IceStone Countertops, A Green Alternative
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What is IceStone?
IceStone is a relatively new alternative building material.
It is 75% recycled glass, about 18% white portland cement and the rest is made up of proprietary ingredients. According to the company the material is made up of 95% post consumer recycled content.
The company recycled approximately 2.6 billion pounds of glass in 2006. 2.6 billion pounds of glass that did not end up in a landfill or along the side of the road. Because of the materials used in the manufacture of the counters the color possibilities are infinite.
Imagine being able to match an antique tile perfectly! The material can be used on walls, floors, or counters, or all three- it is an amazingly versatile product. Exterior applications are fine,the material is UV stable and able to withstand extremes in temperature.
Sustainable Alternative o Natural Stone
This material offers an alternative to natural stone. It is less porous than marble and is as heat and scratch resistant as granite. It is installed much like natural stone as well. However, IceStone does not require the huge amount of fossil fuels it takes to mine and transport natural stone. It passes the requirements of the American Disabilities Act to be used as flooring, although it would need to be cut into tiles first. It is a great material for homes wishing to acquire their *Leed Qualification. Cleaning is accomplished simply washing the surface with a mild soap and water. Pricing and installation is similar to granite in most areas of the country.
Many people don't realize that granite and other stones building materials are not a sustainable material. Once they are removed from the earth and changed they are gone forever in their natural state and quarrying changes the environment irrevocably.
Leeds and Cradle to Cradle Certifications
IceStone is created in a green environment. The company seems to be dedicated to keeping it's carbon footprint at a minuscule level. The company uses environmentally friendly practices such as graywater recycling, day lighting with natural light, and using soy based lubricants for its' machinery. The waste from its' own manufacturing processes is recycled into road surfacing materials. The company's goal is zero waste, and they seem to be rapidly heading in that direction. All of their hard work has not gone unnoticed, they have received **MBDC Cradle to Cradle Certification for their company.
*Leed Qualification- awards points to building developers and owners for environmentally friendly structures
** MBDC Cradle to Cradle Certification-measures achievement in environmentally-intelligent design
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Links
- www.icestone.biz - Home - News
IceStone, LLC manufactures an eco-friendly durable surface material used for countertops, bathroom vanities, and flooring for your home or business made from 100% recycled glass and cement. IceStone operates out of a daylit Brooklyn Navy Yard factor - In Business, Creating Sustainable Enterprises & Communities
In Business: Magazine for sustainable enterprises and communities
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Comments
Yep..I was planning on going with something else for our restoration project but I think I have decided to use this..not historically accurate, of course, but I think it will work.
Yes, but is is breakable? Is it kid friendly?
Marla-
It is not breakable at all, being similar to granite. It is heat resistant, stain resistant and easlily cleaned. :)
Very kid friendly!
where are the places that will supply me with this glass counter top?
thank you
c Labbe-
it depends on where you live. If you check out the links I am adding perhaps you will find something close to you.
This sounds like a really great product. I especially like that it comes in colors. Most granite I've looked at is limited to natural colors. I could really have fun with the colors and have the bonus of going green!
Cool, that reminds me of the glass they use on streets. Always thought it odd the asphalt in the south doesnt sparkle like it does in NY. Well, maybe it does now..
Over here you see stucco (sp?) made with recycled glass - very sparkly!
Please define "stain resistant". We have a product in our house from a local fabricator that is made from similar materials (recycled glass and concrete). We love the look but we are experiencing a great deal of staining (from things acidic - citrus, vinegars and also olive oil and even a coffee cup "ring"). We want to continue down the "greener" road, but with small children and an island that gets tons of use as our main eating surface... I'd like to use a product that's less sensitive to staining.
In this type of material proper sealing and maintenece of the seal material is important. It will stain if not properly sealed.
This is from their website:
IceStone surfaces will not stain if sealed according to our guidelines. Daily maintenance should include a mild, water based, low ph cleanser, to keep your tops clean. Anything else may strip the sealer over time and leave the application susceptible to stains. We recommend water based, low-VOC sealers be applied according to the manufacturers guidelines, typically once per year.
If an IceStone surface does stain, can it be removed? Yes. Because IceStone surfaces are very dense stains are easily removed with a poultice, available through stone fabricators, tile stores, and home centers.
This product looks fantastic! When I have the money to buy and renovate again I will keep this hub in mind. Thanks!
Great hub. We have used this product - recyled glass tiles - for non-slip paving, and it looks good too, with a variety of colours.
does anyone have any pricing information. I found on the website the sheet/slab sizes they work with but does anyone have an estimated price per square foot or something in regards to the cost of the material!!!!
I fell in love with icestone when I saw it and the fact that it is a green product sealed the deal for us. That is until we got the price! Unbelievable $130 a square foot. We picked a mid level color. I have seen many sites say that the price is comprable to high end grantie, I'm not sure that's true. We were quoted $13,500.00 for our kitchen for icestone and $8800 for the "high" end granite we also considered. *Sigh* we will not be using the beautiful Icestone. My husband about fell over with the icestone quote. He said "Are we getting platinum or concrete and recycled glass"? I guess it's not easy being green (unless of course you manufacture icestone, lol).
Heather, there are some other manufacturers of similar products out there,a nd have you checked out the recycled glass tiles?I know it is pricey..hopefully that will go down as it becomes more popular.
I did look at Envirogalss but I'm not sure on their pricing. They also don't have "showrooms" unless you are in Texas (i'm in MD). I love the glass tile idea - I'll have to look into that. Thanks!!
Why is it that anything 'Medical such as a grab bar, slide board or shower seat cost an exorborant amount of money? Seems to me anything 'Green is the same way!!
From a manufacturing point of view recycled products are more costly because of the handling involved. The particular materiels needed for the product have to be picked up at specific locations. The products might have to be cleaned or sorted through more thoroughly. All this "manual" handling adds to the cost which jacks it up more. Then there is the cost to truck it to the Texas location for manufacturing.
is that $130 a ft price accurate ,i live 20 min from where its made in bklyn
IceStone is a beautiful product. Another green option is PaperStone + Zodiaq just came out with 4 quartz colors that have 50% recycled content.
another recycled glass product in the market is Vetrazzo. They are out of California
Great hub. I never heard of anything like this before but I am sure it is the way forward. Shame about the cost though.
I love the idea of the beautiful recycled glass. But like all the stuff I like, it's way to pricey. But often, new products are expensive and the cost comes down with increased popularity.
Asked my contractor in Ontario to price a 2' x 4' piece for a vanity top in Heirloom Grey & he came back with a price of $2800-- Thats $350/sq ft.... I find this hard to believe.
Good product, thanks for review.
cgull8m says:
2 years ago
Thats great news, it is a wonderful form of recycling. Glad to see efforts like this.