How to Choose Eco-Friendly Paints
Posted on April 16, 2021
It can be hard to live a green lifestyle when living in northern Utah. With the heavy inversion during the winter months and factory pollutants emitting year-round, it is becoming more and more important to give your best effort. One easy way to be a bit more friendly to the environment is to choose eco-friendly paints the next time your home gets an update.
We know how hard it can be to determine which paints are eco-friendly, though. In this article, our experts will go over what exactly eco-friendly paints are, how to check paint labels, and what the benefits of eco-friendly paints are. We’ll also tell you which company you can go to get an eco-friendly paint job every time. Let’s get started!
What are Eco-Friendly Paints?
First things first: what exactly are eco-friendly paints? In short, these paints have been specially designed to have lower levels (or no levels) of volatile organic chemicals, or VOCs. These harmful chemicals include benzene and methylene chloride and can affect your family for decades, causing an increased risk for asthma and other allergies.
The most telling sign that paint has a high amount of VOCs in it is by the smell. You know how you’re supposed to paint in a ventilated area? Or how you can always tell when a paint job has just been completed before you even see the finished product? That’s the VOCs at work.
How to Check the Label
The easiest way to find a low-VOC paint is to check the label. Most eco-friendly paints will have some sort of label on the front of the can notifying shoppers of its low-VOC content. This isn’t always good enough, though. This label can be slapped on if there are 250 or fewer grams of VOCs per liter. That’s still a lot of harmful chemicals at work!
Instead, look for certifications that demonstrate the paint has gone through a third-party inspection. It may take a little bit of research up front, but the benefits will be worth it in the end. Of course, if you’re going with a local painting company, their eco-friendly paints may not be labeled at all. Always double-check with them about their manufacturing process and ask for certification.
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Paints
Is all this work really worth it? Yes! It really is! Not only do they look just as good and are just as durable as traditional paint, they are great for the environment. Using eco-friendly paint is especially important in the Salt Lake area, where older homes are commonplace and the environment struggles. Any homeowner who cares about their own health as well as the appearance and maintenance of their painted surfaces will go with a low-VOC option.
Finding an Eco-Friendly Painting Company
You don’t have to go down the DIY route to use eco-friendly paints. CertaPro Painters® of Salt Lake City, UT is dedicated to helping out the environment in any way we can–including using low-VOC and no-VOC paint! We are dedicated to customer satisfaction and will work with you to get the job done just the way you like it. To get started on your project, give our professionals a call at 801-747-1027. We look forward to working with you!
