• new materials for kitchen and bath

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    While most of these lend themselves more to a modern kitchen or bath, it's certainly possible to take advantage of advances in materials science in a more traditional remodel as well. For example, I've seen several new Craftsman kitchens using pre-cast and cast-on-site concrete for countertops, and what looks industrial in a modern setting can look warm and complementary in a classic wooden kitchen. Further, now that dyes and inclusions can be added to concrete to give it a bit more character, it's a much more flexible product than it was when it first became popular as a countertop material several years ago.

    Recycled glass and wood, blocks of pressed fibers, resins and other manufactured materials and even more arcane products are being repurposed as countertop, tile, flooring and more. Take a look at a few products and manufacturers I've discovered in the last few months:

    tile / glass / stone

    • Una Terra sells interesting, unique tiles made all over the world – from Italian specialty glass mosaics to American-made stone, they've got some really neat stuff (as well as high-resolution PDFs so you can see the tile up close, something I wish more vendors offered).
    • Marazzi sells porcelain, glass, ceramic and metal-glaz tiles in a small range of basic shades and tones.
    • Bisazza is the American vendor for a large Italian glass and porcelain mosaic tilemaker.
    • Hakatai are my favorite American tilemakers & sellers. Based in Oregon, they produce hundreds of mosaic tiles in glass and other materials for pools, walls, counters, floors, murals and any other flat surface you can imagine. Well, almost.
    • Sonoma Cast Stone sells concrete, kitchen and bath surrounds, tiles & pavers and other items and materials in a wide array of colors.
    • Concrete Network is not a seller, but rather a sourcing site for folks looking for a concrete contractor. The website also includes a big gallery of photos of concrete in use – as countertops, fireplace surrounds, flooring, furniture, sinks and more.
    • IceStone is made from recycled glass and concrete, and comes in a 24-standard color palette with an infinite number of custom options.

    wood

    • Ebony & Co sell hardwood, antique / salvaged, old-growth pine and bespoke wooden parquetry floors in a huge range of woods and finishes. They are also one of the few wood floring vendors who sell specific grades to be used in conjunction with underfloor heating installations.
    • Bamboo Hardwoods has sold sheets of pressed bamboo lumber for flooring, furniture and other products since 1995. They also have a line of custom bamboo cabinetry for kitchen & bath.
    • Teragren sells bamboo flooring, panels designed for cabinetry and furniture, and veneers.
    • Windfall Lumber sells "sustainably harvested wood products," including flooring, mouldings, countertops, decking and whole timbers.
    • New York City's Habitus sells tile, stone, cement, Japanese stucco, porcelain and more, but what they are known for are their cork products: mosaic tiles, floor and wall panels, fabrics, and more. High resolution PDFs are available for download.
    • Treefrog makes and sells exotic wood laminates in interesting patterns and textures
    • Plyboo is a flexible plywood made from bamboo, and is often used for cabinetry and furnituremaking.

    other stuff

    • Yemm & Hart makes decorative polyethylene sheeting and flooring made from recycled tires, just like the stuff that was under the monkey bars when you were a kid – but colorful, stronger, and it won't break up and track all over the place.
    • Lumicor seems all over the news lately. The product is essentially a type of architectural resin which is strong enough to be used as structural material and interesting enough to be decorative. It can be cast thick or thin, and is sometimes used for countertop and tabletop material. It is often cast with various types of fibers embedded, and can be made in an enormous range of colors, textures and opacities. Their portfolio shows several dozen different uses – in homes, retail settings, office space and elsewhere.
    • Paperstone is what it sounds like: a solid surface material, great for countertops, made from recycled paper that has been transformed under enormous pressure.
    • Richlite is another popular product made from a paper fiber-based composite. It was originally distributed as a surface for commercial kitchens and baths in the 1950s, but is enjoying a resurgence as a domestic surface. It is also used for skateboard parks, of all things! It's generally considered a green alternative to Corian and manufactured granite, as it can very closely resemble those materials.
    • Brooklyn's Bettencourt Green Building Supplies sells many of these items, including Richlite, Paperstone, Plyboo bamboo butcherblock, Durapalm coconut flooring, cork, Kirei board, wheatboard and lots more.

    Additionally, Green Home Guide, which can usually be counted on for good and unbiased advice on building materials, has a guide to choosing countertop material; they also have a buyers' guide to green flooring materials, which should give you some general budget information.

    Finally, don't discount the reliable standbys: Corian kitchen worktops are affordable, last forever, quick to fab and install, and look absolutely fantastic. Many contractors are happy to use something tried and true, rather than playing with new materials they've never encountered before. In the UK, we strongly recommend Unique Fabrications in Milton Keynes, who can take on any job, from complex industrial and commercial spaces to residential kitchens and baths.

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  • Process of Installing a Concrete Driveway

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    Installing a concrete driveway requires a lot of planning and heavy labor. When well done the drive you will offer service for along time. Below is the process of installing a concrete driveway.

