San Diego Paint Contractor | Defining Your Organic Paints Options
In a response to my blog last week, I received an email asking if I could write more about organic paints – specifically non-toxic paints and finishes. I thought, ‘sure, why not.’ As a San Diego house painter, working for Eco G Painters, where we only use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) formulated paints, I’d like to do a bit more research and pass it on to readers.
In general there are three categories of non-toxic/low toxic paints: Low VOC, Zero VOC, and Natural Paints. So that everyone understands, even Zero VOC formulated paints and finishes still contain some, however small, amounts of toxins, and it is important to know that with paints and finishes it is just a matter of degree.
In order to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards, paints and stains with Low VOCs must not contain in excess of 200 grams per liter, and varnishes must not exceed 300 grams per liter. The best way for reputable paint manufactures to meet the EPA’s grams per liter VOC ceiling standard is by using water as the carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents. Most of these manufacturers legally market their Low VOC paints as 50 grams per liter. Make no mistake though, these paints will still emit an odor until dry, so if you are sensitive be sure to use paints with less than 25 grams per liter of VOCs.
The EPA's Reference Test Method 24 is what determines the Zero VOCs. The standards are lower, of course, and range from 5 to 10 grams per liter. Manufacturers can label their paints, stains, and varnishes as "Zero-VOC's," however these products might still use fungicides, biocides and colorants, which contain some VOCs. The addition of color tint, which most customers want, will most likely bring the level of VOC up to the 10 gram per liter limit. This sitll quite low.
The safest paints for health and the environment are Natural Paints, and anyone with allergies or paint sensitivities will find it very unlikey to have any reaction at all. In fact, it is considered to be uncommon. These water-based natural paints give off almost no smell, and the oil based paints usual emit a citrus or an essential oils fragrance. In general these natural paints contain natural raw ingredients; water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils, and natural minerals like clay, chanlk, milk casein (a protein used as a binder), natural latex and other good ingredients.
I know that was a lot of information, but my hope was to, in general, answer the question of my reader. I definitely enjoy doing this part because I never know what I'm going to find out when I do research regariding organic paints.
Well, until next time, happy painting!
