Question from Jane
I’ve read over all the questions and answers currently posted on interior paints and haven’t seen this exact issue covered, so I’ll ask it here.
Our very good painter has recently finished doing some interior painting for us, during which I discovered I had sensitivities and bad reactions I’ve never experienced before in my entire life! In the course of his work, he had to repair a damaged area in our dining room ceiling, and after completing the repair, used oil-based paint to paint over the entire ceiling. He said it was needed in order to cover up the repaired area. If I had had any idea, in advance, of the suffering that would cause me, I would have stopped the process before it started.
The smell was initially very strong from the paint, and, unfortunately for me, our workman was storing his supplies, paints and so forth in our garage! Never again! The paint has dried, my symptoms (horribly exacerbated postnasal rhinitis)have abated to at least the manageable level, but I’m still worried. Certainly after the painter removed all of his materials from the garage, my symptoms abated immediately, though they’re not gone completely.
Are there still chemicals in the air from that paint, though it appears to have dried and the room has been heated? (The work was finished three weeks ago.) I see many comments about paint smell, and that is no doubt horrible in many cases. But my concern is the chemicals in the air, whether they have any discernible smell or not.
For example, when people walk over a golf course with grass that has been treated with chemicals, they do not necessarily smell anything. But they are still stirring up the chemicals that have been used with every step. Does something similar happen with oil-based paint?
I’m ready to insist on watercolors from now on if I have to!
Debra’s Answer
Oil based paints contain different chemicals from water based paints. They are much more toxic and take MUCH longer to cure.
Even if a paint is dry to the touch, it is still not completely dry through and through. It continues to outgas until it is completely dry. Oil based paints can take months to cure. There are still chemicals in the air.
Oil based paints are so toxic that they are not allowed to be sold in some states.
I would continue to heat the room until the paint is completely cured. You’ll know it’s cured because you won’t smell the paint and you won’t have symptoms. It might take a week of heating the room.
I’ll say this again: never use oil based paint.
