New paint colors can transform the look of your home.
Your home can suddenly appear cleaner and fresher.
Rooms can get updated without extensive remodeling.
However, visual aspect is not the only thing to consider when choosing interior paint.
Certain interior paints can release volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, to the indoor air.
For those who would like to reduce paint-related emissions inside the home, choosing low-VOC interior paints can be a solution.
However, keep in mind that low-VOC paint is not magic that will instantly cleanse your indoor air.
Rather, low-VOC interior paint can minimize emissions of specific VOCs compared to higher-emitting paint types.
Discover below what homeowners need to know.
What Are VOCs?
VOC stands for volatile organic compound.
VOCs are compounds that can become gases at room temperature.
Household products, such as paints, cleaners, furnishings, adhesive, and others, can emit VOCs.
Paint is among the most common sources of VOCs.
The “fresh paint smell” homeowners notice is often created by volatile compounds emitted by the paint during its application and drying.
Some VOCs can cause irritation or even trigger certain health issues depending on the specific compound, its amount, exposure time, and individual sensitivity.
Consequently, when painting rooms where you live, you should be careful with your choice of the paint product.
What Does Low-VOC Paint Mean?
Low-VOC paints are products that contain a smaller amount of certain volatile organic compounds than conventional paints.
Today, homeowners have access to numerous low-VOC paint options, including zero-VOC paints.
Interior water-based paints tend to be the most popular choice among them.
However, sometimes, the terms on product labels can be misleading.
“Painless paint” doesn’t guarantee zero emissions to the indoor air.
Similarly, “zero-VOC paint” doesn’t mean that a product doesn’t contain any volatile organic compounds.
Nevertheless, choosing lower-emission products is a way to minimize paint-related emissions.
Low-VOC Paint Minimizes Paint-Related Emissions
Minimization of indoor emissions is one of the main reasons why some homeowners prefer low-VOC interior paints.
Unlike conventional paints, low-VOC paints minimize the emission load caused by paint itself.
This advantage can be especially helpful when painting:
- Bedrooms
- Living rooms
- Family rooms
- Nurseries
- Halls
- Kitchens
- Other frequently visited rooms
Keep in mind that choosing low-VOC paint doesn’t mean that it will improve every aspect of indoor air quality.
All you try to do is to reduce one of indoor emissions.
Low-VOC Paint Usually Creates Less Noticable Odor
Odors can make the painting process unpleasant.
Odors can persist after the painting is finished.
Many contemporary low-VOC paints emit less odor than solvent-heavy paints.
That makes them a more comfortable choice for homeowners.
However, keep in mind that odor reduction doesn’t equal emission reduction.
In order to minimize paint-related emissions, you need to provide enough ventilation.
Open windows and doors when weather permits and follow manufacturer’s guidelines for airing of the painted surface.
Good Ventilation Is Important Too
Choosing low-VOC paint isn’t the only thing you can do.
Ventilation is still important.
Proper ventilation of the painted room can help remove VOCs to the outside.
To ensure proper ventilation, you need to open windows and doors when it’s possible.
Fans can be used as an additional tool to ensure ventilation.
However, keep in mind that ventilation should be appropriate for the weather and conditions of painting.
In Arizona, it’s hard to keep all windows open during the hottest days of summer.
The important point here is that choosing low-VOC interior paint shouldn’t make you think that ventilation is no longer necessary.
Interior Repainting Helps to Repair Worn-Out Surfaces
Existing homes are usually covered with numerous marks and layers of wear and tear.
Walls can have:
- Scuffs
- Dirt
- Fingerprints
- Old touch-ups
- Discolorations
- Cooking residue
- Damages
To be able to repaint a room, you need to prepare the surface properly.
Depending on the room, it can mean cleaning, patching, sanding, or repair of damages.
Afterward, the new paint goes over the properly prepared surface.
This procedure can help make walls look cleaner and more uniform.
The result comes not because of paint properties, but thanks to preparation of the surface.
Bedrooms Are a Perfect Place for Low-VOC Paint Products
Bedrooms are the places where people spend a lot of time.
Therefore, homeowners can be interested in the use of low-VOC paints for these rooms.
