x24,Top3,TopLeft,x25,x12
Precycle
a discovery company

What Is Syndecrete, Why Do I Want It, And Where Can I Get Some?

by Megan Cohen

Megan Cohen

By Megan Cohen
San Francisco, CA, USA | Wed Jul 09, 2008 02:25 PM ET

Syndecrete is an eco-friendly concrete alternative made from a wild array of recycled materials that includes everything from glass to old vinyl LPs. You can use this sweet, cutting-edge material to add a seriously spiffy touch to your green dwelling. You can use it indoor and outdoor, for big projects like a walled patio, or for small jobs like a bathroom countertop.

The McKinley residence featured on Worlds’ Greenest Homes shows that Syndecrete is right at home as a haute design detail in a sleek, upscale dwelling. The luxe setting might clue you into the fact that this stuff isn’t cheap. That said, you’re getting something pretty major for your money. To start with, it’s just plain cool that this material is made from fly ash, crushed record albums, metal, wood, and a whole jumble of other crazy recycled stuff, especially since you’d never guess its trash-y origins from the sleek end result. In addition to looking pretty fab, this high-end composite has half the weight and twice the compressive strength of regular concrete, so it’s a material to be reckoned with, and you get plenty of substance with your style.

Although traditional concrete has a lot going for it as a green material, since it’s easily recycled and salvaged, Syndecrete’s use of natural minerals and its diverse array of reclaimed post-consumer and post-industrial materials make it about as close to a green no-brainer as you can get. Syndecrete can even give you a leg up in getting LEED certification, which is a definite bonus.

Everything you order, whether it’s a couple of bricks or a whole set of pieces for an outdoor shower, is handmade.  So, if top-of-the-line quality is a big priority, and if you’re in a position where you can afford an innovative green product like this one that’s produced in a small, boutique, specialty situation, get in touch with a distributor through the official website to get your hands on samples, and get more specific info on whether you can fit this material into your next home improvement project.

This post was inspired by World’s Greenest Homes..

 
  • email
  • digg
  • share
  • print
helpful article? vote for it
{ }
close window

CLOSE X

 

comments on this article

view all post a comment

 
 

from our partners

 
 
 
facebook twitter rss
 
TV Module
 
Reel Impact
 
Less is More Thanksgiving
 
Green Materials Guide
 
Take a Quiz. Enter Our Sweepstakes!
 

tv schedule

view all

On Now

On Tonight

 
 

today on planet green

view all

Votes

recent
discussed

Emeril Green Episode: Liquid Gold
POSTED  4 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Emeril's Olive Oil Poached Tuna
POSTED  7 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Mommy Needs An Organic Cocktail
POSTED  8 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Not Just Another Celebrity Activist: Country-Bluegrass Singer Kathy Mattea Fights Mountaintop Removal (Interview)
POSTED  9 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Emeril Green Episode: Meat Medley
POSTED  9 HOURS AGO.  COMMENTS

{ }

Renovation Nation FAQ
POSTED  7 May 2009. 18 COMMENTS.

{170}

Ask Steve Thomas Anything (About Your Home)
POSTED  9 Feb 2009. 21 COMMENTS.

{390}

Emeril Green FAQ
POSTED  17 Dec 2008. 19 COMMENTS.

{311}

Ask Emeril Your Green Cooking Questions
POSTED  7 Apr 2009. 49 COMMENTS.

{502}

How to Go Green: Weddings
POSTED  9 May 2009. 9 COMMENTS.

{477}

 

Ads by Google