Safe and Eco paint is not that hard to find and nor is it as expensive as you may think. Anyway, since when can you put a price on you and your loved ones health?
Being avid DIY'ers we have spent our fair share of hours behind a paint brush or roller. Actually now that I think of it I should re-phrase that and say 'I' have spent a lot of time wielding a paint brush. My husband is quick to point out 'you are so much neater than I am when it comes to painting'. I guess that is because I spent most of my career as a professional make-up artist 'painting' faces with teeny, tiny brushes.
Anyway, I absolutely hate the toxic nature of most paint, especially the nasty smell that just lingers and lingers. Call me over the top but I always feel like I am suffocating. Well not so with my latest round of painting.
Concerned with the nasty issues related to toxic paint I did some research and found that the combined effect of VOCs (potentially carcinogenic carbon-based chemicals that evaporate easily) together with heavy metals and toxic chemicals in synthetic paints and finishes is a major contributor to poor indoor air quality known as "sick building syndrome". These are also responsible for toxic pollution of our atmosphere, waterways and environment. Don't be mistaken, the risk is not just while you are painting as most paint will continue to emit harmful fumes for years and years afterwards.
So after having all my fears about paint confirmed I hunted for a safe and also eco paint to use on the interior of our house. My son's room was the first to be 'made over' and thanks to ECOLOUR paint I didn't get headaches or feel dizzy and sick doing the painting as I usually do. My son could move straight in and I got a good nights sleep knowing he wasn't being slowly poisoned by the paint I had applied.
I chose ECOLOUR because:
ZERO VOC's
Australian Owned and Made and a Certified Carbon Neutral Business
Water based for easy clean-up
ECOLOUR use re-cycled, re-refined waste engine oil which acts as a preservative
Premium quality and is a 'scrubable' finish
ECOLOUR can tint to match any other paint company's colour chart
Comes with a 10yr guarantee against flaking/peeling
I used the ecolour Eco Living Interior low sheen which I had tinted to match a Dulux colour and it was spot on. It doesn't need a primer or undercoat and it gave a great satin finish. On the bare timber trim I used POLYCLEAR which is like a varnish substitute. I chose the low sheen as I just wanted to seal the timber but not have a glossy result. Unlike varnish or polyeruthane the colour of the timber didn't change.
It has taken about a year to finish the interior of our house and having a child and a husband I have had to test the 'scrubbable' claim and yes it's true!
They even do a ONE COAT Exterior paint which I will try out when I find enough time to do the outside!
So, next time you need to paint, support local, be safe and eco and check out ECOLOUR