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Eco-friendly materials that are great for your new remodeling project

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Green homes have recently become a global trend, for many good reasons. First of all, they are functional, practical, eco-friendly and at the same time look aesthetically pleasing as well. For these and other plausible reasons, more and more people decide to use eco-friendly materials for their home renovation projects. However, we usually know of just a few such materials, when in fact, there are plenty. Different materials are used for distinct remodeling projects around our homes. So, for instance, you can use bamboo, cork, recycled plastic as well as reclaimed wood, sheep’s wool and straw bales, among other things. When it comes to renovating your roof, which is an essential part of every home, there are a few green options. Living roofs are quite popular these days as well as Tesla solar tiles. All of the materials mentioned have their advantages and disadvantages, but what’s common for all of them is that they are natural and don’t have a negative impact on the environment. Take a look at some eco-building materials revolutionizing home construction

  1. Bamboo
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Let’s start with bamboo. Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly materials out there. It is so as it has a quite high self-generation rate – some reports have shown growth of up to three feet within 24 hours, which is pretty amazing. Bamboo is such a plant that even after harvest, it continues spreading without the need of replanting it. It is a perennial grass found everywhere in the world, except in Europe and Antarctica. It is quite popular as an eco-building material due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it even stronger than concrete or brick. It can also last long, it’s quite durable. It is mostly used for flooring and cabinetry when it comes to green home adjustments and renovations. However, it does require treatments against insects and rot. Also, it can crack and swell after absorbing water. 

  1. Eco-friendly roof
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When it comes to some plausible eco-friendly roofing options, the first thing that comes to mind are the amusing living roofs. It is basically a vegetated roof that consists of a waterproof membrane, some soil and plants, spread over the existing roof. For this kind of roof, you can either go DIY with some research or you can hire pros for a thorough job. These roofs are pretty popular as they are durable, energy-efficient, improve the quality of air, reduce noise, increase your home value and add to your curb appeal. On the other hand, if living roofs are not your cup of tea, you can always hire pros to do slate roofing – an equally green option, which is a bit more traditional in look.

  1. Cork
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Cork is similar to bamboo when it comes to growth. It can be harvested from a living tree, which in turn continues to produce more cork, or tree bark. Cork is popular due to its flexibility, resilience and ability to resort back to its original shape, even after enduring strong pressure. All of its characteristics make it perfect as a flooring option. Moreover, it absorbs noise, which makes it ideal for insulation sheets. Also, it is used in sub-flooring because of its ability to absorb shock. Furthermore, being fire resistant, people use it as a thermal insulator as well; also, it doesn’t release any toxic gases when burning. Additionally, it doesn’t absorb water or rot, which is fascinating. The only drawback is the fact that it is found in the Mediterranean, making it costly due to shipping. 

  1. Recycled plastic
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Manufacturers have come to a great idea to use recycled plastic and other ground-up trash to produce concrete, instead of resorting to sourcing, mining and milling. It is a perfect way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, in this way we give new life to plastic waste, instead of dumping it into already crammed landfills. A combination of this kind of plastic with some virgin plastic is used to make fences, tables and other structures. Moreover, plastic from bottles can be used in carpet production. Recycled plastic has also many other uses in roofing, making cable pipes, installing floors, as well as PVC windows. 

  1. Reclaimed wood
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One of the most environmentally friendly ways to save trees is to use reclaimed wood. It can be found in different places such as salvage yards, retired barns, home remodeling contractors, excavation companies and companies, and shipping crates and pallets. It is mostly used for cabinetry, structural framing and flooring. Each piece of wood should be examined separately for its strength and chosen for an appropriate project accordingly. As it is well-known, wood is prone to being attacked by insects and degradation, which means it needs additional treatments and reinforcements. 

These are just some of the eco-friendly materials you can use to renovate your home and make it green at the same time, but there are others such as precast concrete slabs, straw bales, sheep’s wool, ferrock and others. You should do your research and learn about which materials are the best for your needs and projects.

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