GO GREEN
Protect The Environment
Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air, and according to the EPA, is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes are among the leading causes. Paints and finishes release low-level
toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety
of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which, until recently, were essential to the performance of the paint. New environmental regulations, and consumer demand,
have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.
Non-Toxic Paint Strippers
Most paint strippers are caustic - they work by melting the paint. The active ingredient, methylene chloride, is a potential carcinogen. A new generation of biodegradable paint strippers is now entering the market. They are water-soluble, noncaustic and nontoxic - some can even be washed down the drain. The active ingredient in these products is n- methyl pyrrolidone
, an organic solvent. Rather than burning or melting, the compound chemically changes the paint itself, softening its bond with the substrate and changing its structure so it can't reharden. The downside? These new strippers are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, and they take longer to work.