When you are about to start house painting in Pleasant Hill, should you ask your painters to paint with non-VOC paints, especially when they don’t regularly use them? If you are paying for the job to be done, you should be able to ask for any paint you want, right? Keep reading to find out.
More and more homeowners are becoming aware of the importance of quality air, especially indoors. That’s why more owners want to use low-emission paints such as non-VOC paints that can help to improve indoor air quality and to give health benefits to those who spend their time inside their homes.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can expect at least three times more air pollution inside a home than outdoors. This is because of the paints and finishes that are applied on the walls and those that are used on carpets. Most paints and finishes emit low levels of VOCs, volatile organic compounds, which may negatively affect indoor air quality for many years.
As people are more environmentally conscious these days, in addition to the new environmental regulations, many low- or non-VOC paints are now available and in demand.
If professional painters in Pleasant Hill, or surrounding areas, haven’t used low- or non-VOC paints before, you can request that they do so when painting your home. Chances are painters will be willing to use them. There are many benefits from using these types of paints, especially non-VOC paints, for both the homeowner and the painter:
- Anyone with allergies or chemical sensitivities, in particular, will benefit from low- or non-VOC paints as they have reduced toxins.
- Speaking of reduced toxins again, they are also good for the environment. Toxins will not make their way to landfills or groundwater when they’re cleaned up, washed away, or when throwing away the paint can.
- Low- and non-VOC paints are as good as VOC paints when it comes to quality and performance. They are durable, easy to clean and scrub, and are able to cover flaws in previous paints with VOC’s.
- All low- and non-VOC paints are water based. This makes them easy to clean with just soap and water.
- Low and non-VOC paints emit no hazardous fumes or off gassing. It means that they are safe for those who intend to stay longer indoors.
- Since the EPA states non-VOC paints are non-hazardous, it is safe and simple to dispose of the cans.
To assist you in choosing low- or non-VOC paints, the following are the variants:
- Natural paints – These are made of natural materials such as plant oils, beeswax, mineral dyes, chalk, clay, or other natural ingredients. These are considered the healthiest paints for you as well as for the environment.
- Zero VOC paints – These paints have less than 5 grams of VOC. When you add a color to VOC paints it may increase the paint’s VOC levels to 10 grams, but it can be no longer considered as “Zero VOC” paint.
- Low VOC paints – This type of paint has VOC levels that should not be more than 200 grams per liter, the EPA has determined. Most low VOC paints contain no formaldehyde or heavy metals, and use water rather than petroleum-based solvents as carriers.
Obviously you care about your own health, your family’s health, and that of your environment. Switch to using non-VOC paints when doing house painting. You can request painters in to use non-VOC paints if they haven’t used them before. If they are not otherwise willing to use such paints, you may look for others who are willing to non-VOC paints for your job when house painting in Pleasant Hill.