Thoughts on the green values of pebble tile.
The demand for green building products continue to gain momentum as people recognize that there are a wide range of product choices that help reduce the adverse effects of new construction.
With the popularity of LEED certification at the forefront, many different approaches to determining a products carbon footprint exist; each offers different approaches and different results. At the core a pebble tile is a very green product. Pebble is a natural stone. The process of building the tile requires nominal manufacturing. Pebble tiles require a very tight weave that is achieved only though the hand placement of stones by individual skilled craftsman. The manufacturing side is on the creation of the mesh and the adhesive, (both are a very small percentage of the products weight or volume) as well as the cutting of the stone. In comparison, other mosaic tiles require significant amounts of energy to create or require adverse chemicals to make colors or surfaces. The adverse side of tiles overall is in the energy related to transportation of the heavy material. A majority of tile is produced oversees and energy is required in transporting from it’s origins to the end customer.
Pebble tile recyclability. Because the composition of the stone is not altered, the only waste created by a pebble tile is in the mesh and adhesive, both very small elements of the product. The stone itself remains the same as it was in its original state when found in nature.
