Handyman Winnipeg: Eco-Friendly Kitchen Countertop Options

Kitchen renovations in Winnipeg offer an opportunity for you to make this important room in your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, many of the most popular countertop materials are either non-renewable, such as granite or marble, manufactured in a way that produces excessive carbon emissions, or sealed with potentially harmful chemicals, not a reassuring thought when choosing materials for a food prep surface. Nevertheless, there are countertop options that are more sustainable and can fit in with your kitchen décor.

1. Stainless Steel

If your overall kitchen aesthetic is industrial, a stainless steel countertop can fit into it perfectly. It also gives a sleek, streamlined look to a modern kitchen. While stainless steel countertops can be expensive, they are also durable and can last many years, so you are likely to get your money’s worth out of them. You can find stainless steel countertops made of up to 100% recycled materials, and if you ever decide to replace them, you can recycle them again. Stainless steel counters are easy to clean with a commercial stainless steel cleaner or warm, soapy water with a microfibre cloth. They tend to show fingerprints and scratch easily, but a brushed finish can disguise these imperfections.

2. Reclaimed Wood

If you are planning a more rustic feeling for your kitchen design, reclaimed wood may be the best option for your countertops. The distressed look is currently popular, and reclaimed wood comes with its aged appearance honestly. It is salvaged from structures that have been demolished, such as old barns. Each plank bears discolouration, chips, nicks, and indentations that give it a unique character, and because you are repurposing old wood rather than using freshly milled lumber, it is a more eco-friendly option.

If you have old wood on your property, you can repurpose the wood yourself and save some money in addition to preserving trees. If you do not have your own wood to repurpose, you can purchase reclaimed wood for your counters for a reasonable price. Just keep in mind that you will have to have your counters resealed periodically to protect them from wear and tear.

3. Bamboo

The distressed look of a reclaimed wood countertop does not appeal to everyone. If you like the look of a new wooden counter but are concerned about the impact of forestry, bamboo is an excellent option. Bamboo is a plant that grows around the world, mostly in tropical and subtropical climates but in some temperate regions as well. Even though bamboo is a type of grass, it can grow as tall and as thick as a tree. Bamboo has a tough, sturdy stem that is almost as hard as wood. It grows plentifully in large bamboo “forests” and because of how fast it grows, it makes a much more sustainable building material than wood because whatever is harvested is replenished quickly.

A bamboo countertop is similar to a wood countertop in appearance. To the untrained eye, a bamboo counter is nearly indistinguishable from a wooden one. As with wood, bamboo is available in different grain patterns. Starting at $25 per square foot, bamboo is an affordable countertop material. It is also versatile enough to fit into just about any design scheme.

Bamboo is susceptible to scratches, so you should avoid using any abrasive cleaning tools on it, but it can be kept clean with a mild dishwashing detergent. It is fairly easy to maintain because even if it does endure marks, scratches, or chips, you can have it re-sanded to repair them and then resealed to protect the counter from moisture and other damaging forces.

Before choosing a material for your countertops, do some research to make sure that it has been grown, sourced, and produced sustainably. In addition to doing renovations, Handyman Connection also provides repair services in Winnipeg, so contact us for jobs both big and small.