Today we are reviewing ECOS Paints, a product line that has been manufactured and sold in Britain since 1988, but only recently opened up manufacturing and distribution in the United States.  Available in a large variety of finishes and specialized application formulas, ECOS promotes itself as being solvent free, odorless, and free of all toxins.  In fact, it was invented by a paint chemist, Ian West, who discovered he was chemically sensitive after feeling ill for some time.  According to ECOS, their paints and varnishes are so pure you can actually eat them, although they warned they were still pretty nasty tasting, so I decided not to add that to the testing procedure!

Here are the results for what I did test –

Manufacturer:  ECOS Paints

Paint: Soft Sheen Wallpaint

Cost:  $49.95 for White and $58.95 for colors in 1.32 gallon size – retail (online)

Composition: Can include some or all of the following: Water, acrylic dispersion, vinyl acetate dispersions, titanium dioxide, pigments (various), thickeners – cellulosic and polymeric, barytes, limestone, clay, synthetic wax, dispersing aids (various)

VOCs: none

Certifications: EN71 compliant (Nursery paint only)

Color range: 108 colors, divided up into 8 groups

Coverage: Estimate 350 700 sf per 1.32 gallon can (corrected)

Testing results

Paint odor in can – Very little detectable odor, and none at all when more than 6″ from can.

Consistency of paint – Very thick and smooth.

Coverage – The first coat was enough to effectively cover up most of the existing dark tan paint, but a second coat was applied to fill in any small texture gaps.

Drying time – 30 minutes till dry to touch.

Odor after one day – None.

Adhesion after one day – No residue visible on tape after removal.  Tape did not affect painted surface.

Note:  Paint provided by ECOS Paints for our use in test.

Conclusion:  Very good hideability, and smooth, no splatter application.  Very nice consistency.  Odor is virtually none existent.  Especially good choice for those with chemical sensitivities or for use in a nursery or child’s bedroom.  White is the brightest and purest of all whites tested so far.  Definite sheen to paint.  Overall I was very pleased with the paint, and will consider it for future projects.

Note: We chose not to apply paint under ideal conditions, including the use of a primer, so your results may vary.  To read more about how we approached our review process, please read this post.

To see previous paint reviews, please click here.

If you have any experience with this paint, please feel free to add your comments below.  The more people who share their knowledge, the more useful these reviews will be.

Manufacturer:  Graham & Brown

Paint: The Colors That Made Britain Great – Flat Matt finish

Cost:  $35.00 per 2.5 liters – retail (online)

Composition: Water Based Acrylic resin emulsion, China Clay and other fillers, Titanium Dioxide Pigment, Natural and synthetic thickening agents, Surfactants, Defoamers, pH Modifier

VOCs: <2.9 g/l (grams per liter)

Certifications: none

Color range: 30 colors, ranging from white to bright red

Coverage: Estimate 275 sf per 2.5 liter can based on test results

Testing results

Paint odor in can – Distinctive latex paint smell.  Not overwhelming, but definitely still noticeable at 6″ from can.

Consistency of paint – Nice, smooth and fairly thick.  Sample can did have some congealed and discolored paint just around the inside rim, but that may simply be an issue with the sample size container.

Coverage – The first coat was enough to effectively cover up most of the existing dark tan paint, but a second coat was applied to fill in any small texture gaps.

Drying time – 30 minutes till dry to touch.

Odor after one day – Still noticeable, but not overwhelming

Adhesion after one day – Slight residue visible on tape after removal.  Tape did not affect painted surface.

Note:  Paint provided by Graham & Brown for our use in test.

Conclusion:  Excellent hideability, and smooth, low splatter application.  Very nice consistency.  Odor is stronger than I would like, but not unpleasant.  Probably best used in situations where the area painted is not to be occupied for a few days after painting.  Finish is very flat, with virtually no sheen.

Note: We chose not to apply paint under ideal conditions, including the use of a primer, so your results may vary.  To read more about how we approached our review process, please read this post.

To see previous paint reviews, please click here.

If you have any experience with this paint, please feel free to add your comments below.  The more people who share their knowledge, the more useful these reviews will be.

Manufacturer:  Benjamin Moore

Paint: Natura Interior Waterborne Paint (color – White)

Cost:  $49.99 per gallon retail (online)

Composition: Water based acrylic latex. Contains acrylic latex, titanium dioxide, nepheline syenite, kaolin, silica (amorphous), diatomaceous earth

VOCs: 0 g/l (grams per liter)

Certifications: GreenSeal, Greenguard

Color range: All Benjamin Moore colors available.  Tinting will not affect VOC level.

Coverage: Estimated by mnf. at 375 – 425 sf per gallon

Testing results

Paint odor in can – Typical latex paint smell, but undetectable beyond 3″ from can opening.

Consistency of paint – Even after repeatedly shaking can, paint remained separated, and had to be vigorously stirred to create a smooth texture.  Once homogenized however, paint was fairly thick and smooth.

Coverage – It took only 1 coat to cover existing dark tan paint

Drying time – 30 minutes till dry to touch.  Did not need to apply second coat.

Odor after one day – Undetectable

Adhesion after one day – Virtually no residue viiable on tape after removal.  Tape did not affect painted surface.

Note:  Paint provided by Benjamin Moore for our use in test.

Conclusion:  Very low odor and excellent hideability.  The average room would only need a single gallon to cover most walls, making the $49.99 price tag a lot more affordable overall.  It is also a plus that the paint can be tinted without changing the level of VOCs.  However, the paint does require a great deal of stirring to achieve a smooth consistency.

