Healthy Green Kitchen Renovations 101

When it comes to home improvement projects, remodeling or renovating the kitchen is generally considered to be one of the most important things on the "to do" list for many reasons. The kitchen is not just another room in your home, it is a eating area, a work area as well as a gathering area for family and often times guests.

The choices you make when you are renovating a kitchen for your own use may be different than if you were renovating to sell the home, but in both cases you will want the same end result; a space that is comfortable yet  practical, appealing to the eye and that is within your budget. But you also want it to be a healthy space, and in order to keep your renovation, and ultimately your family as healthy as possible, you must know which building materials are potentially harmful.

Materials Used in Kitchen Renovations: Problems and Solutions

There are many materials on the market that are used in renovating a kitchen. But just because you can buy them doesn't mean that they are safe.

Paint

Paint Problem: Splatters and splashes cause kitchen walls to become dirty quite quickly, and so they are often painted with alkyd paints. Although they  provide a tough, durable and scrubbable surface, the solvents in alkyd paints give off fumes during the painting process and sometimes after the paint has dried. Alkyd paints take several hours to dry and also require harsh smelling paint thinners for cleaning paint up of paint brushes.

Paint Solution: Water-based acrylic latex paints have come a long way, and can now be used on just about any surface, including areas that need to be washed or scrubbed frequently. Because it is water based, acrylic latex dries quickly, is almost odorless,  cleans up quickly and easily with water and is environmentally friendly.

Flooring

Flooring Problem: Vinyl flooring is a common choice for kitchen renovations because it is durable, economical and easy to install. However, over time vinyl flooring tends to gradually release some of the chemicals that are used to make it.

Flooring Solution: Hard surface flooring such as ceramic tile or laminate flooring are both healthier choices. Laminate flooring has also come a long way over the past 20 years. Laminate flooring is durable, easy to install and is environmentally friendly. It is also available in just about any color of the rainbow or made to look like stone, ceramic tile or various wood grains.

Cabinets and Counters

Cabinet and Counter Problems: Unless cabinets are made of solid wood and counters out of a solid material,  today most are made up of particle board and MDF (medium-density fiberboard) These materials contain urea formaldehyde glue, that emits formaldehyde and other gases that can cause many health problems including chronic respiratory distress. The moisture in kitchens (and bathrooms) enhances the release of these chemical gasses.

Cabinet and Counter Solutions: There are many solid surface counters such as marble or granite available, but they can be very expensive. If you have a strict budget, consider using ceramic tiles for counters. If you do use cabinets/counters made of press-board or MDF, make sure that you take the time to completely seal any of the visible material. All surfaces, including the entire underside of the counter, the inside cabinet walls and the holes for adjustable shelving should be sealed with a water-based acrylic sealer.

Although more expensive, solid wood cabinets are the best choice in a healthy kitchen. If your kitchen already has solid wood cabinetry, you may want to consider re-surfacing them instead of replacing them. There are also stores such as ReStore located throughout Canada and the United States that sell new and reclaimed building materials and accessories. You may be able to find solid wood cabinet in an establishment like this for only a fraction of what they would cost new.