The Green Room

"where green can be more than just a color"

Welcome to the "Green Room" an informative, educational look into bringing your painting experience into the Green Era. Many of my clients ask about Zero VOC products, from paint to paint products, and if it is in their best interest to introduce Zero VOC products into their living environments. Most want to know what VOC is and how it may or may not affect them.

What is VOC? VOC is an acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds. Basically, it's what makes painters have the reputation of being slow. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) refers to organic chemical compounds which have significant vapor pressures and which can affect the environment and human health. What we need to understand is that our homes are these enclosed areas in which we exist. As humans, we have the ability to continuously ventilate, moving oxygen in and CO2 out. Our homes, unfortunately don't, unless we open our windows and doors. More times than not our homes are closed off to the outside. This gives a chance for the VOC's to build up in our homes and for us to breath. The VOC's could be anything from the cleaners we use, to the solvents in our garages, and of course the paint on our walls. A typical wall paint that can be purchased at any paint or hardware store could off gas, (release VOC's), for up to 3.5 years. Most paint manufacturers are introducing Zero VOC paint and paint products. They are removing the volatile organic compounds for a healthier home and human.

               

What we need to understand is that some, not all, paint companies are claiming they have Zero VOC paints. They do until they add the colorants. The darker the color, the more colorants, leads to more VOC's. It is still less than the norm but is still VOC's none the less. This is something that a lot of consumers don't understand. If absolute zero VOC is important to you than talk to your paint manufacturer or painting contractor and make sure they're providing what you're looking for.

Your home or business is an important place in which you spend a lot of time in. When you're in the market of painting, choosing zero VOC products not only can make your home healthier but yourself and the one's around you as well.

Unfortunately, there are times when I am forced to use products that do contain VOC's. Sometimes there's a threshold that needs' to be crossed bringing your home into the "Green Era". I, myself, try to find the most efficient, easiest and healthiest way to make that transition. Once that threshold is crossed than the potential to make your home a healthy home can be achieved.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments you may have. I will try to answer them the best I can or use my resources to find your answer. Remember, Surf City Painting, where green can be more than just a color.