    The most critical requirement of a good solid concrete driveway is the sub-base beneath. Too soft and wet soils make the bearing rock shift, leading to the failure of the concrete. If the substrate is dry or has had proper under drainage installed, placement of a leveling course of a suitable material is then required. 

    After the sub base is set, ensure the angles of the slopes are what you want on top of the concrete. Make sure the grade slopes away from buildings and do not cause any ponding areas and that all the captured water runs to the area you wish it to go.

    Layout the finished driveway using your pins and string line. Set the string to the top elevation of the concrete for the driveway. Once all the string lines are in place, take a look at what you have created. Do the curved areas have neat and smooth lines? Are the square areas square? Are all the slopes correct? If not, make the adjustments. Now install your wood forms, making sure they can handle the pressure from the concrete.

    Once that's done it's time to plan the concrete pours. If the driveway is large, pouring it all at once is not practical and you won't have time to properly install it. A sudden rain shower or broiling sun can cook the concrete or destroy the finished surface. Carefully watch the weather for the day of the pour. Concrete panels should not be poured larger than twenty or twenty-five feet in length and fifteen feet wide.

    A joint expansion material is used after every panel to cater for the expansion and contraction. Sealing the joints prevent water entry to the slabs, controls any weed germination in warmer days and curbs ice forming that may crack the slabs when the climate is cold.

    You can use reinforcing bars on the driveway to prevent ready-mix trucks from accessing the form.

     A good concrete Driveway should be about 3000-pound to 4000 pounds to sustain more weight. Roadway edges should be double-reinforced with bars to block any chipping or cracking. 

    After the concrete is done, smoothing the surface is next. Power trowel gives a smooth surface which is not polished. Other people may prefer a broom to finish the surface.

    If you intend to use colored concrete, all the concrete must be purchased from the same seller. Even if two suppliers use the same dyes, the same stone, and the same water supply, different sands will cause different shades in the finished product. Different brands of dye with the same color name will cause ugly shading in the finished product as well.

    Making the right choice of a concrete contractor for your project is an important stage to help you achieve what you want. There are several key areas that you should focus on as a homeowner.

    Years of Experience

    A contractor like Concrete contractors Bellevue WA with at least five years of experience has been in the business long enough to know the dos and don'ts. The damage is minimal as they are less prone to mistakes. If you are unsure of something, they can guide you on the right path. No one wants a contractor that will end up damaging your property.

    Proper Insurance and License

    The right insurance coverage and licensing are of more importance than experience years. In case an accident occurs to a person or the property is damaged by the contractor, it will be safe for you. Consult with the insurance company to know whether their insurance is valid for the time they will be working for you. 

    References

    Ask for at least five client references from the past two years. Past clients are often a good source for the concrete contractor's past work. You'll find out more information about them from a third-person point of view. A contractor with more positive references shows they are credible.

    Services

    The type of service that a concrete contractor offers is very vital. Some contractors are of specific service others are general in their work. Note carefully what the contractor is specialized in and hire those who are in the line of your project. Those that perform concrete driveway installation should be highly experienced in it.

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  • Squak Mountain Stone: recycled fibrous-concrete countertops

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    There are several different commercial formulations of concrete on the market for countertops, flooring and other interior architectural uses. Some are aerated or mixed by varying but mostly-similar techniques, some are molded or installed in different ways, and some are aerated, or treated with dyes or special sealants. But one in particular is as attractive as real stone, is made in a range of mineral shades and has a natural texture from inclusions such as recycled paper, glass and coal fly-ash.

    Squak Mountain Stone’s fibrous-cement material is beautiful and just as visually appealing as real stone – but it’s a truly environmentally-friendly countertop that makes great (re)use of some otherwise-ignored ingredients. It is available both in slabs and as tiles, and the maker is happy to work with clients on custom applications and mixtures. In that respect, it’s even more appealing than real or manufactured stone!

    According to developer and owner Ameé Quiriconi, the ingredients list reads like a how-to book for those interested in establishing a truly green, environmentally-friendly business:

    • Fly-ash is generated at a Washington-state coal-fired electrical generation facility. It’s collected and bagged for sale in Seattle.
    • The mixed waste paper comes from a small home-based document destruction business staffed by four young women with developmental disabilities (with the help of a job coach and the women’s parents.)This business is located in Issaquah, WA.
    • The recycled glass is mainly waste from local window manufacturers that is collected and processed by a local glass recycling company.

    We’ve put together a whole Flickr album of high-res images showing the product in use – if you are planning a kitchen or bath remodel, you really should take a look at this material before you finalize your countertop material plans.

    It is available from retailers up and down the west coast, including Green Sacramento, Ecohome Improvement in Berkeley, Greenspace in Santa Cruz, Eco Design Resources in San Carlos as well as EcoSpaces in Telluride, Colorado.