Everyday rituals may make our lives predictable, yet they somehow give us a comfortable rhythm. Hence, it can be said that they can be boring to do at times. Good thing, however, that there are so many ways to make these rituals fun and special.
Showering and bathing, for example, can be made special by making ecofriendly changes to the walls surrounding the tub and shower. Here are the best environmentally-friendly materials to use as surrounds for your bathtub and shower.
Plaster
Plaster is a nice environmentally-friendly surround to use due to its composition. It is composed of a number of natural materials, including gypsum and lime, and compared to other plastic surrounds, the plaster matrix does not emit any volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which are harmful when inhaled. Its sealers, which are almost always oils and/or natural waxes, are equally easy on the indoors as well as the environment.
Aside from being ecofriendly, plaster work looks stunning and suitable for traditional and modern bathroom interiors. In addition, it offers a monolithic and durable finish that is without any grout lines to protect, clean, and maintain.
Another reason why plaster is a great material to use in the bathroom is that fact that maintaining a plaster surround is easy. All you need to do is to get a dry cloth and wipe it down. Also, make sure to apply wax every few years to keep it looking glossy.
Concrete
Surrounds made of concrete can be a good cost-effective way of making your bathroom have a monolithic look with natural variations. To make concrete more environmentally-friendly, make sure to increase its fly-ash content. Fly-ash is a by-product of the processing of coal. However, you should only do so if your region processes coal. Otherwise, the harmful effects of transporting fly ash will outweigh its benefits.
In addition, buy and use a seal with no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) to make it resistant to water.
Backpainted glass
This nice way for your bathtub or shower to have a modern and glossy surface offers so many colour options. Paint is applied to the back side of conventional glass, then it is stuck to a substrate using adhesives that are intended for mirror installations or mounted through the use of tracks.
Glass is an environmentally-friendly material, as it is made out of natural materials. Aside from being an environmentally-friendly material, it also has other advantages. It is durable, long lasting, can easily be cleaned using non-toxic cleansers, and only requires minimal maintenance. The last of the stated advantages is mainly due to the fact that a single large glass panel is a uniform surface without any joints.
Custom-printed glass
As its name implies, a graphic image is placed on the backside of the glass to be installed in the bathroom. Due to the durability of glass, it is a must that you find a design that does not go out of style easily. Also, make sure that the graphic to be installed is made out of ecofriendly materials.
Recycled-content ceramic tile
As its name implies, it is ceramic tile made of recycled materials. Most products of this type are made of thirty (30) to ninety-seven (97) percent recycled materials from post-consumer and post-industrial wastes. These are made solely by hand, and thus, no industrial waste is produced along with the beautiful and colourful products.
These are the environmentally-friendly materials you can use for the walls of your bathroom. Before having them installed on the walls (or the floor) near your shower and bathtub, make sure to check for leaks in the plumbing of your bathroom (and in other parts of your house, for that matter) first. This way, you avoid having to remove parts of the wall for repairs.
If leaks are indeed found, call a qualified and licensed plumber as soon as possible. Living in Australia and require the services of qualified plumbing experts? Please check out http://www.drdrip.com.au/.
You must log in to post a comment.