Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.healthyindoors.com/i/1498232
38 | April 2023 and patterns. Laminate counters start with an MDF or particleboard substrate that re- ceives a layer of plastic laminate glued to the top side. The laminate itself is a layered material consisting of paper, melamine, and other resins. Once fully cured, this material is inert. However, the substrate can release urea formaldehyde unless its sealed. Also, the adhesive is typically a contact cement, which can be quite odiferous during the manufacturing. PROS: Inexpensive, many choices, easy to install. CONS: Not extremely durable, not heat resistant, water can damage the substrate so no undermount sinks. DGHH: C+ Price Point: Low CULTURED MARBLE Cultured Marble is typically used in bath- rooms only as the man-made material is not durable enough for full kitchens. It is made from crushed stone in molds. This product consists of a mixture of 70-80 percent real marble and stone dust com- bined with a polyester resin and dyes and is finished to a high gloss look. The man- ufacturing process is getting good enough to make it difficult to visually tell between cultured and real. PROS: Inexpensive, easy to install, wa- correct reason. None are incorrect, ei- ther. So why do manufacturers, retailers and "building experts" lump everything into the same boat? Mainly, because they just don't know any better. Today, Degree of Green plays a part in my educational por- tal to teach people how to build healthy AND green. Through my podcasts, videos, blog posts, and links to the best resources around the world, The Green Design Cen- ter-Building for Health is your trusted part- ner in building, remodeling and simply just living in a healthy home. Each countertop material I mention below will have its pros and cons. Mean- ing, there is no perfect product. What you must decide on your own is what will be the most important factor in making your choice. If you decide on laminate because it's the least expensive, you'll end up re- placing them far quicker than if you chose quartz. es, quartz is three to five times the cost of laminate, but it's also more dura- ble and offers more installation options for sinks and has fewer seams. You get the point. You've got to give a little to get a little. I have both ranked and provided informa- tion on the materials for you here: LAMINATE Laminate countertops are making a come- back, folks. These materials a better than ever with an almost endless array of colors C reating a healthy home requires approaching ev- ery decision factoring not only the initial health im- pact due to chemical off gassing, but also the long-term effects from the entire life cycle. Cleaning, maintenance, and eventual replacement of any product needs to be considered before making the final choice, as these things could be far more detrimental to one's health than the initial installation. Now calculate the cost, aesthetics and availability, and this process becomes far more difficult. There are several situations in the home design process that fit the above statement. looring, plumbing fixtures, wall treatments and appliances just to name a few. But in this article, I will be focusing on one of the most confusing areas of the home… kitchen and bath countertop ma- terials. Which is the best option for your new kitchen or bath? To help with the decision-making pro- cess, I developed the Degree of Green rat- ing system in 2007 that has evolved into the Degree of Green Healthy Home (DGHH) rating system that I use today. There are dozens of reasons why a product, service or system can be called green: recycled content, recyclability, natural, low ener- gy, human friendly, organic just to name a few. But none of these reasons are THE Healthy Countertops for Everyday Use