Using tile in a sustainable home: An eco friendly flooring choice

100 year old Mosaic tile floor

It’s not just the construction and demolition of large urban buildings that add to the carbon footprint and other environmental issues of the construction sector. How each of us builds and furnishes our home is one of the most important decisions which influence our environmental impact.

Some of the largest contributors to the sustainability of the home we live in are the materials we use. We should all be striving to use those which are most durable, help us conserve energy, are made with sustainable practices and have a low impact after disposal.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles, based on these criteria, make for one of the most sustainable flooring choices, as they’re sustainable throughout the whole life-cycle.

In manufacturing

Ceramic and Porcelain tile is made from clay and other natural materials, which gives it a clear advantage over other flooring types made from plastic. There is also the option of using recycled ceramic in manufacturing, further decreasing the impact. As natural materials are used, there are no toxic chemicals being released into the air or water during production.

Additionally, a ceramic and porcelain tile can be created with a variety of finishes, with the possibility to simulate other materials such as wood, which allows them to be used all around the home.

A long lifespan

According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders, the lifespan of a ceramic tile floor is up to 100 years. This is thanks to its unmatched durability and resistance from the elements. Throughout its lifespan, it’s one of the easiest materials to clean and maintain, as there is no need for any chemicals to be used.

Aside from functionality, tiles in neutral tiles also stand the test of time wonderfully aesthetics-wise.

1700 year old Roman Mosaic TIle Unearthed

After disposal

Although a ceramic or porcelain tile will last in your home for a long time, it will eventually come to the end of its lifespan. At this point, it can either be recycled or sent to landfill.

Tile being Crushed to become aggregate

Ceramic tiles can’t be thrown in any of the recycling bins you’ll find in most areas – In Calgary you’ll need to take them to a recycling collection centre such as Calgary Aggregate. When tiles are taken to one of these facilities the material can be ground up and used in the manufacture of new products.

If disposed of in the landfill, it takes a very long time for it to decompose. While this does mean that it will sit in the landfill for much longer than other materials, it doesn’t release any chemicals into the environment in the meantime, which is a big plus.

Ceramic and Porcelain tiles are some of the most versatile products you can use for your interior or exterior construction project. Whether you are building a shower for your en-suite or a floor for a shopping center, tile is a great choice that will last the life of the building.

Laundry Room Renovation

The idea behind this renovation was to move the laundry room from the customers basement to an under used bedroom on their main floor. For this project we worked with the homeowner and cabinet supplier to come up with a design that would not only create an efficient and functional space but also give the home more storage.

We were able to include a couple nice features in this room. We installed a mosaic tile backsplash, quartz countertop, LED under cabinet lighting and concealed Washer/Dryer controls. The classic black and white colour scheme of the cabinets, tiled backsplash and cabinet handles have a clean classic look and are easy to maintain. This tile backsplash design gives the room a fun overall look.

For the countertops we used a left over quartz piece found at our countertop supplier. The tiled backsplash uses the classic shape of a subway tile, however in a smaller size and black colour with contrasting white grout. We also incorporated a painted access panel that hid the laundry hook up to keep the tile backsplash looking clean and sharp.

Moving the laundry room for this customer from the basement to the main floor helps make the simple task of doing the laundry safe and efficient. This improved their day to day lives and likely will enable them to stay in their home longer.

Framing completed for Laundry room mechanicals

Drywall completed

Completed Laundry room