Green Archives | 'How-To' & DIY Blog

How to have your home be more Sustainable

April 16, 2015 by HowToPumbtileAdmin Comment Closed

Sustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.

Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.

In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.

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How To Install Eco-Friendly Tile

July 3, 2014 by HowToPumbtileAdmin Comment Closed

Tile is a popular choice for many purposes and applications and can add to the look you are trying to achieve, even in a small space. And even better news is that manufactures are reclaiming and recycling materials into eco-friendly tiles that are versatile and look great. Some eco-friendly tile require special considerations when installing. So let’s take a look at some of them. Continue reading →

Tips for Creating An Outdoor Kitchen Area

May 15, 2014 by HowToPumbtileAdmin Comment Closed

Want to create an eye-catching outdoor kitchen that gathers a crowd? Many people are now taking the kitchen outdoors to enjoy nature while cooking. You can get the same options from your indoor kitchen for your outdoor kitchen. The largest difference between them is the exposure to the elements, so the best option is to go water-proof to avoid loss of durability and damage. An outdoor kitchen should complement the design of the home’s architecture and landscape. Here are some helpful tips in helping you make the best out of your outdoor space in the form of an eye-catching and crowd pleasing outdoor kitchen that is both functional and fun. Continue reading →

Do-It-Yourself: Install New Kitchen Countertops

February 6, 2014 by HowToPumbtileAdmin Comment Closed

Are you bored with the look of your kitchen? Are your countertops showing all the wear and tear of preparing and cooking your meals? What you can do is give your kitchen a new makeover with the simple task; install new kitchen countertops!

Step 1: Choose a Material for the Countertop

This project is for installing granite countertops, which may call for consulting with a professional for help on certain aspects. Some countertops are best left to the pros, who have the proper tools and technology and will measure and cut these large pieces with laser precision. But countertops can be made of many materials and once correctly cut are installed using the same steps. Once you decide what materials you are going to use for your countertops, check with the manufacturer for their suggested installation techniques. Continue reading →

Creating a Green Kitchen

October 21, 2013 by HowToPumbtileAdmin Comment Closed

These days, we all know what it means to be green. We have also become familiar with the three R’s…reduce, reuse, and recycle. Most of the opportunity to implement the three R’s is in our kitchen. However, the kitchen is usually the least green room in our home. Not only do our appliances use a considerable amount of energy, but the materials used in building kitchens can be very expensive and wasteful. We might not be able to make our kitchen completely green. However, there are several things we can do to make it greener than it is, and creating a green kitchen is not only better for our planet, it’s better for our wallets.

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Choosing Your Kitchen Countertop Tile

April 25, 2013 by plumbtile Comment Closed

Kitchen countertops are the pride and joy of any great kitchen, which means picking the right countertop material, is an important task. Asking yourself (or the cook of the family) some important questions will help in the search for the perfect countertop. What is the priority in the kitchen; style, durability, usability, green factor or maintenance. All of these items should go into choosing the correct countertop for your new kitchen. Continue reading →

Go Green: Tropical, Coconut Mosaic Tiles

March 18, 2013 by plumbtile Comment Closed

Let us introduce a very tropical product tile. It gives your home a feeling of warmth, natural, elegance, stylish and yet very GREEN. Mainly used in the commercial industry it is now making a breakthrough into the residential industry as more and more people want to make their home Eco-friendly with the warm, style of coconut mosaic tiles.

Coconut mosaic tiles give you a more responsible choice in decorating walls, ceilings and floors while at the same time helping a greener environment by making use of otherwise wasted coconut-shell materials. The coconut tiles will make any room in the home or business more sound proof also. The natural coconut material will buffer sound so that the high traffic rooms of a bathroom and kitchen are much quieter. The tiles are affordable also. These tiles are not out of reach for the residential consumer.

Coconut mosaic tiles are made of coconut-shell chips. Our coconut chips are cut from natural coconut shells which are abundant and found in many parts of Indonesia. By using coconut shell as tiles, we also could occupy at least 40 workers for the whole month. Now, coconut mosaic tiles gives the answer for environment issue and fighting for the world’s poverty. We design and create the tiles which are ready to use and very easy to apply.

Five Elements is distributor that we work with here at Plumbtile. If you would like more information you can view the coconut mosaic as well as other natural products they carry here. Call for our Extreme Savings at 866-369-8180 and speak to one of our sales consultants.

Green Mondays: New Eco-friendly Materials

February 25, 2013 by plumbtile Comment Closed

At Plumbtile, we like to research about the newest trends and news about green living and design. It is our advocacy to spread awareness about using sustainable, recyclable, and eco-friendly materials for the home.

