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Q: How much
safer/healthier are natural paints?
A: A lot! The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) estimates that the air inside your home can be as much as 2-5 times
more polluted than the air outside your home! Regular wall paints (latex, etc.) contribute largely to
this problem. They
contain solvents, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other harmful
chemicals. Even though some of these are recognized as toxins, a
certain percentage of them is still permitted in today's paints and may
constitute a hazard for your health and the environment. What makes the
problem even worse is that these paints emit VOCs for up to 5 years after
initial application! The question is how much do you want to expose you
and your family to toxic chemicals in your home.
All of the
paints we use are up to 100% natural, and for
some paints, 99.9% edible!
The paints we use are totally
free of the following components, typically found in regular paints
(some of which are known to cause asthma, cancer and reproductive toxicity):
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VOCs
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Solvents
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Mercury
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Petrochemicals and benzene
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APE (Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates -
hormone disrupting and accumulate easily in food chain)
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Ammonia
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Crystalline silica
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Led
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Formaldehyde
-
Formaldehyde precursors
(chemicals that create formaldehyde once they enter the atmosphere)
Some other advantages over
regular paints include: Less adverse impact on the environment; low to no
odor; natural colors and pigments help create a soothing atmosphere and
environment at home; and clay and milk based paints tend to 'work' better
with the room's atmosphere - they absorb excess humidity and unpleasant
odors, and expand and contract better with temperature fluctuations.
Eco Painting
What do we
know about VOCs?
VOCs are carbon-based
chemicals - including benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde - that evaporate
easily at room temperature and are widely used in products from paints to
carpeting. Most of us can tolerate a moderate amount of them. However,
intense exposure, or even low-level exposure over time, can trigger what's
known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (resulting in, among other,
short-term memory loss, headaches, dizziness, nausea, asthmatic/chronic
breathing problems and severe indigestion). In addition to the
risk of triggering severe chemical sensitivities, many VOCs are listed by
the Environmental Protection Agency as probable carcinogens. Additionally,
studies suggest a link between indoor air contamination and asthma, which
grew 60 percent among Americans between 1992 and 2002, to more than 20
million cases, according to the American Lung Association.
While the precise
health effects of indoor air contaminants such as VOCs - particularly
the mixtures of chemicals in most homes - are not currently known,
toxicologist Mark Goldman, senior air-quality specialist for the
insurance adjustment firm EFI, says that the 4 percent to 6 percent of
the population estimated to be chemically sensitive are ''the canaries
in the coal mine amongst us," suggesting that more people could be
affected over time. He adds, ''We're dealing with a lot of stuff we
don't understand very well. This is why environmental health specialists
like Jack Spengler of Harvard's School of Public Health believe that
even people who aren't striving to have an all-out ''green" home should
be aware of indoor-air quality when building, remodeling, or stocking up
on kitchen, bathroom, and home-improvement products.
Source:
'Is your home a health hazard?', by Chris Berdik, The Boston Globe,
February 17, 2005. |
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Q: Are natural
paints durable?
A: Yes, and with
proper care even more than regular latex paints! Clay and milk paints interact with the room's
environment - they expand and contract with changes in temperatures and
absorb humidity. With proper care, they can last a life time! Just to
illustrate - milk paints used on buildings 2 centuries ago have lasted until
the present day - i.e. about 200 years. Even more incredible - the ancient
Egyptians decorated King Tut's coffin with milk paints - these lasted for
over 4,000 years!!!
Their only 'downside' is that
their porous surfaces absorb liquids and may stain. For added protection we
use 100%
natural oil, wax, stucco soap or glaze which effectively seals the textures.
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Q: Do natural
paints cost more?
A: Yes, but only a
little. Clay and
milk paints cost on average $40/gallon, compared with an average $35/gallon
for higher grade wall paints. In our opinion that difference justifies the
positive impact on your health and the environment!
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Q: How does Eco Painting
go about a project?
A: To summarize:
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1.
Initial
consultation
(free) |
We
provide 1 free consultation where we visit the
project site and discuss with you possible options based on your:
- Taste
- Personal preferences
- Budget
- Surface conditions
- Health requirements
... as well as on available:
- Materials
- Colors
- Textures and finishes.
Additional consultations and
half of travel time will be charged at $30/hour. |
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2.
Sample and estimate
(free) |
We prepare:
- 1 free sample (additional
samples will be charged at $30/hour)
- Financial estimate
- Time frame for the
proposed works |
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3.
Project |
On approval
of the sample and estimate we sign a contract and start the project on
the agreed upon date. |
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4.
Billing |
Depending on
the size of the project, we may request a 30% down payment prior to the
start of the project. On satisfactory completion of the work we send you
a detailed invoice for the remainder. Additional time required (i.e. not
specified in estimate) will be communicated 24 hours before applicable
and added to final invoice. |
Questions left unanswered?
Contact us for more info and a free
consultation.
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