Low V.O.C. Painting - Good for Us and the Environment
Canwest offers environmentally friendly and sustainable painting practices which help protect indoor air quality and lessen the impact painting will have to the environment and its inhabitants. Zero or low VOC paints are now available for any residential and commercial painting project.
Features of Low V.O.C. Paints:
- They are environment-friendly paints and using the same for various painting projects results in minimal Ozone pollution.
- Smog-forming chemicals are not emitted.
- The surface coated with low VOC paints provides optimum protection from the normal wear and tear.
- It offers optimum quality as you would expect from any traditional high quality paint.
- You do not need any special equipment to use these paints The innovative techniques, tools, expertise and experience are enough to bring the best result from low VOC paints.
- One of the biggest advantages of using the low VOC paints is that there is no residual odor left behind which often create an unpleasant atmosphere to live/work in.
Unfortunately, that so familiar smell of paint during painting is toxic vapor. It is released from toxic ingredients contained in most common paints. The most harmful solvents are called Volatile Organic Compounds (V.O.C.) when V.O.C. volatilize, the gas reacts with sunlight and fossil fuel by-products to form ozone and smog. Smog causes respiratory problems, damages plants and contributes to unhealthy spaces and its inhabitants.
Painting can cause serious health problems
Low-level exposure to solvents during painting may irritate the eyes, throat, nose and skin and cause nausea, dizziness and headaches. Usually these symptoms are not as serious and will subside as soon as the exposure stops. However, high levels of exposure to some of the toxic ingredients during painting can cause serious and lasting health problems, such as kidney, liver or respiratory problems. In addition, some paints contain benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and other known carcinogens and neurotoxins.
Solution
We can use low V.O.C. paints and low pollution primers, where possible. Their low odor makes them ideal for occupied space painting, such as schools, office space, care facilities, commercial and retail operations, warehouses, condominiums, daycare facilities or any work place. Most of our commercial painting is done after normal business hours. This allows us to complete what we start. By using the low odor, quick drying paints, clean up and replacing of the furniture can be done almost immediately. The only evidence we leave behind is the fresh paint job.
- We use low or no VOC paints where we can, and frequently review the MSDS (material safety data sheets) reports of the materials we use.
- If we must use solvent based primers and other specialty paints we specify a lower odor product.
- We are responsible when disposing waste.
- We aim to buy the exact amount of paint needed. If there is leftover paint, we label it for future touch-ups, use it in our future projects or donate it to charity.
- Washing stains off surfaces sometimes eliminates the need for solvent-based primers.
- We don't use T.S.P. or similar chemicals. There is a good selection of less harmful cleaners, that work well.
- We use good quality paints that eliminate the need for multiple coats.Good paints can be washed repeatedly, therefore reducing the frequency of re-painting.
