Vegetable paints, also known as ecological or natural, are paints composed of natural ingredients and devoid of the chemical components that traditional products contain, or they contain very little. Easy to apply, covering, low odor and very aesthetic, they are ideal for interiors and exteriors, especially for heavily used spaces such as children’s rooms. Let’s take a look at the characteristics of these natural paints and their advantages and disadvantages.
What is vegetable, natural or ecological paint?
Vegetable paint is a paint made from renewable natural materials, that is to say natural and biodegradable products that do not pollute the environment. It contains the following elements:
- Plant-based solvents (such as citrus distillates, water and/or balsamic turpentine), to give the paint elasticity and preserve its liquid appearance.
- binders composed of vegetable oils (linseed, castor, lavender or soy) and natural resins, as well as beeswax or lime, which make it possible to homogenize the texture of the paint and to bind the different ingredients between them.
- Chargessuch as clay, chalk, quartz powder or silica to give thickness to the paint.
- Pigments of plant or mineral origin give color to these ecological paints, such as madder, turmeric, sandalwood, reseda, sienna, ochre, etc.
These natural and ecological paints are devoid of chemical products and components that make up traditional paints, or contain very little of them. As a result, they are recommended for painting home interiors, especially bedrooms, which are high traffic areas.
To be considered ecological, a natural paint must contain nearly 98.5% natural components. If it costs a little more than traditional paints, it is much healthier for the health of the occupants of the dwelling and for the preservation of ecosystems. Moreover, its effectiveness is no longer to be proven, since these paints are of high quality, with deep and covering pigments and colors that are suitable for all surfaces and all materials.
Natural paints can combine VOCs (the famous volatile organic compounds), but their content is reduced since it is limited to 5 g per liter of product. Note that the preparation of the paint must also be ecological, that is to say energy-efficient, recyclable and biodegradable. Finally, ecological labels are also necessary, in particular the Ecolabel, NF Environnement or Ecocert label, to testify to a quality and truly ecological product.
What are the advantages of vegetable paint?
Vegetable paint has significant advantages:
- Easy to manipulateit generally does not require wearing a mask and the brushes and rollers rinse very easily with water after use.
- It’s a long lasting product, which is UV resistant and does not move in the sun. It does not fade and it does not crack on the surface, provided that any old glycero-type paint already present on the support has been removed.
- It’s a microporous paint, which allows the wall to breathe and naturally evacuate the humidity it contains. It also allows the wood to breathe better.
- The natural paint is elastic and easy to apply with all types of brushes and rollers.
- She has a excellent hiding power and often requires fewer coats than traditional paint. The yield is significantly higher.
- Its natural pigments are of deep colorresistant and harmonious.
- The range of colors and finishes is extensive, both for the interior and for the exterior. The same color can have multiple shades and very different aspects.
- She does not release no or very little odor and toxic fumes.
- She is not harmful for the environment and does not pollute. It is also possible to throw them down the drain without risk!
- Those are antimicrobial products and washable.
What are the disadvantages of ecological paint?
Despite its advantages, vegetable paint has some disadvantages:
- Its cost is generally higher to that of traditional paintings. It is estimated that it takes about 20% more for equivalent coverage. However, the additional cost is compensated by the ease of application.
- vegetable painting keeps less well and must be used as soon as the jar is opened.
- The drying time is often longer. Between two coats, you have to wait between 4 and 8 hours and up to a week for complete drying. This longer delay is explained by the absence of a chemical drying accelerator.
- Even if the choice of color is vast, it is much more limited than with traditional paints since it limited to natural colors available.
- Even if these paints are healthier, they can present risk of allergies due to some natural components.