Project of a Month - JUNE 1

We were called to re-paint this Cremorne house after previous traders messed up the job. It was not that straightforward.

House was painted with Murobond Paints. As I mentioned in this article, the common problem I found with smaller brands is that tinting is not very consistent. Each drum of paint had slightly different colour (sometimes quite different!). Keeping colour consistent along the building’s long facades was a big challenge!

Dulux Waste Paint Hardener

Dulux EnviroSolutions Waste Paint Hardener is a new environmental product from Dulux. It works in a similar way as a substate used in Dulux Enviro Wash System.

Simply pore a powder into any left-over water based paint or timber finish. It will turn paint into solid no-toxic waste in just 2 hours. Paint Hardener available from Dulux paint stores and hardware stores, like Bunnings or Mitre10.

As with any new and unique products the price is still quite high. It cost nearly as much to harden paint as to buy it. But we rarely throw paint away. We give left-over paint to clients for future touch ups or use it as a base for a colour matched jobs. Still, we now keep a box of the Waste Paint Hardener in every OL’PAINTING car. So it’s here when we need it.

Low VOC paint – PROS & CONS

As I mentioned in this article low VOC paints are a great product. I strongly believe that in a close future majority of paints will be low VOC. But being a relatively new section of an industry VOCs paints are not perfect. Below are the main pros and cons of low VOC paints:

PROS

1. Non toxic & non allergic
With allergies and asthma being so common low VOCs provides a healthy solution.
2. Minimal smell
Sniffing paint is not usually a pleasant sensation. Low VOC paint has minimal smell.
3. Safety during project
Significantly quicker drying time and recoating means unit doors will be opened for much less period of time.
4. Easy touch up
Water-based enamels are non-yellowing (unlike conventional enamels). Left-over paint can be used to touch ups for years. Brushes are easy to clean up with water.

CONS

1. Paint tint contains VOC
This is the most upsetting part. The darker the colour – the more tint you need and the more VOC it gets. So for better benefit stay with white or off-white colours.
2. Poorer coverage
You will need more coats of paint to change a colour and this may blow off the budget. If you stay with the same colour – you are safe.
3. Higher price
Add about 50% extra for material coats. But from Ol’ Painting experience the extra cost per unit usually under $100.
4. Environmental
'Low-VOC' label does not necessarily mean it is environmentally preferable. We have to consider the entire manufacturing process and its' environmental impact.

Low VOC Paints

When you think about painting your place, most of you will get a slightly controversial picture - a renovating thrill on one hand and worry about paint odour and level of chemical it contains on other hand.

Why is Paint Toxic?
Conventional paints release petroleum based solvents, called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as they dry and cure. These VOCs are used as solvents in the paint and include such toxic compounds as benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and xylene, all of which can pose a risk to your health.

Think of a petrol station on a hot day – sometimes you can see the petrol ‘haze’ or fumes coming from the nozzle. This is the petrol volatilising, becoming a gas. Petrol is toxic, and we are usually careful not to breathe it in. Paints are also toxic, but it’s difficult not to breathe it in when it’s in the building you are living in.

How VOCs affects us?
VOCs affect us in many different ways. We use aromatherapy oils to alter our mood – lavender to relax etc. Our bodies can usually tell when VOCs are good or bad for us – we recoil at the smell of methane, chlorine and car exhausts. Paint smell is not a delightful sensation either.
The VOCs in paint can trigger headaches/migraines, nausea, allergy, asthma, irritation of the eyes, nose or skin, dizziness, and even convulsions or nerve damage.

Low Toxic Paint Alternatives
Lower VOC paint do not ‘outgas’, they do not make the air in our homes toxic and they are low odour. Today all of the major paint brands (such as Dulux, Taubmans, Wattyl , and some smaller brands producing water-based acrylics and enamel paint with VOC levels of around 5-10%.

Strata Building and VOCs
High-rise buildings and larger unit blocks often have long enclosed corridors with no natural ventilation. So the smell and air pollution of enamel paint can stay here for weeks. Low VOCs water-based enamel paints are a fantastic alternative to conventional enamel paint for all internal woodwork.


Ol’ Painting has been using low VOC paint for few years. Just recently we completed internal painting of "Paladium" - a large 279-unit strata title building at Pyrmont.

Being a relatively new section of industry VOCs paint not perfect. See this article in Pros an Cons of low VOC paints. But this sector of paints is developing and improving very quickly. I believe that in a close future most of paints will become low VOC.

Dulux Envirowash

OL’PAINTING just purchased our third Dulux EnviroWash unit. The first one is permanently located in our storage room for everyday use. This second unit we now can install at the larger projects, such as strata title, commercial or renovation projects.

Dulux EnviroWash allows an environmental way of washing painting brushes and rollers. It turns paint wash-out into clean water and inert solid waste. Treated water is clear water and can be recycled or released onto a gardens. Remaining paint sludge in non toxic and can be dried and disposed into a common waste.

We also how offer one of our EnviroWash units for hire (subject to availability).

Project of a month - MAY 2

In last couple weeks we did painting projects for Soundfirm – a sound post production recording studio at Fox Studios. What an amazing place and what a nice people! This is the place where they record sounds to feature films, television drama series and television commercials. In Fact they just finished “Australia” the movie with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.