Healthy, Safe Building Materials
Now, more than ever, it's important to give yourself plenty of time to plan your future renovation. Contractors and building materials are hard to come by, and you need to plan accordingly for the long wait times for materials to come in. It's also important to give yourself plenty of time to properly design your project and get all the details right on paper before you start construction. Newer products are always coming on the market so check back regularly for updates.
Here are some of my favorite healthy and sustainable building products for your renovation project as of 2/1/2022
Kahrs Engineered Wood Flooring
Generally when selecting products, the most natural ones are going to be the healthiest for you and the best for the planet. For example solid wood furniture and flooring is usually the healthiest and most earth friendly compared to something made of composite wood. But solid wood doesn't always make sense, especially when you live in a humid climate. Solid wood will expand and contract with the humidity levels, which can be a big problem when installing wood flooring. When you don't want to risk solid wood flooring issues, but you really want wood floors, there is a solution - a very specific type of engineered wood flooring by Kahrs.
Kahrs engineered wood is made of three solid pieces of wood glued together with formaldehyde-free adhesive. It is dimensionally stable, has a durable top coat, and looks gorgeous. And it's easy to install. If you're handy, you can do it yourself, no nailing or gluing required.
Linoleum is a favorite safe and natural flooring material.
Natural product made of linseed oil and other natural materials, pressed onto jute, and attached to cork backing. This product clicks together so no glues or fasteners are needed.
Linoleum is a great alternative to wood for many rooms, like bedrooms. It is made of natural materials like linseed oil. It’s naturally antimicrobial and antistatic, making it easy to clean and safe for kids playing on the floor.
That's right, sheep's wool insulation is now available. And it's an absolutely amazing insulation material. There's something quite wonderful about being able to use natural materials to keep you feeling comfortable in your home. Wool insulation is natural - no chemicals are added to it, it won't soak up water so mold issues are less of a concern, it's soft and won't leave you feeling scratched or itchy after installation, and it has a small carbon footprint.
AFM Safecoat makes pretty much all the liquid products you'd need in a renovation. They make healthy paints and stains, sealants and caulks, adhesives, and plenty more. This company only makes healthy indoor building products so check them out first when planning on a project.
Benjamin Moore Eco Spec.
This paint does not smell, gives off no VOC’s, goes on so smoothly, and it comes with an important health and sustainability certification. Eco Spec® is their “greenest” interior premium paint, and it now replaces their Natura line. "With zero VOCs and zero emissions, Eco Spec® is the perfect choice when an environmentally responsible paint is required and is tinted with Benjamin Moore's proprietary Gennex® zero VOC colorant system.
IKEA cabinets
Beyond making affordable, functional furniture, Ikea strives to protect the planet and human health. Like most IKEA items, they are super unpleasant to put together, but once installed, they work great. There is no smell, they hold up exceptionally well, and they look great.
Solid cabinets would be considered the healthiest since they're solid wood, no glues etc. But there are two big issues with solid wood cabinets: it can swell and shrink. If you live in a humid climate this could be a problem. They are also very expensive. If you want to avoid solid wood with something more stable in humidity, you can go with cabinets made of soy-based plywood. Purebond plywood by Columbia Forest Products is formaldehyde free and a good option for cabinet construction.
Zola Passive Windows and Doors
If you haven't heard of tilt and turn windows yet, it's time to check them out. This is a standard window type in Europe, but still pretty uncommon to see in the US. Tilt and turn windows can open along the vertical hinge, like a door or a casement window, or they can tilt from the bottom (like a hopper window). The benefit of these windows is that they provide exceptional air sealing when closed and fantastic ventilation when open. Zola offers a few different material types like aluminum and uPVC.