What Does Green or Low/Zero VOC Paint Really Mean? | Brooks Painting

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What Does Green or Low/Zero VOC Paint Really Mean?

What Does Green or Low/Zero VOC Paint Really Mean?

Over the past 15 years people have become more concerned about their paints being “green” or low or zero VOC paint. In the beginning there were not a lot of choices, but today choices are abundant. Building codes have changed to require these products be used, in order to continue to reduce our carbon foot print. What does it really mean to have a “green” or eco-friendly paint? It all has to do with the VOCs (volatile organic compounds). There has been a lot of confusion around this question.

To be a low VOC paint, the VOC level must be 50 g/l or less for most products. While a lot of the paints were qualifying at this level, as soon as the colorant was added the paint exceeded these levels. Today paint manufacturers have switched over to zero VOC colorants. Now when a paint label says low or zero VOC paint, it truly is.

Why do people care about this? The chemicals, as the paints dry, evaporate into the air. This can lead to breathing problems for those with asthma, cause dizziness and skin irritation for just about anyone. In extreme cases they can even cause cancer. These types of issues come up more on interior paints, as the fumes stay trapped in the house. On the exterior paints the VOCs can lead to air pollution, and contribute to poor air quality. VOCs can continue to off-gas for years, so it is even more critical to use the low VOC products.

Making these lower VOC products has not come without its problems. As paint companies had to come up with new formulations to replace the toxic ingredients, problems arose. Such things as longer dry time, application problems, flow, colors matching, quality, and more. Painters were so frustrated with these products, they didn’t want to use them. Thankfully as time has gone on, the paint industry has made great strides in fixing the issues and they are truly quality products. Today low and zero VOC paints are easy to use, application is easier, quality is top notch, they come in all colors, and best of all they are healthier products for us all.

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A lot of painters do the bare minimum, just to get by and move on. That’s not who we are or how we’ve built our reputation.

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3. We’ll do the job correctly

You deserve total transparency, accountability, and exceptional work. No skipped steps or opting for the “easy way.”

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Because we know we’re doing it all the right way, we can confidently stand by our work. We’re picky, and we want you to be 100% satisfied.

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This is a business you can trust to do an excellent job and keep all promises. Came on time, completed in time stated, beautiful result!

Sandra & David M.

My house is so beautiful now…great work. Courteous, prompt, awesome work.

Lisa H.

I wanted to have my kitchen cabinets painted but knew that that was a job that required skill and expertise. I called Brooks Painting and the experience from start to finish was perfect! Everyone I dealt with was personable and good at their jobs. They spent time answering questions, explaining the exact process, and did the work precisely as promised. They even did a few other small jobs (repairing and painting 2 water damaged ceilings) to perfection. And everything was neat and clean when they left! And the cabinets – better than I could have hoped for. Esteban is a master craftsman who was meticulous in every aspect of his work. The finish is smooth as glass with no imperfections. I couldn’t be happier!

Christina Fotenos

Brooks did a fantastic job on our exterior and interior paint jobs. Quality was high, price was reasonable, and the team was extremely professional and detail-oriented. Mark was our crew lead and the team performed a number of exterior wood repairs, a door re-stain, interior and exterior painting. Mark clearly takes a lot of pride in his work and went above and beyond to ensure the work was high-quality, including finding exact matching siding to fix dry rot, and performing minor repairs that weren't even included in the quote. He and the team were all consistently positive and personable, joking with each other throughout the day, while also genuinely complimenting each other on the quality of their work. It was great to see, and that positivity definitely showed through the work they did. We couldn't be happier with the end result.

Ryan Schauland

Brooks Panting Inc. just finished painting the exterior of our house. The crew did a terrific job. The house is a mid century modern with redwood paneling and an unusual amount of trim work. The Brooks crew was efficient, the quality of the painting was exceptional and the work was completed on time! Because of the age of the house several panels needed to be replaced. Brooks had the expertise to closely match the new paneling with the old paneling. I would not hesitate to recommend this company. They are professionals!

Daniel Dykstra

The crew is as neat and reliable as the actual painting job and paint used. No boom boxes!! Cordial staff spoke English. The crew got along with each other and worked as a team. The actual finish is / was beautiful. We would like to use Brooks again!

Donna H.

Brooks Painting painted our home in Sacramento in March of 2022. Tim did a great job power washing our home. Corey, Flint, and Kristen were very helpful in the bid and. planning. process. The painting crew was excellent. Arrived on time each day and the project was finished in 5 days as promised. All worked very hard.

M Hawkins

Very professional, I appreciate the time they took to make sure everything was taken care of for my house! I really liked that Jaime stepped up and told me not to paint my front door like the house and then chose a color that worked great. Thank you!

Dale S.

Consummate professionals! We hired Brooks to repaint the exterior of our house, and they did a fantastic job. The paint looks wonderful, everyone was also on time, friendly, and respectful of our property. Exceptional communication through the entire process. I was worried about damage to the landscaping near the house (bad previous experience with another outfit), but they were all very understanding and the crew was super careful. Did what they said they would do with no weirdness, no smoking, no radio, and they cleaned up after themselves nicely. This picky customer is very happy!

Lisa Goodin

Ryan Schauland

They treat their employees in a fair manner resulting in happy workers. Company is well run. I really like the crew that was here, they were very comfortable to have around.

Pat H.

Courteous and well mannered, attentive, discussed complete job and provided good service.

Juan C., C.H.P.

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A new face, the same commitment to excellence. Chase values honesty, reliability, and treating every customer like a neighbor. His enthusiasm for serving our community and helping clients feel confident throughout the painting process makes him a wonderful addition to our team.

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Why Work with Brooks Painting

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We offer a three-year labor guarantee for all painting projects involving one coat, and a five-year labor guarantee for all two-coat projects.

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Our priority has always been to deliver quality work, services, and customer experiences. This has led us to become the largest painting contractor in the Davis/Woodland area.