How are our products “green?” 

 Our definition of green:

A product that reduces the impact on and contributes to the sustainability of the earth. 

“Sustainable” means that a product is harvested, produced &/or used in such a way that allows the earth to naturally regenerate at a rate faster than the destruction caused by that product’s creation, delivery and use.    There are few home building products that can claim this completely.  However, there are many that reduce the impact on and contribute to the sustainability of the earth in various ways.  We call these products “green.” 

On our product icons you may see a “green” stamp that informs you that the product in some way meets our criteria for being called “green.”  From this you will know that in some way the product helps to sustain the earth’s natural regeneration process.  The following describes how the product meets those criteria:

Reclaimed | Chicago Bricks | Terracotta and Parfeuille | Wood | Limestone and Marble

New Terracotta | Sealants

Reclaimed: Re-using already existing products reduces the continued harvesting of the finite natural resource.  (Clay, stone, wood, etc.)

Our Chicago Bricks are salvaged from demolitions in the Chicago area.  They were made by local brick makers from the 1800’s through the 1970’s and have the natural yellow, orange and pink hues of the regional clay.   For indoor installations the whole bricks are sliced into a 1/2'” tile.   If installed with the outside of the brick facing out, the factory stamp may be seen on many of the bricks, authenticating its origins.  

Our Terracotta and Parfeuille tiles were hand made over 100 years ago and are available once again for home installation due to the demolition and refurbishing of old structures.   Local artisans made the tiles from regional clay, producing a unique color and texture with each tile. 

Our Wood products are made from salvaged wood planks.  They are currently being made into floorboards, doors and Versailles Parquet panels.   Honoring the methods of the traditional artisans, the woven wood panels are assembled with wood pegs.  No glues or nails are used.  They are 100% recycled French oak.    If they are purchased finished, we use BioShield low or no VOC finishes.

When available and upon custom order we offer reclaimed Limestone and Marble tiles from various regions in France.   Also as a custom order product, we can get reclaimed limestone fireplaces, troughs, and sashes.

New Terracotta:
Our stock and custom-made Spanish terracotta tiles are produced by hand, honoring the centuries old methods of the traditional artisans.  They are then fired in kilns fueled by using discarded olive pits, which are abundant in Spain as a by-product of the production of olive oil.   This contributes to the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, while creating a use for the discarded olive pits.

Sealants:
When you purchase our products pre-finished they are sealed with materials that are either free of or low in volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).  We use and sell for use on our tiles BioShield finishing wax products.  The chemical ingredients in these formulas are derived from naturally occurring compounds, just as they have been for centuries.  There are no petroleum-based ingredients in them, reducing the use of fossil fuels and the impact on the environment.  Because there is no offgasing of these products, it is also more favorable to the health of the installer and the homeowner/resident. 

Look for the GREEN stamp on our products...

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