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TreeHugger Asks: What Green Paints Do You Like?

by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 11.10.06
Design & Architecture (wallcoverings)

th-asks-green-paint.jpg

When it comes to choosing TreeHugger-friendly paint for whatever home improvement project that needs doing, we have a few ideas: YOLO Colorhouse, Sico's zero-VOC option, Anna Sova are just a few that have graced these pages, but we're also familiar with brands like SafeCoat and BioShield. We know what we like; the question is, dear readers, what do you like? What has your experience been with finding, buying, using and disposing of low or zero-VOC paints? What works? What doesn't? Has milk paint ever entered the equation? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below...

Comments (25)

Sherwin Williams makes a no-VOC paint called Harmony. They have a store across the street from my home, so next time I paint, I'll try it. It's about $40/gallon, though.

jump to top Jay Fretz says:

Farrow and Ball paints are mostly made from natural pigments, and they have six finishes that are low or no VOC. They claim to be a pretty green organization as well. Plenty of stockists across Canada, dunno about the States.

http://www.farrow-ball.com/ProductAdvice/Environment.aspx?language=en-GB

jump to top AJ Kandy [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

I have used the Sherwin Williams Harmony paint and was very happy with it on all levels. There was a slight odor, but nothing obnoxious (it was primarily due to the pigments that were added), it covered well and is durable/washable. So I am sold, even if it does cost in the mid 30's per gallon. Plus another bonus for me is it is considered a local manufacturer.

jump to top Josh says:

I've had good luck with Safe Coat, and am looking forward to trying Anna Sova's aromatherapy paints for an upcoming project.

jump to top Kyeann [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

I don't think I'd get too much painting done with aromatherapy paint...

We used Safecoat Paints for the baby's room. No issues (odor, etc.) at the time and still looks good two years on.

jump to top Andrew P says:

Lowes brand paint, Olympic, is a zero VOC paint and it much less expensive than brands like Sherwin Williams. It is nice too because Lowes stores are everywhere so it is relatively easy to find. The paint is slightly less thick than the more expensive paints but is does a nice job covering and they can color match any sample you bring in.

jump to top PCB says:

I have used Miller Paint's Acro(low/zero VOC), Rodda's Horizon (low VOC), Yolo Colorhouse & milk paint from The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company.

The least stinkiest is the milk paint, but it requires a level of precision when mixing to get a good consistency.

The Miller paint offering is less stinky than Roddas, and the store is closer, so that is what I've been mainly using.

I like the Yolo stuff, but the palette is somewhat limited.

All three cover pretty well and clean up about the same.

Not sure if Miller, Yolo and Rodda are available outside the NW.

jump to top ray says:

I've used Anna Sova (stripes in a 1/2 bathroom without a shower in it...the aromatherapy is great in there!! And you can mix your own smells- I did orange and vanilla for a creamsicle scent). I've used Safecoat, which was fine, colors just the same as regular paint, and a low-VOC store brand from a local paint supply store that worked great too. My whole house is an experiment with eco-paints...and I've used a less-toxic stripper too which worked pretty well. So far, it's been a year, and it's all looking great. I don't have kids who put their annoying little hands all over the walls, but lots of animals (a dog and three cats) and so far the paints have been behaving just as regular ones do...so why do they even make regular paint anymore??

jump to top Starre says:

i got some microspheres for my normal paint... making it green paint no?

they are meant to decrease thermal conductivity of the painted surface. thereby making the paint act in a greener way.

henceforth and fothwith i will have sandpaper instead of cold walls!

http://www.thermilate.com/
they did sell in leyland in london im not usre if it is still there. otherwise buy it off the web.

jump to top oo says:

We're currently painting our house with the Oikos (http://www.oikos-paint.com/) range of paints with superb results. Not only are they low or zero VOC but the manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly. Plus the company seems very progressive and enlightened.

jump to top Pat D says:

