Minimize Paint Fumes for Home & Business
Paint fumes have always been a concern for painting professionals, as they can linger for quite awhile after the paint job has been finished. Painting in high humidity will cause the fumes and odor to linger, which is another advantage to be found in painting home and residential /commercial interiors in the fall and winter when dry air comes along.
Of course, painting an interior requires good ventilation and even better paints with low VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). Luckily, environmental regulations have led to the use of very low VOC paints, as well as paints with zero-VOC’s, which is great for your health and the smell of your house. Similarly, we often don’t think enough about the air quality at factories, store fronts and other businesses, but any painting contractor should clearly communicate this to any business owner to ensure a safe working environment for their employees.
Even with low VOC’s, there will be a lingering paint odor which can be countered by utilizing odor-free paints or with Fragrance Fillers, which can be added to the paint before application. Another possibility is to add a few drops of Vanilla Extract to the paint before application, and you’ll be smelling some nice vanilla vapors for awhile. Citrus fruits and coffee grounds can also be used to overcome the lingering odor of paint.
Remember, though, be sure that any painting contractor with whom you intend to do business uses low or zero-VOC and odor-free paints, which will go along way in making sure your home or business’ air is healthy and fresh-smelling. Remember that indoor air can often be more polluted than the air outside.
If you would like to talk in more detail about low and zero-VOC paints, as well as odor-free paint products, for your home or business, give Williams Professional Painting a call at 703.768.8143 or email us at info@WilliamsProfessionalPainting.com
This article was copied and altered with permission from Joe Pangburn, President, Lakeside Painting, Milwaukee WIsconsin.