Probably everyone strives to turn their apartment into a cozy nest where the whole family would feel comfortable. For this purpose, almost all building materials are used. But, unfortunately, in the pursuit of beauty, few people ask themselves the question: “How safe and environmentally friendly will my home be?”
Meanwhile, this question is the most pressing in modern conditions. With the growth of technologies that make it possible to produce ever new, cheaper materials, manufacturers do not always pay due attention to their safety. Some composites sold in stores are not intended for finishing residential premises at all, so the choice of building material must be taken extremely seriously.
Why you need to carefully select materials
Very often, the safety of building materials is directly determined not only by what is included in their composition, but also by how these materials are processed and used in the future. In stores you can find building materials that are by definition toxic, since they contain a high number of toxic substances. But it is also worth noting that there are building materials that can harm your health due to exposure to external factors. For example, wood, which is natural material, when interacting with a damp environment, can cause the appearance of fungus, a rotten odor and become favorable environment for the development of bacteria. Therefore, to prevent your apartment from causing disasters, it is necessary to select natural, pure composites and apply them correctly.
Of course, when selecting materials for construction and finishing of an apartment, it is necessary to consult with the seller. He has accurate information regarding a specific product and can answer all your questions on the spot. In addition, he is able to tell you which material is better to choose and tell you about the features of its application. But the seller strives to sell the product at any cost, so you should not completely rely on his opinion; it is better that when you come to the store, you already know what exactly you need and have some useful information.
Of course, it is best to buy environmentally friendly materials. They can be identified by the corresponding marking and manufacturer.
The most famous eco-material labels:
- EcoMaterial (RF);
- “Leaf of Life” (RF);
- "Northern Swan" (Switzerland);
- "EU Flower" (EU Countries);
- "Blue Angel" (Germany);
- "Ecosign" (Japan);
- "Green Sign" (USA);
- "Environmental Choice" (Canada).
Most eco-labeling programs are organized into the Global Ecolabeling Network (GEN).
Good decision to implement various design ideas stretch ceilings can be considered. But it is worth remembering that most of them are made of PVC. It is considered safe when used in residential areas, but it is still not recommended to use suspended ceilings in bedrooms and children's rooms. It is highly undesirable to use it in the kitchen and bathroom, since high temperatures may cause the release of toxic substances into the air. For the same reason, the suspended ceiling should not be allowed to come into contact with water supply pipes and heating systems. PVC ceiling is perfect for the living room and corridor.
For the bathroom and kitchen, finishing plastic can be a solution. However, it should be remembered that it is also not intended for a children's room and bedroom. It should also be remembered that some types of finishing plastic require good air circulation in the room.
Most suitable solution for use in absolutely all rooms is to paint the ceiling with water-dispersion paints. This is probably almost the only ceiling material that can be safely called environmentally friendly, clean and safe.
The most common material for wall decoration is, of course, wallpaper. Can be used for living room and kitchen vinyl wallpapers. Simple care allows them to be used even in rooms with little humidity. But do not forget that this is still wallpaper, and in “extreme” conditions it requires Special attention Therefore, it is best to finish part of the kitchen wall and the bathroom with special tiles.
For other rooms it is better to use ordinary ones - paper wallpaper. They will become a wonderful part of the interior and will not hit your budget.
Both textile and plant wallpapers made from natural plant materials can be called harmless. Such wallpapers are highly wear-resistant and do not contain toxic components. The only disadvantage may be their high cost.
Adhesive composition is another important component the right apartment. Here you can use adhesives based on starch and other natural substances.
It is not recommended to paint walls oil based. They may contain impurities heavy metals. In addition, due to their base, such paints retain harmful organic substances used in their production for a long time, and their weathering can take more than a month.
In an apartment it is difficult to recreate the flooring from a solid board, so the best replacement may be parquet board. This material is environmentally friendly and natural, which guarantees safety for you and your loved ones. Due to its safety, this material can be used in almost every room. The combination of high strength, environmental friendliness and relatively low price makes parquet an indispensable material.
Another building material with similar characteristics is planed edged board. Being completely natural, this material Suitable for children's room, bedroom, living room and other rooms.
It is also worth paying attention to the method of treating the floor. In addition to various varnishes, which are not always safe, you can choose alternative way woodworking – brushing. This is the processing of a board by “sanding”, that is, removing and polishing its top layer with a metal brush. This method is the most environmentally friendly and cheapest, and the result will delight even the most sophisticated esthete.
