The New York Times Thursday should be a must-read for design enthusiasts. From the May 15, 2008 edition, Sarah Kershaw wrote an interesting -- and from where I sit -- truthful article called The Promise of Green Paint. The article basically says what all my painters are telling me. The "green" paint lines, save Benjamin Moore's new Aura line, are hard to cover and don't hold up well.
“Jackie Greenberg, an interior designer in Manhattan, said she had designed an apartment for clients who requested low-V.O.C. paint, then demanded a new paint job within a year because of signs of wear and tear; J. J. Snyder, a Brooklyn painter who works on high-end residential jobs, said he has heard from clients about problems that start even earlier.
They will tell you that the new latex is just as hard-wearing,” Mr. Snyder said. “But it’s not as hard-wearing. You put this latex on a cabinet, and six months later your clients are complaining.”
What's a person to do? Certainly the technology will keep getting better with consumer demands. In the mean time, you can try the Aura paint by Ben Moore. They have developed a new palette called Affinity, but you can get any of the Ben Moore colors mixed in the Aura base. My painters do say that it covers really really well. Even the deepest reds and navy (which can take 5 coats to cover) go up in just 2 coats. That's green right there! Less paint means fewer natural resources to produce and distribute. It also means less labor and less odor.
You can also read more at 7 Tips for Going Green with Paint or at Green Seal, an independent, non-profit that certifies products as eco-friendly.
Any one else have experience to share with the low or no VOC lines of paint? Please chime in!
