By Forrest Linebarger
Q: I need to paint the interior of my house, but I dread the horrible paint smell. I’ve also heard that the fumes are unhealthful. Are there alternatives?
- Diana in Palo Alto
A: Most paints, like glues, contain Volatile Organic Compounds that are released over time as the paint cures.
VOCs are strongest in the weeks after painting but actually continue to pollute indoor air for years.
Reducing your family’s exposure to these brain- and lung-damaging chemicals is easier than most people think.
Many companies are producing low- or no-VOC paints. Kelly Moore produces a line of paint called Enviro-Coat and Sherman Williams a similar product called Harmony, both available locally.
Another fun and interesting option is using paints made from the protein in milk. The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co. (www.milkpaint.com) in Groton, Mass., produces a beautiful line of colors that are rich and au courant. The paint has an old world, velvety feel that is just lovely.
The colors come in powder form, which is mixed with water to create paint. One advantage is that you mix only as much paint as you need, so there is no waste. Unused traditional paints are hazardous waste, which require special disposal.
I spoke with Anne Thibeau, the founder’s daughter, and she informed me that milk paints were found in King Tut’s tomb and were in common use until World War II, when new VOC paints wiped them out. Her father, Charles, resurrected the milk paint formula through extensive research and testing 30-odd years ago. It’s interesting how things come full circle.
Another possibility is to use earth plaster finishes, such as those produced by American Clay of Albuquerque, N.M. (www.americanclay.com), instead of paint. Earth plasters are made primarily from clays mixed with nontoxic ochre and oxide pigments.
Earth clays are applied with a trowel instead of a paintbrush. They provide a completely new wall surface, so you can get rid of those old ugly textures so popular in the last few decades.
Earth clays have an integrated color throughout the material, which adds a depth of color and subtle variations.
Another benefit of integrated color plasters is that wear, nicks and scratches do not leave ugly lines exposing the wall beneath, so there are virtually no touchups or repainting necessary.
No-VOC paints and plasters create a healthier indoor environment and reduce hazardous waste. What’s not to like?
Forrest Linebarger, a Los Altos native, is CEO and chief designer at VOX Design Group Inc. He has been designing and building sustainable homes for more than a decade. For more information, e-mail Forrest@VoxDesignGroup.com or call 694-6200, ext. 511.