An alternative wooden floor is a ceramic tile, also made from eco-friendly materials.
Linoleum can be considered the least safe material. Despite its widespread use, it is an extremely toxic material. In its production, mass is used chemical additives, to give it certain properties, so it is not recommended for use as a home flooring.
Carpet can be used in the living room, but since it can cause allergic reactions, it should not be used in kitchens and bedrooms.
A good solution for an apartment would be wooden windows, moderately expensive, but absolutely environmentally friendly. Such windows allow air to renew even when they are closed. Another advantage is that they provide a kind of thermoregulation: in the summer it will never be hot in a room with such windows, and cold in the winter. The downside may be poor sound insulation.
Plastic and PVC windows provide good sound insulation. Although now almost all such windows are produced in large factories, you should still carefully consider the choice of manufacturer, do not trust little-known or even unknown companies, and buy only in specialized stores with a good reputation. Otherwise, you risk getting more than just poor quality window, but also life-threatening. The disadvantage of PVC windows is their poor thermoregulation: they retain heat well, which, on the one hand, is a plus. Especially in cold winter, and on the other - a big minus in the hot summer, since even with ventilation plastic window accumulates heat.
Another option would be an aluminum window and a plastic window with aluminum inserts. Properly manufactured, it does not heat its inner surface, while providing more effective thermoregulation. We can say that such windows combine the advantages of both plastic and wooden windows, while they are devoid of their disadvantages. The only drawback here is the price, but it lives up to expectations, because aluminum and aluminium-plastic windows are superior to their alternative windows in terms of reliability and durability.
Markings on building materials
Many manufacturers put different labels on their products depending on how environmentally friendly they are. The most common marking is Ex, where x is the degree of contamination of the material.
- E1 - the material is completely safe for all residential premises.
- E2 – the material is suitable for social and domestic premises and technical purpose(pantries, kitchens).
- E3 - the material is not suitable for residential premises.
Thanks to his observation and perseverance in selection building materials for the construction and decoration of your apartment, you can not only make your family home cozy, but also environmentally friendly. By choosing building materials wisely, you thereby protect your health and the health of your loved ones, and this is what is so necessary in a metropolis.
The fashion for ecological construction has reached our country. Disappointing data on the level of environmental pollution suggest the need for maximum protection and environmental cleanliness in own home. And if not everyone is “lucky” to purchase a building plot outside the city, in a forested area, then at least I want to choose the most environmentally friendly materials from which the house will be built.
The most natural building material – clay – has been known since ancient times. If you dilute it with water in a special pit, knead it, add chopped straw for rigidity, sand to reduce shrinkage, lime to increase moisture resistance, form all this into blocks and dry, you will get the most environmentally friendly building material - adobe brick. Preservation of heat in the cold season and coolness in the summer in such a house is guaranteed. The relatively low cost of a house made of adobe is accompanied by high sound insulation and fire safety characteristics. The complete environmental friendliness of any home is completed by the same exterior and interior decoration, roofing materials and furniture inside the house.
Another environmentally friendly material that has long been used in construction is wood. What could be better than hand-hewn logs, laid in a log house, caulked with natural tow or moss, not painted or finished on the inside! Modern technologies make it possible to use rounded logs, profiled and laminated timber for the construction of houses. Any option will be more environmentally friendly than even natural stone, since wood “breathes” through its pores, carrying out constant air exchange and maintaining permissible humidity in room. When talking about the use of laminated veneer lumber, one remembers the composition of the glue used. Typically these are components that do not provide toxic effects on the human body, and if you consider that the timber is located outside, then it has practically no effect on the environmental component of the inside of the house.
Sometimes environmentally friendly wooden houses They are also questioned because to protect against moisture, fungus, rodents and fires, all structures are impregnated with special solutions. But they are also non-toxic substances whose presence must be tolerated in order for them to fulfill their intended purpose.
Houses made of gas and foam concrete are quite environmentally friendly, since these building materials consist of water, cement, sand, lime, hardener and foaming chemical. These building materials also allow the house to “breathe”, have high heat saving rates, are resistant to dampness and do not burn.
