The Latest on “Green Certified” Paint

With all the new Green choices out there for paint, it’s easy to get confused. Bette Asbra, co-owner of Pro-Staff Painting & Faux Finishing, a Diamond Certified company, says the biggest thing to know when buying most “no or low” volatile organic compound (VOC) products is that by adding any color to the base, you’re increasing VOC levels. Many consumers don’t realize this—the more color added and the deeper the color, the more VOCs.

According to Mrs. Asbra, the only new paint without VOCs in either the base or any of the tints is made by Benjamin-Moore. She recommends the “Natura” line, which is offered in a wide range of colors. With those, you can add as much tint as you want and not worry about pushing up VOC levels. In addition, this line uses higher-end pigments and saturates better, giving you much better coverage when you’re painting.