5 must know tips for environmentally friendly house painting
Did you know that you can decorate your home in an eco-friendly way with environmentally friendly house painting? There are many ways for you to do your part for the environment when house painting. You can recycle paints and equipment, reduce chemical usage and minimise hazardous waste by simply following our tips below!
Sustainability is of the upmost importance in 2021. From climate issues to pollution problems, there are many harmful practices that can cause a negative effect on our natural environment. In order to live a more sustainable lifestyle there are a number of ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Whether it’s using your car less often, recycling your waste, or growing your own food. Every little bit helps.
At SG Coatings, the products we use to renovate our homes can make an impact on the world around us. Taking extra care and making sustainable painting choices can really help to prevent unnecessary damage to the environment. Check out these great tips below that you can follow a new environmentally friendly paint job for your home.
Choose eco-friendly paints
It’s no secret that some house paints can contain some strong chemicals. Certain chemicals found in commercially manufactured paint can be potentially harmful to humans when inhaled.
Choosing a low-VOC or 0 VOC paint is a great alternative to heavy chemical paints. They are made with less volatile organic compounds which means they are safer and cleaner to use. These paints produce less pollution and improve the air quality inside your home, creating the perfect base for sustainable house painting.
There also are a number of natural house paints available on the market, made from plant dyes, clay, chalk, resins and other natural ingredients. Natural paints are also water-based, making them extremely easy to clean up with soap and water. These paints are usually more expensive.
If you need guidance on which eco-friendly paint to choose for your home, contact your local, environmentally friendly painters.
Avoid using toxic chemicals such as turpentine
Traditionally when using oil paints, solvents such as turpentine are also used in order to clean brushes or thin the coat of paint. Solvents are hazardous when inhaled as they release toxic fumes into the air.
If you must use a solvent such as turpentine, make sure to keep the lid closed at all times until you need to use it. Also make sure to wear a pair of gloves to avoid contact with skin where possible.
If you have finished your paint job and you have turpentine left over, allow small amounts to evaporate outside. This helps to prevent inhalation. If you have a large amount remaining, you can dispose of it at the closest hazardous waste centre. However, the need for solvent can be eliminated completely using different products.
For cleaning brushes and rollers, a mixture of soap and warm water will work just as well. You can even purchase paint soaps designed specifically for cleaning. If you need to thin the paint, try using a water-soluble or an acrylic paint for your base coat.
Take advantage of your local paint back system
Unfortunately, each year a large number of people will dispose of their paint incorrectly. This allows chemicals to seep into soil and nearby waterways causing contamination.
The paint back system is an initiative launched in Australia. It aims to take unwanted paint and packaging and dispose of it responsibly, diverting it away from landfill and waterways.
Unwanted paint can be taken to a local Paintback site.From there, the paint is collected and transported to a treatment plant. The containers are then recycled, and solvent paint can be transformed into an alternative energy source.
Acrylic paints can be treated to separate the water, and the by-product can be used in a number of industrial settings.
The recycling and re-use of paint has allowed for more sustainable house painting. This scheme prevents thousands of litres of paint going to waste each year. If you want to be an environmentally friendly painter, the paint back system is a must!
Make sure your paint doesn’t contain lead
It’s extremely important to be wary of lead contamination from old paint when repainting your home.
Before 1970, paints containing high amounts of lead were used to paint Australian houses. Lead paint becomes a problem when the paint is disturbed or damaged, as the dust or chips of paint can released into the air, soils and water. It causes a significant health risk to those in the vicinity, as well as damaging the environment as it can remain as dust indefinitely.
Lead may be absorbed into the blood stream and can cause kidney, nerve and brain damage. If you are concerned that your home could contain lead paint, you can read a government document about the recommended precautions to take in order to ensure you stay safe.
Choose biodegradable drop sheets and recycle
Drop sheets are always necessary when painting a house, but there’s no need to purchase brand new drop sheets each time you paint. The materials can be recycled and used again when required.
If you work with our team of house painters on the Mornington Peninsula, you’ll notice that we always ensure that our materials are ethical and sustainable. We use biodegradable sheets that naturally break down over time, rather than ending up in landfill.
We also re-use these drop sheets when it’s possible, after they receive a thorough sanitised cleaning. Re-using and recycling is just another great way to reduce harmful and negative effects on the environment.
For many of us, the environment is incredibly important and we want to protect it to the best of our abilities. Sometimes, our actions can have negative impacts on the environment around us, especially when they involve chemicals and plastics. Thankfully, with the right action plan it’s possible to re-paint your entire home whilst still ensuring the environment stays protected.
If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly paint job, our team of local painting professionals will ensure that you get the perfect coat of paint that won’t harm the environment. We aim to reduce environmental impact as much as possible through the use of non-toxic paints and by recycling our paint and equipment. If you’re searching for an eco-friendly house painter on the Mornington Peninsula and you’d like to book in a free design consultation and quote, contact our team of experts today.
