It has long been established that the saying “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” isn’t 100% accurate. Maybe you have seen the term Low VOC floating around the paint world, but do you know what it means and why it is an important thing to understand, especially in these times of lockdown restrictions, WFH arrangements, virtual classes for students and increased home activity due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? If not, now might be the time to learn more about how Low VOC paint might be a good consideration to help you colour you way on your next project.
Before we talk about the benefits, we should talk about the term Low VOC itself. VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds release into the air as paint dries. This process is called offgassing. Commonly included on the list of carbon-based chemicals that can be found circulating in a freshly painted space are fungicides, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, and benzene. They all form part of that new paint smell, but even when the odor is not as powerful, offgassing can still be happening as the process has been said to last up to six months. Reducing the presence of these chemicals in your space has major benefits that apply even more now that we’re indoors more often.
Colour Your Way to Comfort
Though some may enjoy the idea of walking into a freshly painted room, a lot of us can’t handle the smell of fresh paint for long periods, even in the recommended “well ventilated spaces”. Lower levels of VOCs in your paint lead to a much lower odor, which allows for more comfort during and after painting. That means, you don’t have to find somewhere to go or be inconvenienced while the smell tones down to a manageable degree. It’s even considered safe to sleep in a room painted with Low VOC paint on the same day, though there will be a bit of the smell still present. In other words, Low VOC paint makes your living and working spaces safer and more comfortable for you and your family.
Colour Your Way to Good Health
Have you ever experienced headaches or dizziness in a painted room? That is the work of VOCs. They cause acute symptoms such as these, as well as eyes, throat and nasal irritation and even blackouts in some cases. They have also been linked to long term symptoms like liver and kidney damage. For asthma and sinus patients VOCs can trigger attacks and a lot of discomfort, which makes Low VOC paints a very beneficial option for people who suffer with these illnesses. In general, Low VOC paint offers a healthier living and work space for everyone. In fact, studies show that VOC levels contribute to lower productivity in the workplace, so if you’ve pivoted to a WFH arrangement or your children are spending more time doing their classes at home, a Low VOC paint option might be right for you.
Colour Your Way to Preservation
If being restricted from our rippling rivers, beautiful beaches and the lush vegetation that lines our many hiking trails has given you a new appreciation for our magnificent outdoors, then you might be more interested in preserving them. Not only do Low VOC paints reduce air pollution that contributes to larger factors like ozone depletion, this new technology omits chemicals that impact on the environment on a wider scale. With less VOCs, paints also create less water and soil toxicity in conjunction with proper disposal and cleanup methods. Because Low VOC paints are water-based, they allow you to conserve less water when cleaning up your tools and workspace as well. Low VOC paints represent the progressive thinking needed to paint a brighter tomorrow, by making products with ingredients that are more sustainable and allowing customers to adopt more sustainable habits.
The Kaleidoscope range of paints offers Low VOC options that allow you to enjoy these benefits and more. Check out our product line and see which options might be best to help you colour your way.