Few elements of a kitchen draw as much attention, or as much money, as a countertop does. Over the past decade granite (along with other natural stones), has become so popular that it has lost its allure and now remains common. If you’re looking for a countertop that will make a dramatic style and possibly eco-friendly statement consider the following options:
Bamboo: Price $20-$35 per sq. ft
We have all seen a new wave of bamboo products from cutting boards to furniture and now countertops. Bamboo is a sustainable product and can withstand a significant amount of abuse. It should be treated like any wood counter, and comes with the same benefits such as a entire cutting board surface. It prevents burns and when applied with a sealer prevents staining.
Paper: $35-$90 per sq. ft
Sounds like a contradiction to use paper as a countertop, but when saturated with resin, heated and compressed the result is very similar to stone. You can go with post-consumer waste paper if you are more eco-conscious but it tends to vary in thickness making it more difficult to install. Or choose virgin paper material which allows for tighter tolerance during fabrication
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Scrap-Metal: $70-150 per sq. ft
These materials are an eco-friendly alternative to stainless steel made from mixing aluminum shavings with UV-stable polymeric resin, resulting in about 60% post-industrial scrap metal. These countertops cannot be cut on site and thus require precise templating and layouts prior to ordering.
Solid Glass: $65-$300 per sq ft
Clean and modern and surprisingly durable and extremely sanitary. There are three different types of glass that fabricators use when creating the countertops. 1. Float glass (like window pane glass) 2. Slump glass (window pane glass heated to contour to a specific mold) 3. Kiln-fired glass (recycled glass fragments heated in kiln and bonded back together) The one down side to glass is that is does scratch.
So when thinking about your kitchen remodel consider these new and interesting options for your countertops.
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