The materials used as insulation and for interior decoration. The most natural ones are wood (except plywood and chipboard), brick, ceramics, tuff, sand, and clay. Chemical impurities are contained in cement, concrete, mineral wool, DSP panels, etc., but without them such materials simply would not exist. All efforts to create an environmentally friendly home will be reduced to “zero” by finishing materials produced by processing petroleum products (including plastic). Polyurethane ceiling moldings, vinyl and self-leveling floors are not environmentally friendly.
To all that has been said, we add that constant access must be provided in the premises of an environmentally friendly house fresh air. Then, excess moisture will not form on the walls, floors, ceilings and furniture, no matter what material they are made of, and pathogenic bacteria will not appear.
Building green houses is not easy fashion trend, but taking care of your health. IN Lately Our ecology is too polluted due to industrial complexes, so eco-housing is created for those who want to live in harmony with nature and themselves. Today the owners country houses They try to use natural and natural materials, this allows you to significantly save money on energy resources and get a safe home.
Eco-friendly house
Ecological housing involves the use of only natural materials. Architects and doctors assure that such housing can improve not only the state of health, but also prolong life. life cycle person. Natural materials include:
- wood, bamboo, reed, straw;
- cork, wool, felt, leather;
- sand, stone;
- silk and cotton;
- natural drying oil, glue and rubber.
The process of building environmentally friendly houses consists of:
- rational and effective use water, energy and other resources;
- reducing waste and reducing its impact on environment;
- use of local building materials;
- use the power of nature: solar collector, wind energy, biofuel;
- using some materials twice.
The main component of such a structure is energy consumption, which is achieved through:
- complete insulation of the entire structure to minimize heat loss;
- safety temperature regime and creation of air exchange processes (ventilation, air conditioning);
- creation of low-temperature heating using heat pumps;
- reducing power consumption by installing energy-efficient lighting.
What materials are green construction made from?
Today, it is possible to build ecological housing from many materials. For example, the following are successfully used: logs, straw, adobe, clay, clean compacted earth or earth in bags. At first glance, all these eco-friendly materials seem unreliable, but the right technology construction, the house turns out to be strong and durable. Let's look at each material in more detail.
Construction of a house from logs
From afar the walls log house they resemble stone ones, but if you examine the structure from a close distance, it becomes clear that the house is wooden. The construction process takes place by laying logs, fastened together with lime-cement mortar. The materials used are rocks soft trees, for example, cedar or pine. These breeds have high stability to expansion or contraction, and are also capable of providing high thermal insulation and sound insulation. Building a house from logs is not so easy, it will require use self made, but if the structure is built correctly, it will meet all your expectations.
Building a house from straw
Most skeptics will immediately say that straw is not the most best material What can you use to build an eco-house? However, it is possible to build from compressed straw in bags robust construction, with excellent insulating properties. The construction process involves laying compressed straw on top of a masonry foundation, which is secured with wooden racks. The outer surface is covered with lime or soil plaster, which is not capable of allowing air to pass through. This will allow the walls to breathe and prevent moisture from appearing in the straw. As a result, you get an environmentally friendly house made of straw, which has high fire-resistant qualities.
Expert advice! To protect your home from rodent attacks, use a small metal mesh. For construction, it is best to use rye straw, because... Rodents don't like it.
Building a house from straw and clay
This type of construction is also popular and reliable. The construction process involves mixing clay with sand and straw. The frame is erected and the walls are built using adjustable formwork. The inside is plastered, and the outside is insulated with straw or reed. Due to this, the design is lightweight and has high thermal insulation characteristics.
Rammed earth construction
In addition to the environmental friendliness of the material, such a house is fireproof, durable, reliable, and most importantly, resistant to attack by various insects. Such designs from environmentally friendly pure materials have gained great popularity in warm and dry places such as Australia. The construction process is that the walls are erected from blocks of pressed and moist soil. You can build such a house on your own, or seek the help of specialists. In any case, such a design will be reliable and will last for decades.
Construction of an eco-house from bags of pressed earth
In order to make an eco-house you only need ordinary land and polypropylene bags. This type of building is the cheapest. The construction process involves filling wet soil into bags that are compacted tightly. The use of bags makes it possible to build such complex designs, such as domed, round buildings and even underground structures.
How to choose the right site for an eco-house?
