How to Select Green Materials for Kitchen Cabinets

More and more people are becoming aware of the environment and the damage done to it by humankind. Because of this, many builders--even individuals--are opting for environmentally-friendly products to use when building homes, particularly for floors, wall coverings and cabinetry. If you're thinking of choosing green materials for your kitchen cabinet project, you'll find plenty of alternatives to ordinary wood.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Learn more about wood alternatives, such as bamboo, recycled palm, kirei board or wheat board by reading more online, visiting your local home improvement store or a helpful site such as BuildItGreen.org.

2. Consider the fact that green materials are almost always more expensive than wood but tend to last much longer.

3. Ask to be shown the various green products at your local home improvement center and inquire as to the differences in the products and prices.

4. Ask to see only formaldahyde-free green products.

5. After you've decided on the particular green product you want, which fits your budget, go online or make calls to compare the prices of retailers and wholesalers.

6. Purchase the green material cabinets for your kitchen.

Tips & Warnings

• Green materials can include products that reduce material use, products with exceptional durability and low maintenance, certified wood products, rapidly renewable products, salvaged or recycled products, products which avoid toxic emissions, minimally processed products and products that reduce environmental impacts during construction, demolition or renovation.
• An alternative to particle board is an MDF that uses a resin that is formaldehyde-free and made with wood, sawdust or straw.
• Ask if the materials you're considering are suitable for kitchen cabinetry.
• Search online for outlets of green materials or for places that advertise discontinued patterns or other special bargains.
• Your local home improvement store assistant may know very little about the product he or she is selling.
• Even if the product you're considering is touted as being a green material, it could still have negative aspects, such as high VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels that could contribute to health problems.
• Cabinets, counter tops and furniture are usually made from pressed wood products, such as particleboard or MDF. These products are typically manufactured with formaldehyde-based adhesives that can cause health problems such as cancer and serious breathing disorders.
• Cost can be a major concern since green materials can cost two or three times that of regular wood.