Pro tip: Always use low-VOC paint in treatment areas.

Harsh fumes can cause client discomfort and lost business.

3 comments

3 Comments

I used Ben Moore's Natura line for a while but it still had a noticeable smell for days. What's the actual cutoff for a paint to be called low-VOC, is there a standard number? I'm curious if brands are just using it as a marketing term now. Also, does this advice extend to things like floor coatings and sealants, which can be way worse.

avery_hart631mo ago

I looked up the VOC thing once after my bathroom paint job smelled like a chemical factory for a week (my bad). From what I remember, low-VOC is under 50 grams per liter, but that's still enough to stink up a room. And yeah, floor polyurethane is the actual worst, I learned that the hard way.

the_sarah1mo ago

You hit the actual cutoff at 50 g/L, but zero-VOC paint has to be under 5. Most brands ride that low-VOC line because it's cheaper to make. Floor stuff is way worse, they use strong solvents that off-gas for weeks. That poly smell sticks to everything.