For the health of your family and the environment, I exclusively use acrylic paints and recommend low or zero VOC paint products.

The acronym, VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound and refers to organic chemicals found in all painting products, except those labeled as being Zero VOC. These chemicals evaporate into the air, which we tend to recognise as the ‘fresh paint’ scent. The fumes released by these evaporations are damaging to our health and the environment. Oil paints are particularly problematic.

I exclusively use acrylic paints on my painting jobs. This decision was largely influenced by my own experience as a professional painter. In my early painting days, I worked for a company that had a large government contract, where it was required we efficiently paint properties that often suffered from neglect, smoking, cooking stains and water damage. The simplest way to deal with these issues is to apply an oil based paint, which is very effective at ‘covering up’ and must be used on previously oil painted surfaces such as gloss painted window sills and door frames.

However, I would often find myself feeling very unwell after working with such paints and was finally diagnosed with an allergy to the fumes that are released by all paints, but found in higher volumes in oil based paints; these fumes are attributed to the VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) found in all paints, unless specifically labelled VOC free. Oil based paints also contain flammable solvents, which release strong smelling fumes and can also cause an allergic reaction. When I’m working on properties that have been previously painted in oil paints, I take great care in the collection and disposal of removed paint and dust.

Now that I work independently, I have more control over the paint products I use. I now exclusively use acrylic paints for all my painting jobs and am increasingly encouraging my painting customers to choose low or zero VOC paints. These paints are more costly and I understand that with many paint jobs, the budget is a primary concern. However, if you can afford to use them, low and zero VOC paints are the ideal way to go. They are better for the environment and don’t release the fumes that other paints do, which can be of particular concern with interior painting jobs – especially when there are children in the house.

See more of my work here, or get in touch here to find out more