Klondike Contracting » general contractor vancouver bc http://www.klondikecontracting.com One of Vancouver's leading construction companies since 1998. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:29:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= The Good, Bad, & Ugly of Design Services http://www.klondikecontracting.com/the-good-bad-ugly-of-design-services/ http://www.klondikecontracting.com/the-good-bad-ugly-of-design-services/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 23:26:27 +0000 Klondike Contracting http://www.klondikecontracting.com/?p=770 If you’re not sure what you should be paying for design services then you may want to educate yourself on what some design companies charge for their services before you sign a contract.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfvR4tvFKFY]

]]> http://www.klondikecontracting.com/the-good-bad-ugly-of-design-services/feed/ 0 Green Alternatives to Granite Countertops http://www.klondikecontracting.com/green-alternatives-to-granite-countertops/ http://www.klondikecontracting.com/green-alternatives-to-granite-countertops/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 19:06:31 +0000 Klondike Contracting http://www.klondikecontracting.com/?p=749 Read More]]> There are many interesting products available for countertop selection, many made from composite and recycled materials.  Typically, a recycled material, such as paper or glass, is combined with resins to form the solid surface.  These manufactured surfaces are harder than stone, scratch, stain, and heat resistant, and only a few require maintenance and re-sealing.  Most importantly, they are all incredibly eco-friendly.
A few items to keep in mind when sourcing green countertops: find products that use low VOC resins; consider locally-supplied products; and in the case of recycled paper products, look for FSC certification.

Here are a few products to consider:

Richlite is made of paper from FSC-Certified sources and/or recycled paper.  The paper is treated with resin then pressed and baked to create solid sheets.

IceStone is made with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix to create a sustainable concrete surface.  It is incredibly durable, but requires sealing and waxing annually.

Vetrazzo is manufactured using a patent-pending composition that combines up to 85% recycled glass with Portland cement, water and proprietary inert ingredients such as minerals, pigments and other non-VOC substances.  This product also requires re-sealing when the finish begins to deterriorate.

EnviroSLAB are affordable and unique countertop slabs that are hand made with 100% recycled glass and porcelain mixed with color-customizable resin.  The EnviroGLAS product line also offers a number of other recycled products.

PaperStone manufactures three versions of its sustainable countertops.  All products are made using petroleum-free resin that contains natural ingredients, such as cashew nut shell liquid.  All product finishes are made from natural waxes.

EcoTop is formed from a 50/50 blend of FSC certified post consumer recycled paper and rapidly renewable bamboo fiber, then bound with a new 100% water-based system.

Squak Mountain Stone is a fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash and cement. The mixture is then hand-cast into slabs and serves as a great alternative to natural or quarried stone.

Above is a collage of the different countertop options.  Have fun & choose wisely!

Jacqueline Pasquali
Designer / Project Manager

]]> http://www.klondikecontracting.com/green-alternatives-to-granite-countertops/feed/ 0 Klondike Achieves Highest Mark of Excellence with the BBB – “A+” http://www.klondikecontracting.com/klondike-achieves-highest-mark-of-excellence-with-the-bbb/ http://www.klondikecontracting.com/klondike-achieves-highest-mark-of-excellence-with-the-bbb/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:51:43 +0000 Klondike Contracting http://www.klondikecontracting.com/?p=514 http://mainlandbc.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=164&bbb=0037&firm=1174115

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