Victoria Handyman: How To Help Protect The Environment While Painting Your Home

Applying a fresh coat of paint seems like an innocent enough way to spruce up your house’s appearance. However, few people are aware of the negative ecological impacts that house painting can have. The truth is that toxic substances in pigments and paint thinners are risky to the person using them. They also persist in the environment long after your home improvement project is complete. Here are some tips to make greener choices when using Handyman Connection’s house painting services in Victoria.

Choose Safer Paint With House Painting Services in Victoria

A newly painted surface gives the appearance of cleanliness and safety. But contained within some brands of paint are harmful chemicals. Here are a few paint ingredients and reasons you probably do not want them near your family:

• Arsenic – Poisons body cells.
• Formaldehyde – Irritates mucus membranes and can cause cancer.
• Heavy metals such as chromium, cobalt, and lead – Build up in the body and cause toxicity.
• Chloracetamide – Interferes with normal development in children.
• Phthalates – Disrupts hormones.

Some paints also contain volatile organic compounds that not only harm people but also contribute to global climate change. You can avoid these VOCs and other hazardous chemicals by selecting products labelled as zero-VOC or low-VOC. Our professional painters are happy to discuss these options with you when you choose our house painting services in Victoria.

Dispose of Leftover Paint Correctly

The chemicals in paint and paint thinners are not good for plants and animals. For this reason, you should never pour any leftover materials down the drain or into the toilet. Dumping them in the yard is not a good option, either, because after it rains they will eventually make their way into streams and waterways. Once in the water, they can disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

When you choose a handyman in Victoria from Handyman Connection, you can trust him or her to clean up the mess when the job is done. This cleanup process includes disposing of leftover materials in an environmentally friendly way. It also includes allowing empty paint cans to dry completely before putting them in the trash. If there is paint left over, you can store it for future touch-ups or donate it to a thrift store. For unusable liquid products, simply pour them into jars and drop them off at a hazardous waste disposal site.

Use Sustainably Manufactured Painting Accessories

Another way you can make use of greener house painting services in Victoria is to purchase eco-friendly tools for applying paint. Unfortunately, most companies who manufacture paintbrushes create them out of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum and coal. However, you can instead choose brushes with wooden handles. Some eco-friendly brushes even offer replaceable bristles so you can reuse the handle for multiple jobs.

Choose drop cloths made from recycled plastic or even non-plastic, reusable canvas cloth. You can also find paint rollers and trays made from repurposed drink bottle material. These products are much better options than conventional painting accessories that require brand-new plastic pellets in the manufacturing process. By making conscious choices and supporting more eco-friendly practices, you can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to home improvement.

Trust Handyman Connection for House Painting Services in Victoria

The team at Handyman Connection will paint your house with the same attention to detail they would use on their own homes. As vetted members of the community, they also share your concern for the local environment when performing house painting services in Victoria. For this reason, they are happy to discuss your desire for more eco-friendly products and techniques.  Contact us today to request an estimate for interior or exterior house painting services, or for any other home improvement project you have in mind.