paint

SoyCrete

SoyCretetm is an acid-free, non toxic concrete stain alternative that is ideal for all interior and exterior porous surfaces such as: concrete, masonry, brick, stucco, fiber cement, rammed earth and natural stone surfaces. The soy dispersion technology replicates the permanent absorption results like motor oil, but with an unlimited array of natural variegated color effects. The advanced technology will provide you with more than double the spread rate (400-600 sq.ft. p/gal) compared to competitive products. You simply can't find a safer, more flexible or more affordable decorative concrete stain.

You should see our walls.

Every now and then I really, really look at them.
Maybe I'll be sitting in a sunbeam on the floor, enjoying the day, and then suddenly get a full eye-view glimpse of what we've wreaked over the year:

• The sippy cups dashed to the floor... wow, who knew milk flew that far and high?
• The grime from husband's latest "Oh I'm just gonna sand this piece o' furniture... in the bedroom."
• The detailed ink pen drawings of a 3 year old... the crayon, the marker, the pencil...
• And, I admit: the red wine stains flung and spattered from a too good party... they *always* trip over that dag-goned rug!

And then I read:
Self Cleaning Paint.

Dag.

Give it here, prof, I have a great test lab fer ya.

From http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-27-093.asp

"Self-cleaning Paint Uses Light to Cleanse Walls

CORAL GABLES, Florida, April 27, 2008 (ENS) - It sounds like something out of a householder's fantasy - walls covered with self-cleaning paint that repels dirt and grime.

But this new kind of paint is a reality now being tested on the walls of research lab at the University of Miami College of Engineering. The experimental initiative is designed to fit into the university’s commitment towards environmental sustainability on campus.

Dr. James Giancaspro, an assistant professor at the department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering has applied the innovative product on the walls of his lab, where undergraduate and graduate students work. The self-cleaning paint is an ecologically friendly product, Giancaspro says, which has the ability to keep walls clean and maintenance free by repelling dirt, smog, bacteria, algae and fungus that normally accumulates on surfaces, eliminating toxic odors at the same time. "

Read more here!
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-27-093.asp

...Later...

Sorry, guys, I survived the tornado.

So if you *thought* you saw a pink haired lady riding a shed through the sky cackling wildly… well, you shoulda just waved!

Any-hoo, I will avoid my usual, well-known gushing on Finland but thought I'd share this article from...
2005...

http://www.finnfacts.com/english/main/actualities/kemira_nano.html

Kemira's nano products
Clean wall, fresh air
8.6.2005

"The photocatalytic paints and plasters that have just come onto the market include nanocrystalline material thanks to which the consumer sees a cleaner wall and breathes fresher air," say Visa Vehmanen, a researcher at Kemira Oy.

Kemira Oy produces photocatalytically active nanocrystalline titanium dioxide that can be used as a raw material in self-cleaning paints and plasters that also clean the air.

Photocatalytically active titanium dioxide can decompose organic substances into carbon dioxide when it absorbs light. A photoactive paint surface decomposes dirt from its surface and harmful substances, like nicotine, from the air," Vehmanen explains.

Old becomes better

The opaque titanium dioxide crystal traditionally used in paints is more than 200 nanometres in size. The photocatalytically active titanium dioxide crystal is about 20 nanometres. The smaller size makes greater photocatalytic activity possible.

"With research methods based on nanotechnology we have a better understanding than before of what happens in the production process of titanium dioxide. When we understand the process thoroughly, we can affect the properties of products on a nanometre scale and make better products."

Nanotechnology is, according to Vehmanen, a means of obtaining better products from old ones. On the other hand, nanotechnology makes it possible to develop completely new applications.

"Nanotechnology is one part of the rapid technological development. From the consumers' perspective the most important thing is how the product works. Whether there is a new property in a product thanks to nanotechnology or not is of hardly any significance to the consumer," Vehmanen states. "Users of photocatalytic paints and plasters are still few in number, but usage is growing all the time."

www.kemira.com

Time-tested, skill-based careers are diminshing faster than plans for new nuclear power plants. Woodworking, painting, tailoring ... these are just a few examples of hundreds of specialized jobs that, in our modern one-stop-shop world, are starting to join black and white television in the graveyard of the good ole days.

Not everyone has abandoned these traditions, most of which are passed down through decades upon decades of a family's heritage. Going back five generations, Shiloh Painting in North Carolina is an exterior and interior painting business that is actively taking on the role of going green.