Note: We chose not to apply paint under ideal conditions, including the use of a primer, so your results may vary.  To read more about how we approached our review process, please read this post.

If you have any experience with this paint, please feel free to add your comments below.  The more people who share their knowledge, the more useful these reviews will be.

Manufacturer:  Sherwin Williams

Paint: Harmony Interior Latex Flat Paint (color – Extra White)

Cost:  $36.99 per gallon retail

Composition: Water based acrylic latex. Contains titanium dioxide, nepheline syenite, vinyl polymer, calcium carbonate, kaolin, mica.  Formulated with no silica.

VOCs: Less than 2g/l (grams per liter)

Certifications:  Greenguard, Good Housekeeping

Color range: Most colors are available.  Sherwin Williams’ “Blend-A-Color” tinting can add to VOC level.

Coverage: Estimated by mnf. at 350 – 400 sf per gallon

Testing results

Paint odor in can – Smells like the tempera paint we used as kids.  Odor undetectable more than 12″ from freshly opened can.

Consistency of paint – Smooth, slightly thin, light splatter

Coverage – 2 coats just covered existing dark tan paint

Drying time – 45 minutes till dry to touch.  Waited recommended 4 hours before applying second coat.

Odor after one day – Very faint, almost undetectable

Adhesion after one day – Applied clear tape to paint.  Some residue showed on tape, but did not affect surface of painted wall.  Tape was hard to remove at first.

Note:  Paint provided by Sherwin Williams for our use in test.

Conclusion:  This paint is definitely low odor, and has the added benefit of being anti-microbial.  Other than the vinyl polymer, the paint basically consists of water and ground minerals and rocks (see composition above).  Because it is slightly thin in consistency, I imagine this would do very well in a sprayer, which coupled with it’s relatively low price point, might make it ideal for larger projects and painting contractors, as well as those looking for an affordable option in no-VOC paint.  However, I would advise using primer before trying to cover a darker color of paint.

I really like the fact that Sherwin Williams took the time to redesign their can as well as their paint.  The can is 100% post consumer recycled resin (plastic), with a label made of 75% recovered fiber and 25% post consumer waste, printed with soy ink.  You can read more about their GreenSure environmental program here.

Note: We chose not to apply paint under ideal conditions, including the use of a primer, so your results may vary.  To read more about how we approached our review process, please read this post.

If you have any experience with this paint, please feel free to add your comments below.  The more people who share their knowledge, the more useful these reviews will be.

Manufacturer:  Dunn-Edwards

Paint: Enso Interior Flat Paint (color – Tintable White)

Cost:  $55.48 per gallon (some discounts available, please inquire with store)

Composition: Water based acrylic latex. Contains titanium dioxide to boost hiding ability of paint. MSDS indicates no reportable hazardous ingrediants.

VOCs: Less than 2g/l (grams per liter)

Certifications:  MPI Extreme Green

Color range: Virtually entire standard range of Dunn-Edwards colors, with the exception of several deep reds.  Pigment can add to VOC level.

Coverage: Estimated by mnf. at 300 – 400 sf per gallon

Testing results

Paint odor in can – Typical latex paint smell, but unnoticeable if more than 8″ from can

Consistency of paint – Smooth, medium flow, slightly gummy.  No spatter experienced.

Coverage – 2 coats to cover existing dark tan paint

Drying time – 30 minutes till dry to touch.  Waited recommended 2 hours before applying second coat.

Odor after one day – slight latex paint smell when less than 2″ from wall.  Otherwise, no odor noticeable.

Adhesion after one day – Applied clear tape to paint.  Only faint residue visible on tape after removal.

Note:  Paint provided by Dunn-Edwards for our use in test.

Conclusion:  This is still a very new paint on the market, and as such it is hard to get a gauge on what is happening in the field.  Based on our try out, this is a good choice for the casual painter who is looking for a no-VOC option that is fairly affordable and readily available.  I’m happy that this new line is available in (virtually) all of their colors.

Note: We chose not to apply paint under ideal conditions, including the use of a primer, so results may vary.  To read more about how we approached our review process, please read this post.

If you have any experience with this paint, please feel free to add your comments below.  The more people who share their knowledge, the more useful these reviews will be.

So what is our first victim material to review?  I thought we couldn’t find a better place to start than the ever expanding options in “no-VOC” flat paint.  Starting this week, we will look at 10 different paint brands, across three different categories: Mainstream, Eco-Friendly, and Boutique.  This week we will try out three of the top mainstream U.S. brands – Dunn-Edwards, Sherwin Williams, and Benjamin Moore.

And how are we going to review them?   Well, my 8 year old son volunteered to put it up on the wall using some old paint brushes he found in the garage, but I thought we might want to be a little more controlled, so I will be applying the paint with a roller, over a previously painted surface (aka my hallway).  During the process,  I will make notes as to my impressions on the following:

1. Paint odor in can

2. Consistency of paint

3. Coverage (1, 2 or 3 coats needed to cover previous color)

4. Drying time

5. Odor after one day

6. Adhesion after one day (using a piece of scotch tape)

All of the paints will be basic white, and we will provide links to the manufacturers recommended application.  I will not be following those specific recommendations however, since I want this to reflect a more “real world” situation, which usually consists of paint being rolled onto walls with little or no surface preparation.

I will also provide any and all information available on what is in the paint, if it has any 3rd party certifications, pricing, and the number of colors available.

So join us again tomorrow as we review Dunn-Edwards newest no-VOC paint – Enso.