VOC Free Paint - Zero VOC Interior & Exterior Paints

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What is VOC Free paint and why should I choose them?

If you are considering getting your house repainted, renovated, or even constructed, one of the most important aspects you should carefully look into is the paint you’re going to have the walls painted in, which paint companies you’re thinking of using, and which paint brands.

Paint makes up a huge percentage of the internal surfaces of your indoors, which should be enough for you to think about getting a good quality product. Not only is new paint going to change the look of your home, but it is also going to contribute to the indoor air quality of your house though it’s own VOC content.

A lot of the standard petrochemical household big brand paints can cause adverse health effects and undermine the quality of indoor and outdoor air through harmful gaseous emissions and energy-consuming production processes. In order to make sure you make the best choice, you need to educate yourself on your options with respect to your budget. In this article, we will specifically be talking about zero voc paint, and why you should stay away from the traditional petrochemical paints.

What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? Why Should You be Concerned?

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs for short, are a group of organic compounds that escape from the surfaces of certain chemical solids and liquids in the form of gas.

What allows them to be released in this manner is their low boiling points which in turn permits them to evaporate and sublimate into the surrounding environment at low temperatures. These are scientifically proven to be a serious health hazard to human health, depending on their concentration in the atmosphere and the period of exposure.

Chemicals that classify as VOCs include toluene, xylene, acetone, formaldehyde, benzene, all of which are associated with some kind of disease or illness. Because of the toxicity of these compounds, manufacturers and companies are coming up with new and innovative products that are low-VOC, 0 VOC paints, or VOC-free.

Negative Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are dangerous to both human health and the environment in conventional paint. Not to mention, you might have to introduce a very good ventilation system in your house to prevent the buildup of VOCs indoors – which might be very costly.

Health Consequences of VOCs

Some of the commonly found volatile organic compounds in paint from a big brand off the shelf paint manufacturer are benzene and methylene chloride which are compounds known to be associated with cancer; moreover, methylene chloride is converted into carbon monoxide inside our bodies, rendering health consequences that are similar to that of carbon monoxide exposure.

Other compounds that fall into this category are known to cause eyesight problems, headaches, a general feeling of illness, failing memory, and more – and these are some of the short term effects of volatile organic compounds on human health.

Environmental Consequences of VOCs

In addition to being a health hazard to humans, VOCs also damage the environment and ecosystem, contributing massively to global warming and climate change. The synthetic components of paints that contain dangerous amounts of VOCs are majorly produced through factory-intensive methods that involve the burning of coal and fossil fuels to manufacture the products. This generates huge amounts of carbon dioxide that add a burden to the environment.

Low-VOC Paint versus VOC-free Paint

When you’re scouting the market for an alternative to the conventional, synthetic paint, you’re bound to come across two types of paint: low-VOC paint and VOC-free paint. To be able to make the best decision for your house, it is important that you understand the difference between both of them.

Low-VOC Paint

Low-VOC paint does have lower quantities of VOC as compared to the traditional paints, but you would have to check the percentage of VOC in the paint to see whether it is low enough for your needs. Even paints that have ‘Low-VOC’ written on their label can actually end up with a significant percentage of VOC in their formulation.

VOC-Free

The authentic VOC-free paint is a much more desirable option if you are looking for an eco-friendly and safe option in paints.

VOC-free paint is made from all-natural ingredients, without synthetic additives to enhance its formulation. Some of the natural ingredients used in VOC-free paint include beeswax, chalk, and clay. A lot of people might say that no paint can be completely VOC-free, but that’s not true.

These days, you would be able to find a lot of brands offering 100% VOC-free paint and paint products. It is only a matter of looking for them.

What Are Your Options in VOC Free Paint?

A lot of brands will market their paint under the label: VOC-free, but these might not be entirely free of synthetic chemicals and harmful metal compounds. There a range of paint and paint products that are VOC-free and made of natural products. Below, we’ve listed some of the VOC-free paint you might come across.

1. All-Natural Paint

Natural paint products are free of all traces of volatile organic compounds. They are made from natural ingredients present in the environment through eco-friendly means. You also don’t need to worry about paint performance because you will be able to find plenty of natural paints that give amazing wall coverage and work well on the walls.

