What is GREEN Painting?
by MJ Butler
(Chicago, IL & New York, NY)
Our Most Recent Work
What is GREEN Painting?
GREEN Painting is a painting specialty that uses eco-friendly paints that have very little negative impact on our environment. Green Painting refers not to the color, but to the paint that contains little or no harmful chemicals that are found in all conventional paints, stains, and wood finishing coats like enamels and varnishes. We are dedicated to learning, understanding, and implementing new products and techniques that will be safer for the environment and your family.
Q: What's wrong with traditional paint?
Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of solvents or VOC’s which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. Some of these VOC’s are benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and formaldehyde which serve as "spreadability" enhancers, biocides, and fungicides. During and after painting, these VOC’s outgas and can cause adverse health effects such as headache, nausea, dizziness and eye, throat, and lung irritation. Exposure to airborne formaldehyde, for example can cause eyes to water and burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat. It can cause chest tightness and wheezing. The EPA has classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen.
Q: What are the benefits to using more eco-friendly paints?
There are many benefits to using eco-friendly paints and stains such as: coating flexibility, better gloss retention, better face resistance, reduced health risks, little to no VOC's, less pollution, low odor, easier clean-up, safer environment, reduced waste, and improved durability.
Q: What are exactly are VOC's?
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are harmful gases that are emitted by paint as it dries. When you apply wet paint to a wall or any other surface, that paint usually dries within a few hours. As the paint dries like glue to the wall it releases gases from its liquid form, and continues to for years thereafter. In unventilated areas, those gases over time can be harmful to human lungs. Most higher quality level paints now dry with very low gases that enter the air. So, with E-Z Painting using "green" paint, you can be assured that the air you breathe before and after applying paint is safe. Paints with low or no VOCs also allow families to quickly enjoy their freshly painted homes without having to wait for strong odors to fade away.
Q: Are eco-friendly paints more expensive?
No. Due to ever increasing demand within the paint industry for healthier alternatives, the price difference which was once significant has now substantially dropped and is usually a match for the traditional paints.
Q: Will I be sacrificing quality by choosing eco-friendly paint?
No. In March, Consumer Reports released an assessment of 57 interior paints currently on the market, including low-V.O.C. ones, that evaluated their "hiding performance, surface smoothness, and resistance to staining and scrubbing, their gloss change, sticking, mildew and fading." Benjamin Moore’s Aura was ranked third among 21 paints in the low-luster category, which included conventional latex and oil-based paints.
For more information about Going Green visit contact us at:
E-Z Painting Inc.
Green Division
1-800-935-9520
Serving Chicago & New York
green@ezpaintinginc.com