ThisOldHouse came up with a list of new interior materials that are on trend and in the market. Here are some of them:

LEATHER TILES

Even luxurious leather gets thrown away; scraps from furniture, shoe, car seat, and other tanneries eventually make their way to landfills.

The naturally sound-absorbent tiles install like cork or vinyl (preglued tiles are available). For care and upkeep of floor tiles, use a damp mop to clean them; wax them three times a year, or use a topical sealer once every five to 10 years. Wall tiles do not need wax or additional maintenance.

BIO-GLASS

This luminescent material is 100% post-consumer recycled glass that’s heated and compressed to create solid-surfacing slabs. It contains no binders, colorants, fillers, or other admixtures, and has no off-gassing.

Sample shows slight markings from the bottom of a recycled beverage bottle. To enhance the upgrade, lighter colors can be underlit to make agglomeration markings stand out in dramatic fashion.

To find out more about going green and the use of renewable sources and materials, go to http://www.plumbtile.com/go-green.html or call 1-866-369-8180.

Let's Go Organic…in the Kitchen

February 4, 2013 by plumbtile Comment Closed

It’s Green Monday once again!

We will never get tired of spreading awareness about our environment as well as providing our readers with the latest trends in green design.

Do you know what 2013 will bring to the world of kitchen design? Organic. That’s right, warm, earthy gourmet spaces. Mixing wood, slate, stone, and other rustic materials with industrial pieces.

Terry Mulligan of Yahoo gives us the latest trend in kitchen design:

Earthy Colors

Greens, blues, grays, browns, yellows, reds — these colors will be making a grand appearance in kitchens across the country. Whether on painted, weathered cabinets or handmade, upcycled tile, earthen colors will warm up our cooking spaces like never before. All shades are fair game, unless they glow neon. Stick to what you find in nature, and you’ll be right in style.

Organic Wood Cabinets

Instead of traditionally styled, stained, and glazed cabinets with fancy millwork, look for a more understated display of rustic wood on cabinet surfaces. Spalted maple or natural birch drawer fronts will be mixed with clean, industrial-styled cabinet doors and brushed stainless steel. And this year, austere shaker cabinets will be reinvented in many ways. It will be a welcome, yet unusual departure from the kitchens of the last 10 years.

Wood, Stone, or Tile Counters

Granite may not be the material of choice for countertops anymore. Wood and stone like slate should dominate — then add tile tops and backsplashes with a handmade look and feel. It’s all about color and textures that make you feel at home and comfortable this year.

Materials in Their Natural Form

Anywhere you can use materials in their natural form, it’s time to do so. Exposed beams on walls and ceilings will add a rural touch in some kitchens. Wood counters will sport natural, unfinished edges in their shift to a more organic style.

Rustic Floors

Rustic floors will be the rage. Reclaimed wood or polished concrete with amazing stain work will pull the other organic elements of the room together. Slate floors will also be in demand over highly polished marble or tile. Yet even in their natural form, these floors will still be a work of art. Artisans will be lending their expertise to make them part of a unique and extraordinary kitchen design statement.

Garbage & Waste Disposal Units, Flanges & Stoppers

At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from counters, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment.

Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!

PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.

Green Monday: Designing an Eco-Friendly Bathroom

January 21, 2013 by plumbtile Comment Closed

What does “eco-friendly” mean to you? Does it mean that you conserve water? Does it mean that you bring nature into your bathroom by using natural products? Here at Plumbtile we are able to design a bathroom for your home where you can enjoy the natural look of stone and tile while conserving water and electricity through luxury fixtures.

Bring nature into your bathroom with natural tile products. We work with 70 manufacturers that carry tile in cork, coconut, recycled leather, IPE Hardwood, Italian Marble, Israeli Limestone, Jerusalem Stone and other hi-quality natural stones.

You can easily conserve water by installing a Luxury Low Flow Showerhead. Moen has a beautiful selection that is also economical on our website. Choosing a showerhead with a pause feature can save you gallons of water.

Conserving electricity is possible through a Provincial Thermostatic Tub & Shower Head made by Mico. Thermostatic shower valves regulate the temperature of the water within one half of a degree of the desired temperature. You can also install a Tankless Water Heater and save reheating 30 – 40gallons of water all day.

We have many more ideas for designing your Eco-Friendly Bathroom at our Go Green – Energy and Water Saving page. Right now we are offering Free Shipping! To speak with a Sales Consultant please call 1-866-369-8180.