Use more water based and low-VOC paint and floor finishing products.
In the past, painting could mean smelly fumes. Most conventional paints and finishes contained high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that produced a breathable gas when applied. Now, the Paint Shop uses several green products that are low and no VOC and release few, if any, VOC pollutants. They are virtually odor free.
One of the products is Basic Coating's StreetShoe Wood Floor Finish. It is a water based finish with zero VOCs and the fastest curing time in the industry. Workers can apply two coats of finish the same day and walk on the floor the next day. Additionally, unlike oil based products, this product is non-yellowing.
The Paint Shop also uses four kinds of latex paints with significant VOC reduction. The painters see excellent color retention, quick drying times, and low-cost clean up. The products are:
- Sherwin Williams Pro Classic Waterborne Alkyd
- Sherwin Williams Zero VOC Latex Enamel
- Sherwin Williams Shercryl Industrial Latex Enamel
- ICI Dulux Advanced Oil Water Based Alkyd
Today's environmentally friendly paints and finishes are equal or better in quality and durability than conventional oil-based formulas. As manufacturers continue improving their lines, the Paint Shop will continue to switch over to these improved green products.
