What to Know about Using Organic Paint

When it comes to painting a home interior a lot of people are concerned about applying “safe” paint. As a result, organic paint has made its way into the paint market. Organic paints are paints made up of natural ingredients and devoid of traditional chemical components, or contain very little. They can be used on both interior and exteriors. They’ve grown in popularity especially for use in children’s bedrooms. Like anything, it comes with pros and cons. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of choosing organic paint for your next project.

What is Organic Paint

Organic paint is composed of renewable natural materials. Typically it will contain the following elements:

• Plant origin solvents
• Vegetable oil binders
• Natural fillers like clay, chalk, quartz powder, or silica

To be labeled environmentally friendly, it must contain around 98.5% natural components. Natural paints can combine VOCs (volatile organic compounds) but their content is reduced because they’re limited to 5g per liter of product. The paint should also be considered ecological, which is to say energy-efficient, recyclable, and biodegradable. When shopping for organic paint look for the Ecolabel, NF Environment, or Ecocert label to ensure it’s a truly ecological product.

Advantages of Organic Paint

• Easy to use – usually doesn’t require a mask to work with. The brushes and rollers are easily cleaned with water after using.
• Microporous – is considered microporous paint which allows the walls to breathe and helps naturally eliminate moisture.
• Easy application – the elasticity makes it easy to apply with all types of brushes and rollers.
• High yield – often requires fewer coats than traditional paint.
• Odor-free – gives off no or very few odors or fumes.

Organic Paint Disadvantages

• Higher cost – usually costs more than traditional paints. On average they cost about 20% more.
• Short life – doesn’t have a great shelf life and should be used as soon as possible after opening.
• Extended dry time – it takes between 4 to 8 hours and up to a week for complete drying between two coats. This is because it lacks chemical drying accelerators.

Should You Use Organic Paint?

Ultimately whether or not you use organic paint depends on your personal goals. Many people choose it because they want to support recyclable and biodegradable product use. Other choose organic because of the benefits we listed above.

Need Help with Your Interior or Exterior Paint Project?

If you’re in the market for a new exterior or interior paint, we can help. We use the highest quality paints from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams to ensure you get a finish that looks great and lasts. Call today and tell us about your project.