FAQs

Here are answers to some questions we have received from our customers over the years.

  1. I know that conventional paints contain VOCs which are bad for health and environment but if I were to paint over such paint with a natural paint, would this stop the conventional paint from leaching its poisons into the atmosphere? Would the bad effects of VOC paints be cancelled out by natural eco-friendly ones?

    Unfortunately not, the ‘off-gassing’ will continue as natural paints are micro-porous - the important thing is not to add to it! By far the greatest levels of VOC emissions are during application and within the first few weeks after painting - emissions then fall to a much lower level, but can carry on for several years according to US EPA research and depending on the product.

  2. I am very allergic to normal paint and I cannot paint my house interior wood because of this. Would your paint be suitable?

    Yes, the paint we sell is excellent if you are attempting to avoid any allergic reactions. However although allergic reactions to petrochemical ingredients are most common, some people can find that certain plant oils can also cause problems so it is always a good idea to thoroughly check ingredients to avoid anything you know you are allergic to. Of course you can also email us with your questions and specific requirements.

  3. I have some pine bedroom furniture that I want to paint, but it has a slight waxy finish (I think it's wax, but it could be varnish), can I use an eggshell (or another wood paint) directly onto a wax finish or should it be prepared in some way?

    We would always recommend sanding in this situation as many paints will not adhere well to waxed or varnished surfaces. Applying water based paint to a waxy surface is never a good idea and even a natural oil based finish will not perform at its best if it is prevented from soaking into the wood.

  4. Which of your floor products would you recommend for oak flooring, please?

    Hardwax oils (biopin or osmo) are excellent for most wooden floors including oak. We do however always recommend that you treat a small sample area first to make sure you are happy with the finish before tackling the whole floor. Hardwax oil accentuates the natural colour and grain of wood with various stains available if you want to alter the colour of the floor. Certain tropical hardwood floors may require a thinner oil as they can contain plenty of their own along with a very dense grain.

  5. We have stained a new hand made oak floor using Van Dyke crystals, which are not waterproof. The floor is laid in the hall, so has a fair amount of use, including boots and shoes from gardening etc, so it needs to be waterproof. We want a matt, natural look – not like a modern sealer etc. Can you help, please?

    Unfortunately being water borne, Van Dyke crystals are not suitable to be finished with an hardwax oil. We would recommend the use of pigmented oils followed by hardwax oil for a hardwearing and maintainable finish.

  6. Could you let me know if your wall paints are suitable for bathrooms?

    Yes, all our wallpaints are suitable for bathrooms as they are breathable. If you want a washable/scrubable surface we do recommend applying a clear glaze over the paint which offers extra protection. Of course areas directly around baths and showers that get regularly soaked are best tiled.

  7. Can floor wax/varnish can be used on untreated cork tiles?

    Hardwax oils are very suitable for untreated cork however as with wood we do recommend you treat a sample are first to ensure you are satisfied with the finish.

  8. I am thinking about using ECO paints, for the first time. Do you have to add water to your water based paints before you start using them.

    That depends on the surface to be decorated. Porous surfaces such as new plaster and some papers should definitely have a watered down first coat. Our paints do tend to be a bit more viscous than conventional alternatives so many people do find that adding a little water to the painting tray can make for easier application. Adding water can also make the paint go a bit further, but beware because too much water will reduce opacity meaning you may need an extra coat and you may actually end up using more paint.

  9. I suffer from asthma and have recently painted a room using "normal" paints and found it caused me a lot of chest and breathing problems. Will your paints be any better?

    Yes is the short answer! although we cannot guarantee you will have no reaction to our paint we very regularly have customers come to us after having a bad reaction to conventional petrochemical paints. They are delighted when they try ours!

  10. I have a baby’s cot which I would like to paint, we have just acquired the cot and I would like to ensure it is safe for our new arrival. I was browsing your site and I was wondering which product you would recommend for use. The cot has been previously varnished so I guess I would need to sand it down and prime it before re-paining ?

    Yes, you will need to sand the surface to provide a 'key' for the paint to adhere to. The more you sand the better the finish.

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