It’s all about avoiding volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are what you smell when you paint and for a while after it dries. The fewer VOCs you have in your paint the better. Common VOC’s are benzene, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride and mercury. You don’t need to be a chemist to know these chemicals are toxic! They cause smog, ozone pollution, and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects.
Here are 7 quick paint tips towards a greener home.
1. Try to use only latex paint. Oil based paints have the most volatile organic compounds Latex paints emit far fewer. They also do not require paint thinner or other solvents for cleaning.
2. Check ingredients and look for a Green Seal, a certification from an independent, nonprofit organization that performs environmental evaluations. Their recommendations for VOC levels: For flat paints, 50 grams/liter for interior paints and 100 for exterior. For non-flat paints, 150 for interior and 200 for exterior.
3. Minimize the testing of colors. I have visited many homes where homeowners have tested 10 or 15 colors trying to find the perfect shade.
• Buy the smallest quantity you can when testing. Many paint stores now carry very small sample containers.
• Visit a paint store which carries multiple lines of paints. You’ll save on gas.
• Hire a decorator to choose your colors. You’ll save on trips to the paint store and need not test paints at all!
4. Prepare surfaces properly. This includes cleaning walls so that paint adheres as best it can. Don’t forget to fill holes and repair as needed, too. Good prep decreases the amount of paint you need and make the paint last longer and the job look better.
5. Choose good quality paint. Better quality paints often get better coverage and hide the underlying finish. This can often result in a one coat application instead of two. Try to purchase just enough paint for the job and paint only where necessary. Not sure how much you need? Try a paint calculator:
Home Depot Paint Calculator, Lowes Paint Calculator, Dunn Edwards Paint Calculator
6. Got leftovers? Store some leftover paint for touchups and dispose of the rest properly. Oil based paint should be considered hazardous waste, so please don’t throw a can in the garbage or dump excess down a drain. Contact your local municipality for collection times.
7. Make sure to ventilate. Don’t confuse the terms low or zero VOCs to mean completely harmless. Even green products release trace amounts of chemicals to the air that some may find irritating. Open windows, use a fan to decrease dry time, but remember fumes should never be allowed to circulate through a building’s HVAC system. Also, try to leave the house for a while after you paint.We are glad to have you join Acoustic Removal Experts in these efforts and urge everyone to look for ways to protect and preserve the environment.
