"Green" kitchen cabinets?
Wondering if anyone has thoughts on whether it’s worth paying extra for “green” kitchen cabinets — i.e., made with sustainable wood and without formaldehyde or toxic glues. I’ve been told wood and particle-board in most new cabinets are treated with formaldehyde and made with toxic glues that can cause allergic reactions and in higher doses…
Wondering if anyone has thoughts on whether it’s worth paying extra for “green” kitchen cabinets — i.e., made with sustainable wood and without formaldehyde or toxic glues. I’ve been told wood and particle-board in most new cabinets are treated with formaldehyde and made with toxic glues that can cause allergic reactions and in higher doses are cancerous. Anyone know if this is a real concern or not something we should worry about?
Has anyone heard of the Aristokraft cabinets? What are your thoughts. ? Are they good quality and durable?
I went with Neil Kelly and they are 100% “green.” The price was surprisingly good for the level of craftsmanship. The sales person was also very helpful.
The only problem is you have to have plans drawn up already because you’re dealing with the factory. They’re not going to design it for you but you’ll get a good price.
The options for sustainable cabinets in the New York area is kinda pathetic not to mention very expensive but were very satisfied with our experience with Neil Kelly.
Ikea kitchen cabinets use Forest Stewardship Certified wood and their glues do not contain formaldehyde. Plus, they are cheap and look great.
You can get real wood (most expensive), uf-free particle board, or wheat board cabinets. Realistically the offgassing drops sharply after a week or two, so if you’re renovating and not there (or windows are open), there’s not much danger. It’s much more of a feel-good thing.
And here’s one happy bamboo floor owner (5 years). But then I don’t wear hobnailed boots in the house, we go barefoot.
I’m the most sensitive allergic person around and have never had a problem with our new wood kitchen cabinets (which were not specifically “green” or sustainable wood) nor did I get bothered when they were installing them and sawdust was everywhere.
Be careful if the sustainable wood you are looking at is bamboo. Most people with bamboo floors are very unhappy with them in the long run. I’ve seen myself what bamboo floors look like after a couple years’ use and it’s not pretty. Very dinged up and scratched and not in a cool aged patina kind of way. They look like crap. There are a lot of new and improved things being developed all the time in “green” building materials, so maybe see what’s coming down the pipeline in the near future if you are committed to installing a fully green kitchen.
By the way, if someone were to be really truly “green” in installing a kitchen they’d use all salvage vintage solid wood cabinets. I think that’d be awesome. Find all the various sizes needed, and/or cabinets can be disassembled and re-cut to fit certain spots in the kitchen. Then painted to all match.