Have any of you ever tried this type of paint?

[JudyJudyJudy]

It is supposed to be more environmentally responsible and have some choices with zero VOCs. With my chemical sensitivities, that's important to me.

http://www.yolocolorhouse.com/

[Amy_G_]

Creme was talking about using environmentally friendly paints, but i don't recall the ones she had used before. she had pretty good results but I think the paint wasn't quite as durable? wish she were still around to ask.

[married_bears]

I would buy their smallest size to sample it or even ask them if they have samples they can send you to check durability wash ability and ease of application and coverage..

[JudyJudyJudy]

It's expensive compared to other paints, but I think any of the environmentally-friendly ones will be.

I'm also looking at this brand:

http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/Public/Non-ToxicFinishes/InteriorWallPaint/index.cfm?requesttimeout=100

[Bellaelle]

it seems like it would be worth a shot for you to try it.

[Olianna]

We have used Benjamin Moore's low VOC paints. I didn't see any difference in coverage and so far so good w/ it's durability. The guy at the store said that he hasn't found any difference in coverage, durability, etc.

I hate that it's so expensive. We are painting our kitchen right now w/ regular paint and it's so stinky.

[MoonBound]

no experience here for you but it sure looks neat. lets us know if it works for you, please. I am hoping to use something similar for my parents house this summer when I help dad paint. Mom either will need to stay with me until regular paint smell dissipates or use this sort of paint.

[hidesome]

What is environmentally unfriendly about ordinary house paint? Truly, I must know.

[married_bears]

Hidesome, Judy has environmental allergy issues. Also Environmental issues go far beyond the chemical nature of actual paint. The process actually can create quite a bit of toxic waste by product.

[JudyJudyJudy]

What is environmentally unfriendly about ordinary house paint? Truly, I must know.
This is a simple, quick explanation:

http://www.co.berks.pa.us/kenhorst/cwp/view.asp?A=1862&Q=472391

Paints and related products contribute to air pollution. And, if they are poured down the drain or put in a landfill, paint products can pollute our groundwater. Never throw liquid paint products into your trash. In addition, paint products can irritate your eyes and skin and may be harmful if inhaled.

To be quite honest, I won't pretend to be an expert in this area, nor do I even care to be. My biggest concern right now is how it affects me personally. It's obvious that the fumes from indoor paint contribute to indoor air pollution, which certainly isn't good for anyone, but they make me very ill. I can't stand perfumes, air fresheners, exhaust, etc., or even some natural products like tea tree oil.

[hidesome]

This is a simple, quick explanation:

http://www.co.berks.pa.us/kenhorst/cwp/view.asp?A=1862&Q=472391



To be quite honest, I won't pretend to be an expert in this area, nor do I even care to be. My biggest concern right now is how it affects me personally. It's obvious that the fumes from indoor paint contribute to indoor air pollution, which certainly isn't good for anyone, but they make me very ill. I can't stand perfumes, air fresheners, exhaust, etc., or even some natural products like tea tree oil.

That is why I asked. Most indoor paint doesn't contain perfume, exhaust, air fresheners or tea oil or even solvents. In fact, what it does contain, in copious quantities, is latex. If you aren't allergic to latex, I think the real hazards are exaggerated. I myself cannot stand the sweet smell of latex, but that doesn't make it harmful - just annoying. Having said that, any replacement for ordinary latex paint is likely to be far less studied and therefore far more dangerous.

Here is the MSDS on PURE latex.

http://www.sciencestuff.com/msds/C1963.html

[JudyJudyJudy]

I can tell you without a doubt that paint fumes are harmful to me. A small amount of research shows that it isn't just me who is affected, either. Besides the even more dangerous chemicals which I don't know jack about without researching them, some of the paints I've looked at contain any or many of the following: ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, ethylbenzene, ethanol, ethylene glycol, etc. The EPA allows VOC content of 250 g/L for interior flat paint (I wasn't able to find the allowable for other types of interior paint).

