Low VOC Paints Still Have Odor
Often times when meeting with customers and looking at jobs I am asked
about using low VOC/zero VOC paints. Low VOC and “green paints” seem to be the catchphrases these days when looking for healthier paint. Many customers are surprised to learn that most of these Zero VOC paints still have an odor. Some are better than others, while some smell worse than full-fledged oil paint. To understand why we first need to understand what a VOC is.
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. Below a definition from Wikipedia.
“Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint, has a boiling point of only –19 °C (–2 °F).”
Not All VOC’s are Bad
VOC’s are all around us in our daily life. For example, the smell of fresh-cut grass is caused by the release of VOC’s, and peeling the skin off an orange releases 850 g/l of VOC’s into the air. Here’s a guide to limit VOC exposure from all kinds of different kinds of household sources.
Now I’m not saying they are all good because that’s certainly not the case. There are many VOC’s that are harmful I just wanted to point out that avoiding them throughout daily life is all but impossible.
No VOC’s Means No Odor? Wrong!
Paints are comprised of three parts.
- Pigments: This gives the paint its color.
- Binders: Also known as the medium, this allows for the color to stick to the surface.
- Solvents: This is what keeps the paint in a liquid form.
- Sherwin Williams Harmony – This paint has been found to actually absorb VOC’s in the air by removing them from the environment.
- Sherwin Williams Promar 200 – This is a true Zero VOC paint with good performance. When shopping at any commercial location there’s a very good chance the walls are painted with it. While it still has a smell it’s low and dissipates quickly.
- Benjamin Moore Natura – A couple of years ago Benjamin Moore was sued because they sold this paint as a Zero VOC / Zero Smell paint, it was anything but zero smell. Since then they have fixed the problems and it is a very low odor paint with outstanding performance.
- Sherwin Williams Cashmere – This is a Low VOC paint and one of my favorites. It has a low odor and application is a breeze.
- Benjamin Moore Aura – A Low VOC paint and quite possibly the best performing paint on the market. However, there is a slight ammonia smell.
- Benjamin Moore Eco Spec – A good all-around paint especially for commercial applications. I’ve painted many dialysis centers with this paint and never had a complaint.
- Sherwin Williams Emerald interior – This is Sherwin Williams’s top of the line paint which is rated as a Zero VOC. I’ve used it twice and both times had a bad reaction. I suffered from a severe headache and watery eyes each time I used it.
- Valspar Signature – I’ve found this paint to have a very high ammonia smell.
- Any Oil Based Product – Oils are always the biggest odor offenders. I try to avoid them at all costs but sometimes they are necessary for things like sealing water stains and smoke damage. Also, the only wood stains I use are oil because they are far superior to their latex counterparts.
Conclusion
Finding paint that reacts best with you is an individual exercise. The paints I’ve listed above are ones I’ve used in countless homes without complaint however, everyone is different. I’ve known people that love the smell of gas and skunks. I find both repulsive but hey to each their own. Just remember Zero VOC does not mean zero smell. Every paint evaporates when in the drying process. The only thing I know of that has no smell when evaporating is water and paint are comprised of much more than that. Finding the paint that has the least offensive reaction to you is one of my many goals when working in your home.
Give Us a Call!
Call Paragon Painting, for all your Zero VOC painting needs. We will always use the best products on the market and give you a detailed painting quote with a fair price. We service the entire Charleston, SC area including:
Summerville, Mt Pleasant, Moncks Corner, Folly Beach, Ladson, North Charleston, Hanahan, James Island, Johns Island, Sullivans Island, and beyond. We are the exterior and interior house painting experts, call us at 843-695-9450