Alkemi countertop: a recycled metal surface
October 14, 2008
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly modern/industrial look, or just something different than what you’ve seen out there for countertops and other surfaces, check out the bold colors, and unique style that Alkemi’s has to offer homeowners and business owners alike.
These beautiful surfaces have earned SCS certification as well as LEED credits. Aluminum milling scrap that would be burned into a heavy pollutant smoke, make up 60% of the surface volume. There are three finishing styles available: classic, honed, and textured (depending on product chosen). Colors are vibrant silver, gold, blue, green, red and bronze metal hues. Surface thickness varies from 1/2″ to 3/4.” Sheets can be bought in 36″ X 96″ or 36″ X 120″ sizes. Custom colors, thickness and sizes can also be ordered. Alkemi metal sheets are finished in the factory and do not require additional sealing before installation (unless cut before installation, then a sealant would be required for the edges). Alkemi surfaces are versatile and can be used horizontally and vertically throughout your home (though it is not recommended for floors).
Cautions – Though very durable, if abused, the surface may be damaged. Most substances will not stain Alkemi’s surface, but acidic liquids such as lemon juice and red wine will have an adverse effect if left on the surface for too long. Alkemi is not recommended for flooring and outdoor use.
When remodeling your kitchen, bath, or other surfaces, look into Alkemi’s beautiful material made from recycled metal.
For additional information and to order samples, contact a local design professional or fabricator. Currently, Alkemi fabricators and showrooms are found within the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Italy. Click here for contact information.
Other Countertop products discussed on GetWithGreen:
Counter Top Materials – A review of 12 materials
EcoTop – EcoTop now in distribution, How to get your EcoTop
EnviroGLAS & IceStone – Intro, More Info
Terrazzo – Terrazzo installation video
Counter Intelligence – chart from Home Improvement Magazine
Concrete – Concrete Info, Meld USA, VitraStone, Sonoma Cast Stone
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Yes, Alkemi is pretty cool, BUT exorbitantly priced. More reasonable, also cool, green products include Shetkastone and EcoX from MeldUSA. And don’t forget good old laminates in a huge assortment of patterns – when used with formaldehyde-free “green” board and low-VOC adhesives, they are the best deal around, even better if you find a fabricator who can do post-formed edges!
Hi Carroll,
Thank you for contributing your experience! We will providing some ballpark pricing shortly on the site. If you have some from your experience ‘on the street’, please share with our readers!!
David
GetWithGreen.com
Hi David. This is a little imprecise, but I think it will give a pretty good idea of some comparisons. We were looking for a countertop for a media room counter and hoped to use Alkemi. The estimate for product, shipping, fabrication, and installation was about $5000. The same countertop in a high-end Wilsonart granite-look laminate on “green” board with low-VOC adhesive and a rounded post-formed edge was about $1100. Not as unique, but a green product and it looks great. An estimate for an Icestone vanity top (product, shipping, and fabrication) was about $1700 – we went with EcoX for about $700 (and the product had to travel fewer miles to get to us!). A Shetkastone vanity top was about $200 – it is a fun product and a really nice group of people work there (“Minnesota nice”)- fewer color selections than Paperstone or Richlite, but a little more economical too.
Eco-friendliness of a material already means a lot. More and more people try to make their home greener, it’s good that they have more choices available.