Eco-friendly renovation tips

Eco-friendly homes are more popular than ever. It's not too late for you to help the environment – if you're planning home renovations, take the following tips into consideration.

Flooring

One flooring option you may not have thought of is cork floor tiles, as they're made from a completely renewable resource – bark. If you're put off by the traditional brown colouring of cork, never fear. Cork floor tiles can be stained with Resene Colorwood then finished in a clear coat to protect the cork colour and surface.

Insulation

Insulating your home is the most efficient and cost-effective way of saving energy in your home.  Proper insulation will keep homes cool in summer and warm in winter, making them more comfortable and healthy to live in, plus help you save money on your electricity bill.

If you're unsure where to start, go for the ceiling. This will cut heat loss the most, then follow up with underfloor insulation. Material should be at least 200mm thick in your roof and 100mm thick under floors, and applied without gaps or holes.

VOCs

Volatile organic compounds, otherwise known as VOCs, can be damaging to your lungs. They are chemicals vaporised into the atmosphere and are often found in paint, paint thinners and dry cleaning products.

When you're selecting paint for your renovations, choose waterborne paints wherever you can and look for labels with low or no VOCs. Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free is one such paint, and is available in a wide range of shades.

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