Why do some five-year-old paint jobs peel and flake while others done decades ago look as if they were painted last week? It’s simple: good preparation and quality paint…plus, it was probably painted with an oil based paint. Yes, oil based paints are very durable, but they take longer to dry, and cleanup requires turpentine or paint thinner. Now, don’t start to worry, latex, with the proper preparation, can last for years, plus dries quickly and cleans-up with water!

After some 300 years of use, the EPA is banning most oil-based paints in order to reduce ground-level ozone that can trigger a variety of health problems. However, there are many great choices for non-toxic paints with low VOC’s (Volatile organic compounds). These paints are all safer for your health and safer for our environment! 

Switching to latex can be challenging. If surfaces initally covered by an oil based paint are not properly prepared, latex will not adhere and can flake and peel. Considering that oil base paint will eventually be completely gone it is a necessary step to switch to latex paint wherever you have oil base now. And if the surface was painted prior to 1978, please consider the hazards of lead. Removal of old/lead paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead and exposure to lead dust may cause adverse health effects, especially in children.

There is a lot to consider and you do have to be careful about who to hire and what products to use. Hands On Painters is EPA lead-safe certified and uses quality, low-VOC paint products that will provide the interior and exterior, of your home with a premium finish that WILL last for years!