The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Written By Stan Lorenzo

Recycled Steel

The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Recycled steel is a type of material that doesn't lose its properties when recycled. Did you know that steel is the most recycled material in the world? More steel is recycled each year than plastic, paper, aluminum and glass all combined.
Benefits:

Using recycled steel in the building process, you know for a fact that is will be strong and durable. It's a massive saver in energy costs too.

Sheep's Wool

best-eco-friendly-materials-for-vancouver-home-renovations

Sheep's wool is an entirely natural and eco-friendly material that can be regrown quickly. Wool is best known for being used for cozy, warm blankets and sweaters.

But it also plays a role as an outstanding home insulator - with its fibers forming millions of tiny air pockets that trap air. Usually, you can see wool incorporated into the ceiling, walls, or attics.

Benefits:

Easy to source, excellent energy-saving material.

Reclaimed, Recycled or Sustainable Wood

The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Probably one of the most used types of building material and for a reason. It is aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and it feels like nature indoors. Reclaimed or recycled wood has a much lower environmental impact than harvesting new timber.

However, if you are getting a new wood, it is essential to source from a sustainably managed forest. Besides being used in the home building, it's also an excellent material for natural-looking floors or exposed beams.

No wonder it became one of the most used materials in eco-friendly architecture.


Benefits:

Being surrounded by a natural material like wood significantly increases overall wellbeing.

Cork

best-eco-friendly-materials-for-vancouver-home-renovations

Cork is made of cork oak tree, which is one of the highly renewable and eco-friendly resources. Another fantastic green buoyant material found its unique purpose in building cork ceiling panels, acoustic walls, and flooring. Next time when you open that yummy bottle of wine, remember there is a better place for cork than the landfill.

Benefits:

Cork is a resilient material, resistant to moisture and any liquid (hence the wine). Due to its structure, it can absorb vibration. Cork harvesting can help in the fight against global warming.

Hempcrete

The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Hempcrete is a mixture of sand, hemp fibers, and lime. It is typically used for construction and insulation. Blocks made of hempcrete are super-lightweight and easy to work with. Hemp is a fast-growing renewable resource, which makes hempcrete great for the environment.

Advantages:

Hempcrete is a breathable material that doesn't shrink, so there are no crack lines once it's dried. Even though hempcrete is not stronger than concrete, on the other hand, it is fire-resistant, pest-resistant, and a strong insulator.

Clay Brick

The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Clay brick is a natural material made from water and clay from the earth. It is entirely recyclable, and entirely Earth-friendly, and it doesn't release any toxic chemicals when in the landfill.

Benefits:

Clay brick is an energy-efficient material. In the summer, it keeps a house cooler, and in the winter traps the warmth for a more extended period.

Timbercrete

The Best Eco-Friendly Materials for Vancouver Home Renovations

Timbercrete is an Eco-friendly building material made of sawdust and concrete mixed. The sawdust replaces components within the concrete that are most energy-intensive to produce - which makes timbercrete a green material. It is lighter than concrete or clay, and therefore much easier to transport. Timbercrete can be used in the form of blocks, bricks, and pavers.

Advantages:

A better insulator than brick, clay, or concrete, highly fire-resistant, and very long-lasting.

Conclusion

When considering home renovations in Vancouver, integrating eco-friendly materials into your project is not just a trend; it's a sustainable way of life that aligns with the city's values. The best eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo flooring, recycled glass countertops, and low-VOC paints, offer numerous benefits, from reducing environmental impact to improving indoor air quality. By embracing these materials, you not only enhance the beauty and functionality of your home but also contribute to a greener and healthier future for Vancouver and the planet. Whether you're aiming for a stylish update or a complete transformation, choosing eco-friendly options is a conscious step toward sustainable living in this vibrant city by the Pacific.

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Stan Lorenzo
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