[Greenbuilding] Ecological shower enclosure options

[George J. Nesbitt]

Richlite, phenolic resin.
Paperstone, water based resin that cross links.
Sounds like plastics to me.
Thick plastic laminate, paper and plastic resin formed with high pressures.
Many people I know thumb their noses at plastic laminate.
I am just saying that plastic laminate uses less material to get a job done.

Richlite has somehow gotten a reputation as a green material, but I 
wonder (the author of Green Kitchens commented on this recently).
Actually Paperstone sounds like a better product, less expensive, 
recycled paper, and user modifiable.


Tom Angell wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
>
>     *From:* George J. Nesbitt <mailto:geoedb at idiom.com>
>     *To:* Greenbuilder list <mailto:greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
>     *Sent:* Wednesday, August 23, 2006 12:44 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [Greenbuilding] Ecological shower enclosure options
>
>     Solid surfacing is expensive.
>     Cultured marble is less expensive, but I don't like the looks of most
>     patterns.
>     Richlite/paperstone are possibilities, they are just thick plastic
>     laminate.
>     Of course these use lots of binders.
>      
>
>      
>     Richlite and Paperstone are NOT plastic.  They are solid surfacing
>     made from recycled paper products.  Paperstone uses a naturally
>     base binder and offers quite a few green benefits.  Great for
>     kitchens.  Paperstone is being used as a rainscreen, notably by
>     Starbucks.  Not sure about shower applications. 
>      
>     http://www.richlite.com
>     http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/index_main.htm
>      
>     Regards, Tom
>      
>     Thomas W. Angell, Architect, AIA
>     621 South F Street
>     Spokane, WA 99224
>     ph: (509) 747-7647
>     fax: (509) 747-5979
>