What a perfect week to talk about Low and No-VOC (Volitile Organic Compounds) paints. It’s Climate Week so carbon emissions and green & healthy living is on everyone's lips. Just last week President Obama declared that they would embark upon a project to make the White House LEED certified. Well, this got my heart racing but somewhat haltingly I might add. If Michelle did any painting when they moved in there is really no point in re-doing it now.
I confirmed my opinion by asking a LEED certified architect, who said "If you painted a year ago, whatever paint you used would be fully cured in 30 days so there wouldn’t really be a need to re-paint unless the area got a lot of wear or you wanted to change the colors. In any case, a good primer would be required to make sure the new paint adheres well."
That being said, if you ARE ready to paint here are a few pointers about brands and usage:
The good news is we have even more choices for low VOC paints — the healthy, non-toxic paints — than just a year ago. They’re much better for your lungs during application and after drying. The easiest brand to find is Benjamin Moore, with both the Natura and Aura lines. Natura is a bit more expensive but easier for amateur painters to use. Some painters object to the Aura line, as it takes practice to use, but if applied properly it will cover sufficiently with one coat. Among the lesser known brands, such as Yolo and AMF Safecoat, the winner is Mythic, with a wide color assortment and easy application.
Susan Singer, senior vice president of The Corcoran Group, is NYC’s first certified eco-broker. She can be reached at sin@corcoran.com or 917-207-6368.