Paint is no more pure latex than the human body is pure water (and ammonia, which is listed on the MSDS you linked to, bothers me greatly). Even paint websites admit that paint contains VOCs. Instead of just looking at the MSDS of latex, you need to look at the MSDS of various paints. You might be unpleasantly surprised. Here are some links that talk about the VOCs in paint:

http://www.consumersearch.com/interior-paint/low-voc-paint

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/understanding-sick-building-syndrome-and-voc-paint-501133.html

[hidesome]

I can tell you without a doubt that paint fumes are harmful to me. A small amount of research shows that it isn't just me who is affected, either. Besides the even more dangerous chemicals which I don't know jack about without researching them, some of the paints I've looked at contain any or many of the following: ammonia, formaldehyde, xylene, ethylbenzene, ethanol, ethylene glycol, etc. The EPA allows VOC content of 250 g/L for interior flat paint (I wasn't able to find the allowable for other types of interior paint).

Paint is no more pure latex than the human body is pure water (and ammonia, which is listed on the MSDS you linked to, bothers me greatly). Even paint websites admit that paint contains VOCs. Instead of just looking at the MSDS of latex, you need to look at the MSDS of various paints. You might be unpleasantly surprised. Here are some links that talk about the VOCs in paint:

http://www.consumersearch.com/interior-paint/low-voc-paint

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/understanding-sick-building-syndrome-and-voc-paint-501133.html

Judy, there are as many types of paints as there are colors. I'm not talking about epoxy paint, auto paint, exterior house paint, model airplane dope or anything but interior latex house paint. I agree that all the others have lots of volotiles and some of them are very hazardous until dry. I'll stand by my statement that if you aren't bothered by latex, you have nothing to worry about with the vast majority of interior house paints.

[still_me]

Judy, there are as many types of paints as there are colors. I'm not talking about epoxy paint, auto paint, exterior house paint, model airplane dope or anything but interior latex house paint. I agree that all the others have lots of volotiles and some of them are very hazardous until dry. I'll stand by my statement that if you aren't bothered by latex, you have nothing to worry about with the vast majority of interior house paints.



Except for she probably has had problems from regular interior house paint and that is why she is looking into the other kinds out there. And also, it doesn't have to be just the house paint that bothers her. Maybe it is a layering affect of environmental things that also can affect Judy and she doesn't want to add more layers. Or it very well could be both. I see nothing wrong with her not wanting to add more crap to her life that can be a trigger. Plus, why not go as green as you can?

I can see what you are saying Hidesome, but really, it comes off kinda weird when Judy is saying she has problems with such things and you are trying to tell her that it isn't the case.

[hidesome]

Except for she probably has had problems from regular interior house paint and that is why she is looking into the other kinds out there. And also, it doesn't have to be just the house paint that bothers her. Maybe it is a layering affect of environmental things that also can affect Judy and she doesn't want to add more layers. Or it very well could be both. I see nothing wrong with her not wanting to add more crap to her life that can be a trigger. Plus, why not go as green as you can?

I can see what you are saying Hidesome, but really, it comes off kinda weird when Judy is saying she has problems with such things and you are trying to tell her that it isn't the case.

I acknowledge everything that has been said. I still contend that if one wants to avoid risk, going to a so-called "green" paint doesn't do that. Latex is one of the most ubiquitous chemicals on the planet. The fact that it doesn't harm most people in any way is well established. As I said, if Judy is one of the very few people who does have reactions to latex, then, obviously, she has no choice. On the other hand if she just wants to avoid volatiles and other organic chemicals, going "green" may or may not help one bit due to the simple fact that "green" paints have far less information about them than well-established latex paints. The situation is exactly like that presented by homeopathic medicine. One can take aspirin and know the risks exactly, or one can take yak-urine and not know the risks at all. Just because people don't know what risks are present in organic, "green", yak-urine, doesn't mean it is good for you or even better than aspirin.

