Go to the local – or chain – hardware store and take a stroll to the paint section, where rows upon rows and literally thousands of color choices may await customers. What’s in that paint?  In many cases, that information can be more than difficult to unearth.

In the vast majority of cases the base material is latex, supplemented by a witch’s brew of chemicals to achieve consistency, color, and so forth, produced with petro-chemical or synthetic ingredients.  The result, whatever the formula, is often toxic.  Who wants that?

Florian Speier and Jessica Pfohl are among those looking for something more.  Out of frustration at the “greenwashing and lack of ingredient transparency in the paint industry,” the husband and wife team founded Unearthed Paints with the determination to help change the industry.

“We believe that consumers have a right to know what ingredients are in their paints,” proclaims the company website.  “We proudly list all the ingredients in our paint on the front of every label.  We hope that other paint manufacturers will follow our lead so that consumers can make informed decisions about the paints they bring into their homes.”

So, what’s in their paint?  Unearthed carries natural paint, meaning paint made with ingredients such as earth & mineral pigments, marble, clay, and chalk.  The medium  comes to the consumer accompanied by a full ingredient disclosure.  It is truly 100% VOC-free and biodegradable.

While clay and mineral paints have never gone out of popularity in Europe and Japan, here in America such natural finishes have been largely forgotten.  Florian and Jessica hope to change that.

After months of relationship-building with the German company Kreidezeit, arrangements were made earlier this year to begin importing the latter’s natural finishes to the U.S., where the product was rebranded for American consumers.  Unearthed Paints was born.  Now its creators are in the building process, attracting vendors and the attention of the press, with the aim of winning some market share away from an industry dominated by latex paint.

There are six types of paint offered by the company.  Four are sold as dry powder, to be mixed on site: clay paint and its thicker variation, clay roll-on plaster, Vega Paint (a vegan update on traditional milk paint recipes), and plant glue paint.  Pit lime paint and Gecko Paint are sold as liquid bases.

Similar care is taken for remainder of the product line.  On offer are three types of plaster in various textures, two natural wood finishes, along with primers, thinners, and a selection of pigment used to infuse color.

The goal of sustainability is carried into every aspect of the business, even unto consideration for energy use.  While many of the ingredients in conventional latex paints – such as petroleum products and titanium dioxide – require an energy-intensive process to produce, natural paints, in contrast, are minimally processed and made with ingredients which are abundantly available (clay, chalk) or recycled (reclaimed Italian marble).  To complement to this sourcing, Unearthed’s paint is manufactured in a carbon-neutral facility and shipped via carbon-offset transport.

The founders of Unearthed also translate their philosophy into action through their Rainforest Pledge: a program currently dedicated to helping preserve the rainforest in Paraguay.  For every square foot of Unearthed paints, plasters, or wood finishes purchased by a customer, the company will purchase one square foot of rain forest and donate it back to the Enxet and Ayoreo tribes, which are indigenous to the region.

Details of the pledge can be found at the Unearthed Paints’ website.  Once there, wander around a bit and learn about this inspiring company, which is definitely (pardon the chestnut) walking its talk.

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.

The fifth in a series of artisan profiles by contributing writer Emerald Atkins.

Don’t throw away that house paint!  It can be used for art.

Cassandra Tondro, an artist living in Santa Monica, CA, knows that secret, and has been using it since 2007 to create vibrant abstract paintings.  Her unique medium comes from many sources.  Sometimes the acrylic latex paint is literally repurposed house paint, gleaned either from the mistint shelves of hardware stores or from the local household hazardous waste center.  She also works directly with her clients by incorporating leftover paint from their architectural site to create truly custom art.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 35 to 103 million gallons of post-consumer architectural paint are disposed of in the United States each year. By rescuing paint before it reaches landfills, Cassandra helps to reduce waste.  Yet it wasn’t until she’d been working with the medium for many years, she said, that  she realized how the material was in alignment with her personal values.  Since the 1960s her evolving interests have included organic and natural foods, voluntary lifestyle simplicity, alternative healing, and a deep concern about the changing environment — and sustainable artwork is a natural extension of those interests.  As an expression of that, her paintings are created on custom-made canvases made from American poplar hardwood and cotton canvas woven in U.S. mills.  Both materials are readily renewable.

When her clients wish, the art is created with low- or no-VOC paint.

Cassandra works with interior designers, architects, art consultants, and individual collectors to produce paintings tailored for their homes, offices, and commercial properties.  Her work is part of public collections in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Hampshire.  Custom pieces grace the walls of hospitals and organizations such as the Oakwood Family Resource Center in Los Angeles.  Galleries widespread as the Bergamot Café Gallery in Santa Monica, CA, and the LoPressionism Gallery in Melbourne, FL, have featured her art.

Currently her work is being displayed at the LACMA Art Rental and Sales Gallery in Los Angeles, CA; at the OBJCT Gallery in Claremont, CA; and the Pierre Paul Art Gallery in Ann Arbor, MI.

It hasn’t always been this way.  Cassandra labored as a computer programmer for eighteen years before following her heart and opening WildFiber, a store and studio in Santa Monica, CA, which offered classes in fiber arts.  She owned the store for seven years, then sold the business to one of her teachers and finally made the leap into making her living from sales of her art.  2011 marks her eleventh year as a full-time painter.

Along the way she was influenced by many artists – Georgia O’Keefe, Judy Chicago, Australian textilist India Flint, and California abstract painter Ed Moses, among others, including her mother, an abstract sculptor who created in wood and marble.  Cassandra considers herself a process painter, meaning that she’s more interested in the process of painting than in obtaining a particular end result.  Initially she painted with acrylics, which gave her work an ethereal look, but now enjoys how the acrylic latex medium allows for stronger contrast and more distinct design.

“I love this work and the discipline that it requires,” she said.  “It stretches me in unexpected ways and demands that I learn many new skills… I enjoy the feeling that I’m continuing to grow, evolve, and perfect my art.”

Ms. Tondro’s work can be seen at her website.  She may also be contacted by phone at 310-452-2964.

Campaign Desk in “Revolution Red” by Etsy seller abodewell, made of reclaimed wood.

Hand embroidered pillow by Lost City.

Oceanside Glasstile in Red.

Harmony Art’s organic cotton fabric in 40 Ginkgos.

Recycled glass vase from Spain.

Graham & Brown’s paint in Double Decker Red.

My best wishes for a very Happy Valentine’s Day for all my wonderful readers (who put up with so much).  Now, go out there and stuff your faces with chocolate!  It’s really what today is all about – right?

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.

Designed to coordinate with their wallpaper collections, this flat matte finish paint comes in wonderfully British sounding colors, such as Double Decker Red, Nice Cup of Tea, and Stiff Upper Lip.  But the names are nothing compared to the ultimate anglophile packaging…

Yep, there is no mistaking the country of origin here!  I swear, I’d want to order a can of Police Box Blue just for the fun of looking at it sitting in my office (while rockin’ out to The Clash’s London Calling of course).  Or maybe I’ll just paint myself my own TARDIS (yes, I’m a bit of a geek).

Although there are only 30 colors in the palette, they seem well edited, with some good neutrals and several wonderfully intense brights.  And at only $35 a gallon for a 2.5 liter can ($5 for a tester pot), you may just find yourself painting your own Yellow Submarine.

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.