Expanding Your Business By Calling The Builders

Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable techniques transforming the outlook of a property. A fresh coat of paint can make your house look new and well maintained. However, most paint products used today emit fumes which can be dangerous when inhaled. If the property has occupants at the time of the painting project, it is essential to come up with ways of minimising exposure to the toxic paints. Here are three steps that you can follow to promote a safe painting project.

Use Low-VOC Paints

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the components of paint that release hazardous fumes. When inhaled, VOCs can cause severe respiratory complications. Also, besides their effect on humans, VOCs are also not environmentally friendly. That is why you should strive to use paints that have low or no volatile organic compounds. Low-VOC paints have negligible amounts of the compounds and cannot cause serious health issues when inhaled. On the other hand, zero-VOC paints are sustainable products as they do not contain compounds that are harmful to the environment. Steer clear of paints that aren't low- or zero-VOC.

Provide Adequate Ventilation

Poor ventilation is a primary cause of health problems that are associated with the inhalation of paint fumes. When painting property, ensure that there is sufficient ventilation. Leave the doors, windows and any other entry or exit points open so that the fumes can escape into the environment. Also, leave the fans and air conditioning units on during the entire project. They will facilitate airflow in the room and get rid of the fumes. Proper ventilation also makes it easy for occupants to use the repainted space within a short period as the paint smell will disappear after a while.

Use Natural Odour Absorbents

Using natural absorbents minimises the release of fumes into the atmosphere. Some of the most effective fume absorbents include salt, lemon, vinegar and baking soda – all items that can be readily found in the kitchen. Simply fill empty bowls with any or all of the absorbents and place them in the room that you are painting. These will suck out the fumes from the air. Once you are done, discard the products. Do not use them for cooking as they are already contaminated with paint fumes and can cause digestion problems when ingested.

Safety and environmental conservation should be your primary concerns when repainting your property. Follow these tips to minimise paint fumes during the project. You can also contact a residential painting service for advice on how to choose the best paints with little or no VOCs or to have them complete the project for you.