Question from Bonnie Johnson
I was wondering if anyone has had a chance to try the Valspar Reserve zero VOC paint yet. I am away from home and we could not get Mystic where I live so the painter is using it in my bathroom. I had to have a plumbing job done for both floors.
I looked at the website and did not see a referral to the MSDS sheet.
Debra or anyone?
Debra’s Answer
Readers, have any of you tried this paint? Comments?
Helpplz – I’m going to every store to smell paints cans . Valspar smelled least but now distrust from your emails . I’ll go to. Ben Moore than safecoat . Any more info ?
Well first I wouldn’t go from store to store to smell paints. The test isn’t what it smells like in the can, but what it smells like when it’s cured. In fact, the worst smelling paint (oil-based) actually gives a very nontoxic, long-lasting finish. But you do want to also make sure not to be exposed to too many toxic chemicals during application.
I suggest that you get out of the store entirely and take a look at Old-Fashioned Milk Paint. It’s actually my favorite paint. I’ve painted with it and it has zero chemicals, dries quickly and looks beautiful. It actually smells like a mug of warm milk while you are painting.
It has now been four weeks since my house was painted with Valspar Reserve. It still reeks of paint fumes even though it has been aired out. A house inspector is here now and says that in over 5,000 inspections he has never encountered this. Have contacted Valspar twice. Am not expecting much. I had a buyer for my house but they have two small kids. Inhaling paint fumes is not good for them or anybody.
What about Natura by Benjamin Moore? It states no Voc, almost odorless, no emissions and no harsh fumes. Has anyone tried it?
We did part of our house with the Benjamin Moore Natura 2 years ago. I don’t remember how long it took before my husband could live in the rooms, but it was probably a week or so. We were pleased with the results.
Had my house painted inside with Valspar Reserve . After one week the odor is still VERY strong. It reeks.
I used Valspar paint to paint one of our rooms and 2 weeks later it still smells. I called Valspar after week 1. The smell was so strong we had headaches. This is in a room where we left the french glass doors opening to the outside open even at night with multiple fans. They recommended we cover it with primer. Smells less but still an irritating smell. Going to try AFM primer to seal in the VOCs and start over.
I painted with Valspar reserve 7 weeks ago and it still has a sweet fragrant smell. I have been unable to air it out and cannot move in the house. I have extreme sensitivities it odors and chemicals and especially fragrances. I could kick myself for using this, thinking it was so good and so safe. Not sure I’d painting over with something else will help. I am devastated!!
If you decide to try another paint or sealant, make a small sample piece first to check for tolerability. While some sensitive people do fine with AFM paints and sealants, I and two of my friends can not tolerate them. I continue to smell and react to for several years after application.
An environmental consultant told me years ago that the purpose of a biocide in paint is to prevent spoilage in the can. Paints made without biocides will have a shorter shelf life.
Below company makes their paint only when an order is placed.
Prices as well as other specs may have changed from the time I rec’d the info.
I had the paint applied on the outside of the house only. I could detect an odor when I got right next to a painted surface for several weeks.
Chem-Safe Company, P.O. Box 33023, San Antonio, TX 78265:
210-657-5321. Indoor and outdoor paint and primers. Ecowise
Environmental Remodeling and Construction
Jim Holland – President
110 West Elizabeth
Austin, TX 78704
512-326-4496
Any color, even the darkest hues, can be matched
Flat – $26.95
Satin – $31.95
Semi-gloss – $32.95
$2 extra per gallon to cover the added pigment on darker
I own eco-friendly ice cream shops in NYC and we have used Safecoat a bunch — there is little to no odor whatsoever. I am painting a back part of the store right now while the front part is open and there are no fumes at all disturbing my customers. Another amazing alternative to paint, though it’s labor intensive and I’d have a professional do it, is American Clay. It goes on with a trowel and is super gorgeous. We’ve used it for some of our walls and I highly recommend it, though not for places like playrooms where you might get dents easily. A third awesome product I’ve used and swear by, it’s an alternative to floor stains and polishes is the Bioshield Aqua Resin. It’s AMAZING, no fumes and has stayed in shape for years.
It has been about 6 weeks I think and the smell in the open rooms is starting to become less and less. I still have 2 purifiers going on high in both rooms and continue to open the doors early. Then I close down and turn on the air. I can go into the rooms without my mask but the closets are still very bad. It may be a year before I can use them. The den closet just holds stuff so no problem but the hall closet used to be for coats. I did the heater thing for 3 days and even used a blower fan that turned about. Still strong.
I am going to try a place in Ann Arbor that sells all sorts of toxic free paints etc. They carry safecoat I believe. Thanks for all the info.
Checked with AFM Safecoat and they explained how several of the low/no-VOC paints still contain many toxins (toulene, etc?) They claim the AFM Safecoat paint is no-VOC AND free of any other toxins. Might be worth a try.
I did some research and found the MSDS sheet for the Valspar Ultra that was used in the closets. It lists Silica and titanium dixiode as active ingredients. There is also a Propierty Inert mentioned but no explanation as to what it is. It does say mildew resistant so I am guessing that is a fungicide that they are not required to list. It is still smelling after a day with the space heater. will try again tomorrow.
Neither silica nor titanium dioxide have an odor. They are not gasses, they are particles of minerals.
Thanks Debra. I am waiting for the Valspar company contact to be working so we can talk. She emailed me and wants me to call her this week with the can numbers etc. She said there is not supposed to be that kind of odur with this new line of paint. She would not disclose if the inert ingredients were a fungiside. Will keep you posted when I get an answer. In the meantime the windows are open because the baking did not work for the closets.
Good luck. No solutions for me and the paint has been smelling for many weeks.
I just had an entire two bedroom apt painted with Home Depots Behr paint, No Voc
and it took over two months for the gasses to dissipate! Warmer weather has helped as did a Hepa Air Filter and fans in the windows blowing the air out the windows. It is a process. Best to paint in summer months when you go on vacation and the warm weather can “Cure” the paint quicker!
I will have to check out the antibacterial used. The Valspar paint had great coverage and all but the smell is awful. Worst than Mystic. The two closets were painted two weeks ago and I still have both rooms closed off with open windows all day. I close it all up at night and then in the morning it starts all over again. There was a Valspar that was approved by the asthma and allergy association two years ago. It was used in my bathroom and I did ok with that after a few weeks but it never had this smell. The paint was white so no added pigments. They discontinued taht one and now have several low or no VOC paints. It will be months before I can use that closet.
I am wondering if the bake method would help it go away or is that just for VOCs.
Try baking.
Lowe’s has reformulated it’s paints. I used to be safe with Olympic Premium and that has been discontinued. The lowest VOC is now Olympic One. I have to check if anti-microbials are added since I have a room that needs painting.
I WOULD check out ecos paint
No VOC’s is better, but now they seem to be putting antimicrobials in all the paint. The said thing is, they aren’t required to list it. Usually they do because they think it’s a good selling point. I’ve had to discontinue several of my favorites. I still can’t find out whether Mythic has it.