I need to find a green spray paint to use with stencils for recycling and composting on about 100 rubbermaid trash bins. Do green spray paints exist?

jump to top Eric says:

Farrow and Ball paint is great to work with, especially the Estate Emulsion which I beleive is their "greenest" paint. It covers like no other paint I have ever used, and it has absolutley no odor. It is a bit on the pricey side, but the quality is far superior to anything else I have tried.

jump to top Matt says:

How long do these green paints last? I would hate to paint something only to find it's faded a year later.

jump to top Anonymous says:

I've had amazing results with craign & rose chalk emulsion paints. It covers amazingly and is really tough.

jump to top David Salib says:

Recently I painted a bedroom with American Pride low/no VOC paint. First coat went on OK, second one better. The smell was minimal and it looks great. I also used a bathroom grade primer and finish coat. Also performed very well with minimal odor. Got it at the Environmental Home Center, Seattle WA.

http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/shop.mv?CatCode=PRODUCT&ProdCode=AM_PRIDE

jump to top Z says:

I made a batch of milk paint from scratch for my bedroom, and learned a whole lot: 1. If you add grapejuice for color, it will curdle a gallon of milkpaint (duh); 2. If a wall has been painted previously, it needs to be primed to accept milkpaint. My experiment kind of worked but I wouldn't DIY it again, next time I'll buy some mix from the people who know what they're doing.

I've also used Benjamin Moore Eco-Spec (low VOC), it covers great, no odor, great colors.

jump to top cowgirly says:

Ditto on the American Pride, we used it to repaint our bedroom and we were really pleased with the minimal odor.

jump to top Chip Thomas says:

Hi-

I am also looking for green spray paint but to no avail so far. Does anyone know if it exists?

jump to top Kerry says:

I'm also looking for a green spray paint.

My only idea if it doesn't exist yet is using a spray gun (the thing with compressed air) and thinning the paint if needed so it can work with the mechanism, which I did many years ago but with just regular paint not green stuff, so don't know what the difference would be potentially.

jump to top Rebecca says:

Krylon makes an eco-guard spray paint:
http://www.kpg-industrial.com/products/ecoguard_latex_spray_paint/

jump to top kt says:

I have recently used The Fresh Aire Choice zero VOC paint in my master bed/bathroom. It covered beautifully in one coat, is creamy and goes on very smoothly. No toxic fumes! No smell at all really. I love it! In the past I was sick for two days after painting... not with this paint. The only drawback is that the color selection is very limited with only 65 to choose from. Each color has a bag full of pigment that is simply dropped into the paint and then put in the mechanical shaker for mixing. The can, label, paint chip samples, etc. are all made from recycled materials and, in turn, can again be recycled after use. I am off to The Home Depot (not sure if anybody else carries it) to purchase 4 more gallons! Happy painting!

jump to top Maria says:

I used Fresh Aire over the weekend, and was NOT impressed. It took multiple coats, and there was a smell. The smell cleared out in a couple of hours, but it wasn't what we expected.

I rehab homes quite often, so i am used to painting. I wouldn't recommend this paint again. Kind of neat how they use a little baggie with the dyes in it for tinting, and the little baggie did desolve(we couldn't find any remnants in the 5 gallons we used). So basically, from my perspective, we used the paints the way they were designed and intended, with poor results.

May be a coincidence, but we painted on 2 consecutive days, and both days one of my dogs got sick and threw up. He never throws up. He also hasn't been sick since those two days.. He isn't the type of dog that would have gotten into the paint, either... again, possible coincidence, but I doubt it.

jump to top Lee says:

I have used Benjamin Moore Eco-Spec (low VOC), it covers great, no odor, great colors and its color lasts. My father who is a pro painter, says its one of the better paints hes used.

jump to top city chick [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

I used Yolo Colorhouse paint recently, my local paint store just took them on. I could not be happier! The coverage was great and no odor. I am thrilled!

jump to top Amanda says:

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