Green Changes for San Diego Kitchens

San Diego homeowners are constantly on the lookout for new things they can do during kitchen renovations to make their homes greener places to live for the entire family. Little decisions can make a big difference for the planet. The more decisions, like these, San Diego homeowners make, the better it will be for the Earth.

Don’t Replace, Reface

That’s the green word of the day for anyone looking to make earth-friendly choices for renovating a home. Refacing kitchen cabinets San Diego is not only a cost-effective renovation decision, but also one that conserves and reuses much of the wood originally used in the kitchen.
 

The process uses the existing frame or base of the cabinet and simply adds new or refinished doors as a face for the cabinet. The entire process conserves and reuses a great deal of wood – one of the fundamental tenants of green living.

Choose Sustainable Materials for Flooring and Countertops

The more materials in the kitchen that are easy to replace the better. Things like bamboo flooring, which grows quickly and is easily replaceable in nature and cork flooring, which is also renewable with the added benefit of being an insulating material to help muffle sound and provide a small barrier for heat and cold. Another option would be to used reclaimed wood and building materials whenever possible and for homeowners to recycle materials that are removed from the kitchen.

Use Natural Materials

Materials found in nature are, more often than not, greener choices than those that are manufactured. Natural stone tiles for flooring provide a stunning beauty for kitchens and any other room in the home without the addition of harmful chemicals and odors that are so commonly found during kitchen renovations.

Choose Low or No VOC Building Materials

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can make families sick in the worst cases. In the best cases they can leave behind strong odors that are often caustic and leave behind harsh chemicals that are hard on the body to breathe in – especially for young children, pregnant women, people with upper respiratory problems, and the elderly. Choosing products that do not contain them is a great way to make room for all members of the family where they can feel at peace, at home, and happy.

The more often homeowners make green choices in the kitchen renovation process, the more enjoyment they will get from their San Diego kitchens in the long and short-terms.