[JudyJudyJudy]

hidesome, are you being intentionally obtuse? I've already stated that regular paint bothers me. There's no "if" here. Also, in the information I posted above, I was specifically speaking of interior paint (not other types of paint) of which the government allows VOC content of 250g/L. THERE ARE VOCs in REGULAR INTERIOR WALL PAINT. I REACT TO VOCs.

You keep insisting that paint is just latex. That is so far beyond ridiculous that it isn't even funny. From a previous link that I posted:

Paint is composed of three components. The pigment represents the color; a binding agent ensures that the pigment sticks to the wall; and a solvent keeps it all liquid until exposed to air. The solvent evaporates on application, leaving the pigment behind on the wall. The solvents are the main source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paint.

[JudyJudyJudy]

CM, do you mean low VOC or no VOC paint?

In addition to the ones I'm already looking at, I'll look into that one as well as the Benjamin Moore that was recommended earlier in the thread as well (thanks!).

[JudyJudyJudy]

Hidesome, I truly am confused that you continue to argue that regular paint contains no VOCs. I'm still shaking my head.

[_Gypsy_]

Judy, take a look at these

http://www.milkpaint.com/

http://www.devinecolor.com/paint.html (I love these colors!).

[JudyJudyJudy]

Thanks, Gypsy! Those look great! I put those in my list to consider.

[hidesome]

Hidesome, I truly am confused that you continue to argue that regular paint contains no VOCs. I'm still shaking my head.

Everything contains VOCs. Some things, like a bottle of benzene, concern me far more than others, like latex paint. I guarantee you that if you find the greenest of green house paint that I can find almost any organic chemical you can name in it - they are that ubiquitous. Actually, I too am fairly sensitive to chemical reactions on my skin and in my lungs. I happen to know that green things are no better, and often worse than proportedly nasty chemicals like say latex. You are a smart lady; I'm sure you'll make a good decision. What you won't do is convince me that latex paint is something to be avoided because of the VOC boogy man.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Once again, hidesome, regular interior paint can have VOC content up to 250 g/L, and the LEAST I've found in researching still contains over 50 g/L. To be labeled "no VOC," it must contain less than 5 g/L. No matter how you try to argue that, it's a huge difference. I'm so sensitive that even the "no VOC" paint might bother me. However, I know the regular paint does; it bothered me when we last painted 7 years ago, and I wasn't nearly as sensitive then as now. Something else might kill me in the no VOC paint, but at least maybe I won't be sick immediately. ;)

[hidesome]

hidesome, are you being intentionally obtuse? I've already stated that regular paint bothers me. There's no "if" here. Also, in the information I posted above, I was specifically speaking of interior paint (not other types of paint) of which the government allows VOC content of 250g/L. THERE ARE VOCs in REGULAR INTERIOR WALL PAINT. I REACT TO VOCs.

You keep insisting that paint is just latex. That is so far beyond ridiculous that it isn't even funny. From a previous link that I posted:

Two things. I never insisted that latex paint is "just" latex. Nor did I say that latex paint doesn't contain volatiles. All paint contains volatiles. By nature, those volatiles evaporate into the air. Some paints, like spay paint have volatiles with a very high vapor pressure and they evaporate in a very short, very intense way. That is why kids like to use them to get high. Other paints, like interior latex paint, have few volatiles that evaporate in a slow, fairly benign way. The latter can be applied by most people without ventilation on the inside of a building. With even modest ventilation, the volatiles diffuse rapidly to nil. As I've said before, if you are sensitive to the level of VOCs in ordinary latex paint, you will likely not be immune to the VOCs in "organic green" paint. In either case, ventilation is the key, not avoiding latex paint - which is by any practical definition everywhere. I'm not obtuse. I understand the dilemma. I also understand that plenty of charlotins exist out there selling "green" products by overstating the effects of ordinary products and exaggerating the true nature of their own products. Organic snake oil sales is a pet peeve of mine. Forgive me.

[JudyJudyJudy]

So are you saying that the VOC content given on paints or in the MSDS is made up?