Low-VOC paints are a good idea.
As well as good ventilation during painting.
If you plan to repaint a child’s room, guest room, or primary bedroom, you should discuss paint products with the painter in advance.
You can consider color, finish, washability, durability, and VOC content of the paint simultaneously.
Low-VOC Paint Can Be Used in Living Areas
Living rooms, family rooms, open plan spaces, and others are also good candidates for low-VOC paints.
Such rooms are usually connected with other rooms.
Consequently, smells can travel around the whole house.
Using of low-VOC paints can make the painting more comfortable.
Proper planning helps too.
For example, you can repaint rooms piece by piece to avoid major disruption of your everyday life.
Don’t Choose Paint Based on Its VOC Content Only
VOC content is an important characteristic of paint, but not the only one.
You need to choose paint that will work properly.
Consider:
- Durability
- Washability
- Coverage
- Finish
- Color
- Surface type
- Room function
A busy hallway requires a different finish than a quiet guest bedroom.
Kitchens and bathrooms need different finishes than living rooms.
A good repaint needs to combine minimal emission with required functionality.
Paint Finish Is Important Too
Flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, matte, and other finishes of paint have their own pros and cons.
Flat paints can hide certain imperfections of the surface well.
Semi-gloss and gloss paints can be more washable than matte ones.
Different finishes can be needed for bedrooms, living rooms, and other rooms.
Thus, a good paint choice requires a consideration of multiple aspects.
Proper Preparation of the Surface Is Crucial
Low-VOC paint won’t help if the surface isn’t prepared properly.
Surface with loose paint, damages, dirt, stains, or unevenness should be prepared before painting.
Professional residential repainting process starts with the evaluation of the condition of the current finish.
Depending on the findings, painter determines which measures should be taken: cleaning, patching, sanding, caulking, and others.
The purpose of such preparation is to ensure a smooth and uniform finish and to make sure that paint will work properly.
Houses Built Prior to 1978 Require Special Precautions
Homeowners of older houses should consider the condition of the surface.
Houses that were built prior to 1978 can have lead-based paint on the walls.
Removal of the paint through sanding, scraping, and other procedures creates contaminated dust.
Thus, in case of an older home, additional measures should be considered in advance.
Zero-VOC Paints Don’t Guarantee Zero Emission of Volatile Compounds
Once again, it’s important to understand that paint labels can mislead you.
Zero-VOC paints can contain or emit some volatile compounds that aren’t included in the count of VOCs.
Other ingredients, such as tint, can change the composition of paint.
Zero-VOC label doesn’t mean that paint product contains absolutely no volatile compounds.
However, zero-VOC label doesn’t make the paint worthless.
Discuss the Choice of the Paint Before You Start the Repainting
If you care about indoor air quality, you should discuss it before getting an estimate for interior painting.
Ask what kind of paint will be used and discuss the following points:
- VOC content
- Odor
- Drying time
- Ventilation
- Durability
- Washability
- Recommendations regarding room reentry
The best moment for discussing these points is before the painting process starts.
Fresh Paint Colors Can Transform Your Existing Home
Choosing low-VOC paints doesn’t mean sacrifice of colors and paint finish.
Interior paints are available in a huge variety of colors and finishes.
You can paint a single room or the whole interior of the house.
You can brighten up a dark room.
You can update outdated colors.
You can fix worn-out halls.
Moreover, you can repaint other surfaces such as door, ceiling, trim, and others.
In result, you’ll get a renovated home without changing its layout.
High-Quality Interior Repaint Requires Appropriate Preparation
Interior painting can make your home look nicer.
However, interior repainting process should make sense for the people living there.
The use of low-VOC paints can reduce VOC emissions compared to other paints.
Good ventilation can minimize VOC exposure further.
Meanwhile, paint quality, color, finish, durability, and proper surface preparation remain crucial factors.
iPaint Homes specializes in interior and exterior repainting of existing houses.
Our painters take care of your existing surfaces, prepare them properly, and strive to provide you with uniform and high-quality finish.
If you’re planning to repaint your interiors, don’t hesitate to discuss low-VOC paints along with other parameters.
