Choosing interior products
Kitchen cabinets and benchtops
It may be possible to save money by re-finishing old cabinets to give them a new look, or perhaps just replacing the doors and benchtops, and leaving the rest as is.
If you are choosing laminated or timber veneer cabinets, ask for low VOC products - E1 standard (good) or E0 standard (best).
There are many good plantation or FSC-certified veneers available. Some companies even supply kitchens made from recycled timber.
If you already have a marble or granite benchtop, can you save money by reusing it? These benchtops are popular and durable but can be expensive.
Other options are reconstituted stone, and low VOC laminates and acrylics.
Floors
Tiled floors and polished slabs are durable and easy to clean. If you have a concrete ground slab, tiling or polishing it is the best way to utilise its 'thermal mass' to stabilise indoor temperatures. For safety, consider slipresistant tiles, especially for bathrooms and kitchens.
'We didn't know that building products can affect healthy air indoors. One of our kids has asthma, so we're definitely going to find out more.'
Polished slabs are likely to require more labour and cost
more than tiles, but you can get different decorative
finishes that look great.
[See Your Home: Passive solar
heating; Passive Solar cooling; Thermal mass.]
Timber floors add a sense of warmth to a room and are easy to clean but must be well sealed against air leaks and insulated in cold areas. Choose timber that's from certified sustainably managed forests, such as FSCcertified timber, or you may want to consider recycled timber.
Bamboo is another environmentally friendly option.
Many timber floor varnishes and sealants give off low-level toxic fumes, so ask for low VOC products or, better still, natural products such as tung oil or beeswax.
Resilient surfaces like rubber and cork are also durable and easy to clean. Many resilient floor finishes use natural or recycled ingredients. Other all-natural options include sisal or coir.
Carpet adds a cosy feel and can contribute to thermal and sound insulation but should be well maintained and vacuumed regularly.
Paints
Regular paints give off low-level toxic fumes that can cause breathing irritations and headaches.
Painted surfaces can continue 'off gassing' for months after painting. Many companies now offer low VOC products for the same cost.
Good ventilation and indoor plants can help reduce the effect of paint fumes.
If you want an
even healthier and greener option, choose paints that
contain all-natural ingredients. These cost a bit extra but
may be worth it if you have allergies or young children.
[See Your Home: Biodiversity off-site; The healthy home]
