Low-VOC paint
chrisjohnston2112
| Posted in Green Products and Materials on
My painter is getting ready to paint our under construction home. I have heard about low VOC paints. I have two children – ages 5 and 7. Is low VOC paint worth it? Are any brands better than any others? For what it is worth I live in a mixed humid climate (southern Illinois).
Any advice appreciated!
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Replies
Chris,
Latex paints and finishes are always better than oil-based for interior work (and for exterior as well), and most paint manufacturers now offer low or no VOC options which are quickly becoming the standard. If you're willing to pay more, there are a number of manufacturers of natural paints, based on minerals, plant materials or milk (though some contain natural VOCs such as citric solvents, which can also be problematic).
VOCs can enter the human body in three ways: respiratory tract (inhalation), skin (unprotected contact), or digestive system (swallowed). They can cause the following health problems: irritation of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes; respiratory problems; headaches, dizziness, nausea; light-headedness; effects to the nervous system; blood, liver, kidney diseases; carcinogenic effects.
In addition to VOC content, it's important to consider these additional guidelines:
Not formulated or manufactured with formaldehyde.
Not formulated or manufactured with halogenated solvents.
Not formulated or manufactured with mercury or mercury compounds or tinted with pigments of lead, cadmium, chromium VI and their oxides.
Not formulated or manufactured with aromatic hydrocarbons (if latex, up to 10% by weight for oil-based).
Pesticides and preservatives should be in very low levels (0.01 to 0.025%)
Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of the American Lung Association, says studies suggest an increased prevalence of respiratory problems consistent with higher VOC levels in freshly painted homes. "Generally speaking, less is always better," she says.
Federal VOC limits are now set at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat paints and 380 g/l for others. California's standards are stringent: 150 g/l for nonflat finishes and 100 g/l for flat. Even tougher is the 50 g/l level for all finishes set by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, around Los Angeles. The Environmental Protection Agency hopes to propose new federal VOC regulations with a targeted effective date in 2011.
Interior paint is given a Green Seal if it has a VOC content less than 50 g/l (for flat sheen) or 150 g/l (non-flat sheen).
http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Interior-Partitions-Ceilings/low-voc-paints
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/march-2009/home-garden/interior-paints/overview/interior-paints-ov.htm
We have tried several different specs on our projects some of which have been no-voc (although some include voc's in the colorant) and some that are "low-voc."
Benjamin Moore Aura - Low-voc - Very nice paint, extremely good coverage, durable, expensive ($50/gal)
Ben Moore Natura - no-voc- We haven't used it yet, but have heard good things.
Safecoat - I believe it is zero voc. The painters complained the entire time using this paint. Poor coverage, very thin. Inconsistent color (has more to do with the retailer than the paint).
Muralo Breathe Safe - No voc - A little thin for spraying, but not too bad. Seems to perform well as a brush or rolled paint with good coverage. Inexpensive ($25-30/ gal)
I would suggest the Flawless Elements Zero VOC interior paint, available from California Paints. It is really worth the expense. It is also essential that you buy a paint with low or zero VOC features. When we moved in to our home, I had a 1 year old and he developed a serious allergy to the interior paint's odor. Now, since we are repainting, we tried the above interior paint and found no problem with it at all. The paint also mentions an added level of mildew resistance not found in other Zero VOC paints. .
Robert, a paint product is not just given a Green Seal for having a low-VOC content. Green Seal is an extremely costly pay-to-play certification that is only affordable if you are a large corporation. Green Seal may test for VOC content, but it does not test for toxicity. Please do not mislead.
Beyond that, the VOC content of any paint does not directly correlate to the toxicity. VOC's are regulated by the EPA solely because of their propensity to create OUTDOOR air pollution. Some VOC's are dangerous to humans, some are not. But by painting all VOC's with the same brush, we've allowed paint companies to hide the toxic stuff. With all of the highly educated people that are writing for magazines and blogs, I just cant fathom why everyone still perpetuates the myth that VOC's are regulated to protect our indoor air.
Chris, look for a paint product that is sold as being low-toxin, not simply low VOC. There's a huge difference. AFM is a great example. It's been around for 30 years and has the most extensive lox-tox product offering in the paint industry. I've used it on literally thousands of homes and commercial properties with wonderful results. Best part is, even if my customer does not believe in using a safer paint, I still know its better for me and my crew.