Starting on the cheap in 2000 by Ohio-born Isaac Klepac, Shiloh Painting got a boost in 2006 when Isaac's father, Mark, moved to North Carolina to join his son's business - bringing over 30 years of professional painting experience with him. "We know that many of our customers are interested in how products used on their home impact the environment. We share that concern and only use the finest, environmentally-friendly products on all of our jobs," says the Shiloh Painting website.

In the following interview, we speak with Shiloh Painting founder Isaac Klepac about the role of painting in the green building movement, how he educates his customers about the important of sustainable products, and what is next in the world of eco-building trends.

Before the leaves start falling and the chilly temperatures set in, there's still time to get a fresh coat of paint on your house, garage, tool shed ... etc. Maybe that's why Portland-based Yolo Colorhouse just released their line of Green Seal-certified exterior paints.

Available in three different finishes (velvet flat, satin, semi-gloss) and sizes (quarts, gallons, fives), the "Outside" collection is zero VOC, 100% acryclic, and especially designed to handle full sunlight. A palette of 36 colors are arranged into six families - cloud, prairie, forest, ocean, desert, and canyon. It goes without saying that all of them are inspired by nature, along with mixing and matching seamlessly.

Ready to give your favorite exteriors a new coat? You can buy all colors and sizes from Yolo's interior and exterior collections online. Living in the United States? Find a nearby retail location to check out Yolo in-person (and save on shipping).

[via Apartment Therapy: Green]

RELATED:

+ Episode Six: Exterior Finishes

+ Exterior Finishes Workshop

So many exhibitors, so little time.

That must be what most West Coast Green attendees were thinking this weekend. Another thought might have been: Green remodeling is on the rise.

While there were plenty of builders, and there was plenty of prefab, and all the solar power one would expect, there was also row after row of exhibitors offering products and services that are designed to help the average homeowner green their existing property.

Want to paint? We enjoyed chatting with the people at Green Planet Paints. Their mineral-pigmented, clay based paint has a uniquely soft, rustic finish. A few rows away, YOLO Colorhouse's wide range of colors were on display next to Berkeley-based EcoHome Improvement's booth (where Bay Area residents, conveniently, can purchase YOLO's zero-VOC paints).

We saw beautiful reclaimed wood flooring at TerraMai's booth, marmoleum at Forbo Flooring and a whole host of other green flooring options (recycled-fiber rugs, for one) at Marin Flooring Company.

On the less-mainstream side of things, we found The Aqus, a system that captures water from the bathroom sink and routes it to the toilet bowl so that it can be reused for flushing.

In short, we were overwhelmed by all the green building/remodeling resources. And, while we don't have enough space to mention them all right here, right now, we'll be keeping an eye on a lot of the exhibitors and reporting back here in the future.

Still hungry for more? West Coast Green may be over, but you can see a full list of exhibitors right here.

Image via www.westcoastgreen.com

Ever since prehistoric men and women lived in caves, humans have felt compelled to adorn their homes with paint and other materials, as well as objects, to add comfort and a sense of their own individuality. However, most of the wall and window treatments, paints and stains, furniture and floor coverings used today, while often attractive, can actually be sources of air pollution, discomfort and illness. This is because many of the materials now used to make decorating and furnishing materials can outgas (emit) potentially harmful chemical odors.

At the same time, certain home components, such as soft furnishings and elaborate window dressings, are made to be difficult, if not impossible, to clean thoroughly on a regular basis. So, they become havens for dust and microorganisms, such as dust mites.

As you begin to create your own healthy household, remember that, while color and style are important, your primary decorating consideration should always be the potential health effects of what you put in your home. No matter what the current fashion dictates, your well-being and that of your family should always come first. Therefore, choosing truly cleanable, less-toxic, low-odor materials is extremely important.

If you need professional help with your home decorating, some interior designers are now becoming aware of how homes and furnishings can lead to ill health, so you may find a local person knowledgeable about healthy decorating. Some interior-design companies, are including health considerations in all their projects.

From Creating a Healthy Household: The Ultimate Guide For Healthier, Safer, Less-Toxic Living, © 2000 by Lynn Marie Bower.

via The Healthy House Institute

image via www.sxc.hu, Marcelo Moura

The guy in the hardware store said he didn't know of any green paint brushes yet, so I just went for the normal wood-handled version, the bristles are probably synthetic. Does anyone have thoughts on the greenest painting tools? And what about those sprayers, are those good or bad?