Less toxic paints

Hey all,

This is a great topic. I've been obsessing about green products lately.

I tried searching for this but didn't really find a good answer so I'll post it here as it's a new topic. Does anyone have any experience with non-toxic/low VOC/environmentally friendly paints for the home? How are they compared with BM or HD (Behr) paints (in terms of quality, longevity, etc...)? Where's the cheapest place to buy these paints in Toronto? I know some people suggested Sherwin Williams, any others? Any idea which brands are 'better'?

Thanks for your help!

Another good green paint product is recycled paint -

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006...rang_recyc.php

I think there are other brands as well and normally available at smaller chain hardware / paint stores. Since they are recycled from other paint, performance should be similar.

Home Depot had the CIL version. We almost bought it but the "paint lady" there told us it is the tint that adds the VOC to the paint. I have no idea if this is the case or not but somthing to check out.

Originally Posted by hdom

Another good green paint product is recycled paint -

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006...rang_recyc.php

I think there are other brands as well and normally available at smaller chain hardware / paint stores. Since they are recycled from other paint, performance should be similar.

Don't bother with this stuff.

We tried to use this to paint our living room, and because the stuff is so thin you end up having to use 2-3 times the paint you normally would.

It is not more environmentally friendly if you have to use more product, packaging, and distribution to achieve the same result, even if it is recycled.

Buy high quality paint. One coat of primer, one coat of paint, and you're done. Save leftover paint for your next project.

Stick with latex paint, it's all low VOC's nowadays. Stay away from oil. Also stay away from so called special environmental paints. While you're at it, stay away from walmart and zellers and canadian tire paint, it's all garbage (except tremclad) and if your paying $25 for a gallon of paint, you're buying garbage. Expect to pay approx. 40 a gallon for any mid grade paint.

Originally Posted by jperras

Stick with latex paint, it's all low VOC's nowadays. Stay away from oil. Also stay away from so called special environmental paints. While you're at it, stay away from walmart and zellers and canadian tire paint, it's all garbage (except tremclad) and if your paying $25 for a gallon of paint, you're buying garbage. Expect to pay approx. 40 a gallon for any mid grade paint.

Debbie Travis brand at Canadian Tire is actually quite good paint.

I believe it is manufactured by CIL.

Once in awhile you can catch it on sale there ( $5 off a can ) which makes for a very good price. Especially if they have a $10 off $40/$50 coupon on the go.

Originally Posted by brunes

Debbie Travis brand at Canadian Tire is actually quite good paint.

I believe it is manufactured by CIL.

Once in awhile you can catch it on sale there ( $5 off a can ) which makes for a very good price. Especially if they have a $10 off $40/$50 coupon on the go.

Hmm I totally forgot about Debbie Travis paint

Funny how Canada is so far behind europe. I found almost all the paint sold in Italy are VOC's free. Even the tint's are that wau.