If you are determined to live in clean house, you should select correct area. Experts advise paying attention to the following points:
- total area land plot must meet all necessary requirements;
- there should be nothing nearby that can pollute the environment: railway, airport, industrial enterprises;
- the site should not be in a shady area, there should be a lot of sun;
- mandatory presence of reservoirs;
Eco-house project
Eco-friendly housing consists of several important points, which are an integral part of the project of the whole house. The house project consists of:
- The foundation, as a rule, is made of pile-boring or monolithic slab. Work on its construction can be carried out at any time of the year.
- Material for walls. The materials often used are wood (spruce, pine, larch). Eco-concrete, aerated concrete, foam concrete, as well as ceramic bricks are used as wall dividers;
- Interfloor ceilings are erected from wood or monolith;
- The facade part is faced with: block house, clapboard, facing bricks or clinker tiles;
- The insulating material is made from mineral wool or expanded clay;
- The roof is made of cement-sand or ceramic tiles;
- Windows are made of wood or PVC, in in this case PVC is absolutely safe for health and does not emit harmful substances;
- The floor covering is used from ordinary floorboards, laminate, ceramic tiles or linoleum made from PVC;
- Interior decoration involves the use of textile or floral wallpaper, tiles or plaster for painting;
- The ceiling is finished with water-based paint;
- For furniture, rattan or wood products are used. For wooden furniture the following species are used: beech, pine or oak;
- Textile design is made of bamboo, linen or cotton;
Decorative elements. Used for decoration houseplants, as well as any items made of wood, leather, fabric. As you can see, an ecological house is aimed at preserving nature and improving the health of its owners.
What materials are called environmentally friendly? And in general, what is meant by the concept of environmentally friendly material? What is it and in what areas of life is it used?
Let's start with the fact that environmentally friendly material can be called raw materials that nature itself gave. Linen, cotton, wood, bamboo - all these are environmentally friendly materials. They contain only natural fibers and components, there are no synthetic components. Such materials are not only environmentally friendly, but also hypoallergenic.
By the way, let’s not forget that not only natural materials are clean from an environmental point of view, but also those produced by humans. Typical examples: glass, brick, paper, cardboard, metals, etc.
Let's consider the basic properties of some environmentally friendly materials separately.
Cotton - natural material, environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic. Plant-based cotton. It is used in different areas human life. Cotton is very popular in the textile environment. It is used to make various fabrics, clothing, bed sheets, curtains, etc. Cotton comparatively cheap material, besides, it is natural and pleasant to the touch. It makes soft and warm bedding, which is great for those with allergies.
Linen is a natural and environmentally friendly material that is especially popular in the production of clothing. Linen clothing is durable and wear-resistant. Great for summer heat, because it doesn't float. Bed linen is also made from flax. It is strong and durable, the disadvantages are that it is quite rough and difficult to iron out.
Bamboo - comparatively the new kind canvases, if he speaks of a plant in this sense. The canvas (bamboo fabric) has high antimicrobial properties, that is, it resists the development of bacteria. Bamboo fabric is soft, pleasant to the touch, practically does not wrinkle and absorbs moisture 60% more than cotton. Bamboo as a canvas is the bright future of modern industrial industry. In terms of its characteristics, it is better than cotton, which until recently was considered the most hygienic material; moreover, it is softer, more delicate and does not wrinkle. Bamboo has it all best characteristics natural material. The only drawback can be called quite high price. But in the future, when the bamboo industry begins to expand, this disadvantage will disappear.
If we talk about environmentally friendly materials, we cannot fail to mention wood. Wood is a natural, eco-friendly material that is breaking all records of popularity in the furniture industry. Wooden furniture is not only natural, but also prestigious. Furniture made from precious wood is a special luxury. But wood is used not only in the furniture industry. It is widely used for decorative finishing walls and facades, flooring, and even houses are made from it. Country style, which appeared relatively recently, but has already managed to find numerous fans, implies the use of wood not only for interior design, but also for the construction of the house itself.
Wood is a beautiful natural material that is coated with a transparent protective layer. This layer protects the wood from fungus and mold, allowing you to convey all the beauty of the wood itself, or rather, its shades and patterns that nature itself gave it. Furniture or a house made of wood is beautiful, prestigious, natural and environmentally friendly. The material breathes, creates a favorable environment in the house and has a positive effect on internal state person.