As for the available colours, the market for natural paints is constantly expanding, with more and more colours coming in. If you still can’t find the right one for you, then you can always get in touch with the brand to have a custom-made shade.

2. Vegan and Cruelty Free Paint

These, much like natural paints, are made of naturally present compounds. These differ from your natural eco-paints in only a few ways. Instead of some of the natural animal-based products like ox gall and beeswax that might be present in natural paint, vegan paints include purely plant-based ingredients.

In addition to this, vegan-free paints do not involve animal testing anywhere in the production processes, whereas petrochemical paints are bound to go down that lane because they contain a bunch of toxic ingredients which they need to test on animals for human health and safety. In fact, some synthetic constitutions of VOC-free paint and paint products might also involve animal-testing behind the production processes. Milk paint is another common type using casein.

3. Graphenstone Paint

Graphenstone interior and exterior eco friendly paints are completely made from environment-friendly, natural ingredients – which makes them VOC-free. In addition to being free of any harmful chemicals, Graphenstone paints also purify the air by absorbing excess carbon dioxide in the environment (acting as a natural dehumidifier).

To add more to its merits, this paint also has some antibacterial properties, which also reduces your risk of coming into contact with germs and harmful bacteria. This paint has great stability, a comparably shorter drying phase, and good resistance to weathering and moisture which makes it durable and desirable.

4. Clay-Based Paint

Clay paints might also be a great option for you, depending upon your needs of course. There are a lot of great features of clay-based paints.

First of all, these are naturally formulated, which explains how it is free of VOCs. It is water-based paint and does not contain any forms of oil and acrylics. This makes the paint comfortably breathable and prevents water vapour from damaging your building fabric. What’s more is that it will work well on the walls, even if your building is relatively older or has damp walls.

Whether you want to paint over older paint or lime plaster, this paint will give you good coverage and quality without any of the harmful fumes.

5. Lime-based paints

Lime based paints are yet another great option if you are going for VOC-free paints. It has an environment-friendly basis and comes in a variety of colours to satisfy your aesthetic needs. These paints work well on lime-rendered and porous surfaces and provide good wall coverage and breathability. If your building has some old and damp walls, or if you have a basement, you might want to consider lime-based paints as an option.

Conclusion

Inhaling these harmful VOC-rich fumes from petrochemical paints and synthetic products has led to an alarming rise in allergies, asthma and various forms of respiratory distresses all over the world. Because most of the time is spent indoors, even small concentrations of VOCs inhaled over long periods can amount to a great deal of exposure, and can no longer be overlooked.

By opting for VOC-free paint, emulsions, varnishes, and finishes, you ensure a cleaner and more comfortable indoor environment. In a time like this where air pollution is ever-increasing and the world is faced with a climate crisis, it has become crucial to create a greener and healthier living spaces.

It is not only going to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe from harmful fumes and particles but is also going to help sustain a planet that is going a drastic climate change and depletion of natural resources. It is about time we ask ourselves when there are affordable, safer and greener options available to us, why shouldn’t we go for them?

Understanding The Dangers Of VOCs And Toxins In Standard Paints

It’s always suggested that you paint in a well-ventilated area due to the fumes that are released. In fact, the chemicals that are being released are called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. The strong smell and instant headache you’ll get when inhaling these vapors is a dead giveaway that they aren’t good for you. While much of the VOCs leave the paint as it dries, did you know there are harmful chemicals still being released for years following the initial painting. VOCs can trigger asthma and allergies over extended periods of time, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Carcinogens are the most deadly aspect of VOCs in paint due to their cancer-causing abilities. Unless you are specifically choosing VOC-free paints that are safe for you and your family, you may be exposing them to the harmful effects of chemicals such as benzene and methylene chloride amongst other things.

Volatile Organic Compounds are the chemicals in the paint that make them dry quickly and permanently, so it’s no wonder they’ve been a popular addition to paints for decades now. However, that doesn’t mean a paint won’t work without VOCs. There are many natural or organic paints that are low VOC or completely VOC free. These products usually use animal and plant products, chalk, lime or casein in place of VOCs. Some people have tried to make their own homemade paint, and while it’s a valiant effort, it is not a good idea. Homemade paints have a whole host of their own problems. Your best bet when switching to safe paint is finding a reputable brand with a proven track record of performance that you can trust.