How To Choose Eco-Friendly Paints

How To Choose Eco-Friendly Paints

More people than ever before are concerned about the effect that their choices have on the environment. While many want to paint their house, they’re worried about the fumes and chemicals used to form the paint. Eco-friendly paints are a great alternative to this dilemma, and it helps to know what to look for. 

 

How can you choose an eco-friendly paint for your next project? 

Minimize VOCs

 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gasses that are emitted from certain products, including many of the most popular paints. As you might expect, inhaling these compounds is not ideal for your overall health. When shopping for eco-friendly paint, one of the first things you should look for is one with no VOCs. VOCs aren’t healthy and can trigger sensitivities in certain people. 

 

Avoiding VOCs in paint is a powerful way to remedy the situation. Keep in mind that VOCs can be emitted from other items such as flooring or furniture as well. This leads us to the next point: Air-purifying paints can actually improve the air quality of your home when it comes to VOCs from other sources. 

Air Purifiers

 

Not only do you need to look at what chemicals a paint emits, but you should also be paying close attention to what they prevent. Some new eco-friendly paints can actually purify the air in the rooms where you apply them. If there happen to be VOCs in the air from other items, such as furniture or cleansers, it will trap those compounds in the paint. 

 

This prevents them from floating through the air and causing damage to your body. This is great for people who tend to be sensitive to chemicals and strong odours.  You may pay more for a paint that offers this technology, but it is a worthwhile investment. 

Look for Chemicals

 

Of course, you can always come across a paint that’s low in VOCs and promises to purify the air, but it may be laden with chemicals you can’t pronounce. Just because it has these first two attributes doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear for eco-friendly paint. It can still be bad for the environment, even if it’s low in volatile organic compounds. 

 

Instead, you should do plenty of research into the chemical components of the paint. While the use of some chemicals will be necessary to give your paint lasting pigmentation and staying power, only purchase paints that contain chemicals you’re comfortable with. It may take a while to whittle down the list, but you’ll be glad you invested the time into research. 

Let the Professionals Help

 

Finding eco-friendly paint on the market can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack; so many brands and types promise different attributes that may be important to you. If you need a little help choosing the perfect paint, contact Pinnacle Painting. Our house painters in Winnipeg can guide you to the right decision. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we use eco-friendly paint!