Natural Stone Tiles are Eco-Friendly, Naturally
So many of us are conscious of the environmental impact of how we live our lives that it is not surprising that when we are considering decorating or renovating our home that we want to choose environmentally-friendly resources and products. There is also a growing trend to be aware of the eco-credentials of the companies manufacturing the goods we buy.We are aware of the need to re-use or recycle our belongings whether that’s clothing or smartphones right through to major electrical and electronic items such as computers and washing machines. We know the harsh environmental impact of constantly taking, using and discarding the Earth’s precious, limited resources (BTW if you are interested in how we can make a significant change to our consumerist behaviour then read this guide on the circular economy, a way to design out waste from the manufacturing process)
Sustainability is even being taught to 10-year old school children so you know it is an important topic when it has found its way onto the school curriculum. So if you are undertaking a tiling project and want an eco-friendly choice then natural stone tiles are ideal; they are one of the most sustainable building materials around.
One of ways that natural stone contributes to sustainability is that fact that it is so durable and long-lasting as a decorating product. If you maintain natural stone tiles they will, literally, last a lifetime; in fact, several lifetimes so that means they do not have to be replaced frequently causing waste products and requiring replacement products. But better than that, they are a beautiful natural product that might be expensive initially but offer great value-for-money because of their high quality and hard-wearing properties.
But what about the way the stone is extracted from the quarries?
In Europe, there are policies in place that have led to significant environmental improvements in the way natural stone is quarried; the amount of energy required for the process is considerably less than for many other building materials. Furthermore there is very little processing required for stone to create a finished tile product – unlike ceramic tiles they do not require firing in a kiln, which uses energy and generates pollutants in the environment.
So you can rest assured that natural stone tiles truly are a natural product and the extraction and finishing processes have a far lower impact on the environment that most other types of building materials. So if you want a sustainable home, there is no better choice.
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[…] Natural stone tiles are available in a huge range of types, shapes and sizes from widths of 300mm upwards so I plan to use a random layout as it is quite a large area and I think this will soften the expanse. Although natural stone tiles can be expensive, the advantages of a natural stone patio are that it will look beautiful from the day it is laid for a lifetime and is available in such a variety of colours and styles that I am confident I will find the right ones for my type of home. I expect their finish to weather over time, which will add to their beauty, but I know they will not fade as coloured concrete alternatives do. With its resistance to severe weather and relative low maintenance, it will easily survive many more bad winters such as this one. […]
[…] another advantage is that they need very little maintenance, unlike natural stone tiles, simply an occasional wash to remove any dust and […]