You have either just moved into your new house or are
preparing to sell your home, either way every homeowner knows that painting the
walls is one of the first steps in either of the two processes. A fresh coat of
paint on your walls, something to match your personal style and décor
definitely helps in turning your ‘house’ into your ‘home’. While color
selection is really the main emphasis you set our for when going to your local
paint supplier, something that often gets overlooked in the process is the type
of paint you are purchasing and whether or not it is safe for the environment. Many
people are unaware of the nasty and harmful chemicals that go into household
paint. Whether you are preparing to sell your home, or painting for yourself,
it is advisable to use eco-friendly paint for the protection of you as well as
the future residents of the home.
Older homes tend to have more layers of paint, often times
including lead-based paints. Your home inspection should have confirmed whether
or not there were significant amounts of lead in your home. You may not be in
harm of it anymore, but it would be a good idea to strip away as much of that
old paint as you can. When finding a paint stripper that won’t harm the
environment, you’ll want to avoid any products that contain methylene. Most of
the paint thinners you’ll find at any well known hardware store is going to
carry products which are petroleum-based, consisting of methylene chlorine or
dichloromethane. Be conscious of what you are purchasing and don’t be afraid to
ask questions.
Secondly, when selecting a type of paint, you’ll want to
steer clear of any paint that has ‘VOC’ in it. VOC stands for ‘volatile organic
compounds’ which are dangerous to human health and cause harm to the
environment. Studies show that VOC’s in higher concentrations are known to have
compounding long-term health effects. In paints, these solvents are released
into the atmosphere as the paint dries after application. Traditional paint
(containing VOC’s) contributes to indoor air pollution and the formation of
smog in the atmosphere. This harmful solvent lurks around far after the initial
painting is complete and has been known to cause side affects such as
headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the throat, eyes and nose.
As a growing number of people are becoming environmentally
conscious, there are now a number of big name brands coming out with safer,
greener products. If your local paint supplier doesn’t carry these particular
products, I’m sure they will be more than happy to place an order for you.
You’ll be delighted to know that not only is there every color imaginable to
choose from, but it doesn’t give off those pungent fumes that most chemical
based paints do. You’ll also feel good knowing that the air you breathe in your
home isn’t polluted with harmful chemicals that get released even long after
the initial painting has been completed. Be sure to dispose of your paints
properly and use eco-friendly clean-up products such as turpentine.