Sustainable painting

You make a distinction in painting wood or other materials.

1. Painting wood

Wood painting less often but effective. That is the best way to prevent environmental pollution. A good surface, high quality paint and a lick of maintenance, ensure this.

Around wood painting is mainly the production of paint and the transport that provide environmental impact because it requires a lot of raw materials (especially the dye titanium dioxide) and fossil fuels. There are also environmental benefits: paint reduces the environmental impact of wood because it prolongs its lifespan.

If the paint contains solvents, then there is also environmental pollution during the use of stain, varnish or varnish. Solvents contribute to the occurrence of smog. Paint that is flushed through the sewer causes pollution of surface water.

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Tips wood painting

1 Observe quality marks such as the European Ecolabel and NaturePlus; they see, among other things, the least possible use of pigment and solvents (VOC).

2 Ensure a good surface and finish. Then the paint adheres better and the protective effect remains longer. Premature peeling means extra costs, extra work and extra environmental impact.

3 Check every year whether minor repairs are required: a lick of paint as maintenance prolongs the life of the whole.

4 Do not wash brushes under the tap and do not pour any remains of paint through the sink (not even water-soluble paint); this can cause sewer blockage and pollute the surface water.

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Step-by-step painting wood

The lifespan of your painting job stands or falls with preparation and good execution. A good surface is crucial because otherwise the paint will peel off again in case of a small impact or a little bit of rain. Therefore follow the step-by-step plan.

Remove the old paint layers if necessary. This is necessary if the old paint really peels off, or if it is not known whether the substrate is turpentine or water-based; the new layer must contain the same diluent.
• If necessary, fill and level cracks, holes and irregularities with wood filler.
• Sand the surface with sandpaper grit 120, and make the surface grease and dust free.
• Paint the wood first with a suitable primer, and then with a suitable coating (same diluent!).
• If it is well dry, lightly sand again with 320 grit sandpaper, and make it free of grease and dust.
• Finally: topcoat.

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2. Painting walls and ceilings

Whitewashing, latexing or painting gives an extra nice and longer effect if you choose the right kind of paint and make good surfaces. Better for you, and for the environment.

The greatest environmental impact of wall paint and paint for ceilings is created during production and transport. The raw material with which paint dye is made comes from mining; that affects nature and the landscape. It also costs a lot of energy from fossil fuels (like transport), and that contributes to climate change. Reducing environmental pollution is therefore best achieved by using less and less often paint products. During the dyeing itself pollution of surface water can occur, when paint brushes under the tap are rinsed out. Solvents can evaporate easily during dyeing, and are unhealthy.

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Tips painting walls and ceilings

1 Choose a type of paint that is suitable for the surface where it needs to be; there is no one type of paint to designate as the most environmentally friendly, but using improper paint does cause unnecessary environmental impact because you then need paint again quickly to do it.

2 When selecting paint, pay attention to the properties that are required for the place where the paint comes. Scrubbing is handy in the kitchen, fungicide is necessary for the bathroom.

3 Choose a good degree of coverage (high number of m2 per liter of paint), especially if the surface absorbs paint or is darker than the new paint. A high coverage ratio often seems more expensive, but with a less good alternative more layers (and therefore pots) of paint are needed.

4 Ensure a good surface, if necessary treated with fixer or primer, and apply the paint well. Then it bonds best and the paint lasts as long as possible.

5 Do not rinse brushes and rollers under the tap and never rinse residues of latex, lime paint, mineral or natural paint through the sink - even if they are water-soluble. There are various ingredients that are harmful to the environment.

Step-by-step plan for ceiling and wall painting

If the paint does not adhere well, it peels off earlier than the lifespan is long. That is a waste and creates extra environmental impact. Good adhesion is achieved through good preparation.
*If necessary, sand away the old paint layers. This is necessary if it blows off, or has mold spots, for example.
*If necessary, dry the substrate with a dehumidifier.
*Enalize cracks, holes and irregularities with a filler. If the surface is damaged or unstable, or the cracks still 'work', use glass fabric or glass fleece, a type of wallpaper that is made of a kind of semi-elastic net.
*Make the surface free of grease and dust by wiping it with a cloth that has been immersed in water with, for example, ammonia.
*Does powder come from the substrate, or does the surface absorb paint? Then give the ceiling or the wall a pretreatment. This can be done with a suitable wall primer (so-called primer on acrylic basis), or a fixative (primer).

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