Sustainable paint: what makes paintwork truly green?

More and more people want to take the environment and a healthy indoor climate into account when they have their home painted. Tins of paint carry terms such as water-based, low-solvent and bio-based, but what do they actually mean? And is the paint itself really the most important factor? In this article you will read what sustainable paint involves, why the lifespan of your paintwork carries at least as much weight, and how to deal sensibly with leftover paint, brushes and rollers.

1. What sustainable means for paint

With paint, sustainability is about two things. The first is what is released during painting and drying: solvents that evaporate and that you breathe in or that end up in the outside air. The second is how long the paint film does its job. A paint with a green label that is already flaking after a few years is, in practice, less sustainable than a quality paint that lasts much longer.

So sustainable painting does not start in the paint shop, but with the question of how to use as little material, energy and labour as possible over the whole life of your home. Good preparation, the right paint for the surface and timely maintenance are the key factors. There are also bio-based paints, in which part of the raw materials comes from plants. They are interesting, but they too have to suit the surface and the location.

2. Water-based and low-solvent

Traditional gloss paints were thinned with white spirit or other solvents. Today premium brands such as Sigma, Sikkens and Wijzonol offer water-based alternatives for almost every application. Wall paint has been almost exclusively water-based for a long time. For interior doors, frames and stairs there are also water-based glosses that dry quickly, smell little and yellow less readily than solvent-based gloss.

Outdoors the picture is more nuanced. Water-based exterior paint has developed considerably and often stays flexible for longer, which suits wood that moves. Even so, there are situations where a solvent-based product flows better or bonds better with the existing layer. The choice depends on the surface and on the paint already on it. Our painter advises which product suits each job, so you do not have to choose between the environment and quality.

3. Lifespan carries the most weight

Every paint job you can postpone saves paint, sanding materials, transport and working hours. That is why lifespan offers the biggest sustainability gain. You achieve it with good preparation, a complete build-up of coats and maintenance on time, before wood rot sets in and timber has to be replaced.

That makes a big difference in North Holland especially, where wind, rain and, towards the coast, salty air put exterior paintwork under heavy strain. If you keep your paintwork up to date in a planned way, you will need to strip everything back less often. How often your exterior is due is explained in how often exterior painting is needed. An overview per element can be found in the paintwork maintenance schedule. For homes closer to the coast, take a look at exterior painting in Haarlem.

4. A healthy indoor climate

Indoors you notice the difference between types of paint straight away. Solvent-based gloss gives off a strong smell that can linger for days, whereas water-based products barely smell once they are dry. That is pleasant if you stay at home while the work is done, and certainly in a child's room or a bedroom you want to use again soon.

A few practical points make all the difference:

• Ventilate during and after painting, even if the paint smells very little.
• Choose water-based wall paint and gloss for bedrooms and children's rooms.
• Let gloss work cure properly before furniture is placed against it.
• In damp rooms such as the bathroom, use a paint designed for that purpose.

5. Leftover paint, brushes and waste

You can work sustainably after painting too. Do not buy more paint than you need; a professional painter calculates the quantity from the surface area and the number of coats. Leftovers in a well-sealed tin come in handy later for small repairs. Anything that really has to go belongs with small chemical waste, not down the sink or in the bin.

Brushes and rollers used with water-based paint can be rinsed out, but do not simply let rinse water containing paint residue run into the drain. That applies even more strongly to solvent-based products. On an Oranje Kwast job, the work area is left clean and swept. If you would like to know which paint suits your home in the Zaan region, take a look at interior painting in Wormerveer or ask for advice during the free consultation.

In practice this topic belongs with interior painting and exterior painting. There you can read about the approach and the options, or request a free, no-obligation quote straight away.

Further reading: VAT on painting work: 9% or 21%?, Spraying a ceiling: how does it work?, Spraying or rolling latex: which is better?.

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