Low VOC paints a better option for home owners

Low VOC paints a better option for home owners

Volatile Organic Compounds (‘VOC’ for short) are a primary ingredient in many industrial chemicals. Unfortunately, they have also been an integral components of paints used to beautify homes, offices and a whole lot of commercial spaces.

VOCs are associated with various environmental and health issues. In air, they react with other compounds to create ozone that traps heat and accelerates global warming. In human beings and domestic pets, they are known to cause headache, burning sensation, liver damage, kidney failure, cancer in different parts of the body, and a host of mental disabilities.

VOC levels in the air are immense in the days immediately after painting. Does it mean, one can avoid living in the house while it is being painted? That may seem like an obvious solution but it doesn’t help. Because, only 50% of the VOC from paints are released in the initial days after painting. The remaining 50% is released over the next couple of years, causing slow damage to residents.

If VOCs are so harmful, why use them in the first place is the obvious question. The answer lies in: convenience, effectiveness, and economy, which is why they have been used for decades. Paints are primarily composed of pigments, binders, solvents and various other additives required to keep the paint resistant from climatic impact.

Among these, solvents are VOC based, and are designed to evaporate quickly so that the pigment and binders bind together effectively. Or, in short, the paint dries quickly. Restricting the use of VOCs can increase the drying time and the overall duration of the painting process.

However, with increasing consumer vigilance, paints which use water-based solvents are becoming popular. Called low-VOC or no-VOC paints, these are harmless to residents while offering an optimum mix of longevity and drying time.

 

At Mahaveer, we only use low-VOC or no-VOC paints in all our projects. As one of the top Realty Houses in Bangalore, we stand for ‘responsible housing’ and are equally committed to the health and safety of our customers, as well as the environment.