Eco-Friendly Practices When Having Your House Painted by Professionals

When you want to spruce up your home, nothing does it better than hiring professional painters. Not only does fresh paint beautify your home, but it also protects the surfaces from everyday damage. But conventional painting techniques can be highly detrimental to the environment, from the toxins emitted when painters spray a house, to the trash they leave behind. If you are a homeowner looking for the house painters Seattle residents choose to reduce their carbon footprint, finding a professional who uses eco-friendly painting practices is essential. Here are some of the sustainable practices that can make your painting project more eco-friendly.

Choosing the Right Paint

Choosing the right paint is one of the first steps to making your project eco-friendly. Traditional paints release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which add harmful gases to the air, resulting in indoor and outdoor pollution. These emissions are responsible for respiratory diseases and cause air pollution. Opting for low-VOC or zero-VOC paints reduces this danger significantly. There are now many credible brands that offer eco-friendly paint options that provide good coverage and durability, but are much safer for both people and the environment.

Preparing Properly

One of the other key components of an environmentally-friendly painting project, arguably the most important element to consider, is proper preparation. Any old paint containing lead needs to be handled safely before repainting can start. Lead-based paint, used in many homes built before 1978, is harmful unless it is properly removed. Trained professionals can employ lead-safe techniques, like containment and specialized removal techniques, to prevent contamination. Green painters are also more likely to use dustless sanding and biodegradable cleaning products while preparing surfaces to limit toxic by-products.

Reducing Waste

Reducing waste is an important part of sustainable house painting. Conventional painting projects produce a lot of paint waste and lots of plastic containers and disposables. Professional painters can compute exactly how much paint is needed for the job so that less goes into the landfill. Residual paint can be saved for touch-ups, and — in some circumstances — to local projects where it can also be donated instead of being dumped. Another good alternative is to use high-quality, cleanable and reusable brushes and rollers to help reduce one-time-use supplies.

Choosing the Right Application

Even the application process itself can be made more sustainable. For instance, paint that is sprayed can create excess overspray and waste. Instead, experienced professionals in home painting use rolling and brushing skills that are efficient and precise, while ensuring an even appearance.

Selection of Equipment and Supplies

The next eco-friendly consideration is the choice of painting tools and materials. Now, garments made of biodegradable materials, recycled paper drop cloths, eco-paint trays and recycled masking tape are widely embraced by professionals. Even cleaning up after the job can be undertaken sustainably, swapping toxic solvents for water-based cleaning agents and using eco-friendlier solutions. Disposing of cleaning materials responsibly means that no toxic elements will leach into the ground or drainage systems.

Maintaining the Completed Project

Finally, how long the paint job lasts is a key consideration in sustainability. A top-notch, eco-friendly paint job should last for years between repainting, lessening repainting frequency and environmental footprint. Paints designed to withstand seasonal weather changes and offering durability can save homeowners from needing to repaint so quickly. When combined with proper maintenance — like cleaning and timely touch-ups — it further prolongs the life of the paint job, making it a greener investment.

Environmentally-conscious approaches to house painting are one way to minimize the environmental impact of your house renovation makeover project and still get that beautiful transformation. From choosing non-toxic paints to reducing waste and practicing sustainable painting methods, each action contributes to eco-friendliness at home. If environmentally-friendly methods are important to you, inquire about the sustainable practices of the house painters you’re considering hiring. With the right professionals, you could have a beautifully painted home without contributing to a less healthy planet.