and buffing to remove scratches when they do appear.

Granite used to be the "high-end preference because it was infrequently used and it was expensive," King says. As it grew in popularity, more sources and suppliers were found and the price dropped. It can now be found in entry-level production-built homes, he says.

Granite countertops come in different colors, patterns, densities and thicknesses. Costs commonly range from $50 to $100 a square foot installed, but some of the rarer and more exotic types can exceed $500 a square foot, King says.

Although found in countries around the world, most granite used in the American construction trades comes from quarries in India, Brazil, Italy and China. Consequently, it must be shipped greater distances than other materials.

"Granite is a natural material and does not contain any petroleum products," King says. "But it is not renewable in any practical sense and I wouldn't call it green."

Peter Sims, owner of Tom Sawyer Enterprises, an Albuquerque fabricator and installer of kitchen countertops, has worked with Richlite and Paperstone, two products made from recycled office paper. The paper is treated with natural resins and pigments and then baked and heated under pressure to create thick, solid sheets.

Wilsonart Counter top – Making a choice coming from a Wide range ...

Inside 1956, Wilsonart Global had been based by the upon the market laminate executive that desired to top off his / her free time. There was clearly absolutely no purpose on his / her part, for being a rival inside produce of laminate. Their pastime increased inside the 1960′s period which has a committed work force, high quality items, and also a fully commited customer care department which three products associated with business spell achievement.

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