Eco-Friendly Deck & Fence Coatings & Healthy Paints & Sealers

Wendy MacDonald, from CBR Products will describe how eco-friendly products can help preserve the natural beauty of your deck, fencing and siding, and discuss the health and environmental benefits to be gained from the use of paints, stains and sealers free of solvents, formaldehyde and heavy metals.

This seminar will be helpful for architects, designers, builders, installers and homeowners, and particularly informative for those who are chemically sensitive.

Wednesday, 10th December 7-9 pm

If you haven't installed it yet, you can get a very low VOC cold-pressed melamine coating applied to the MDF by Eco-Lumber Co-op. Unfortunately, if the MDF has been installed, there is not much you can do. It is true that it will swell if you use a latex paint on it. You will need to use a sealer. See the buildsmart directory (http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/buildsmart/Apps/searchResult.aspx?type=169&typeText=sealants) for low VOC alternatives.

I don't know if I have a good answer yet. The person who asked the question herself I think had the best answer that I have heard, though, and so I want to pass it on and encourage anyone with other ideas to add to this forum. The answer that she gave was to put the water on used catlitter, so that the paint was absorbed by the cat litter, and then dispose of it in the garbage.

Where can I get eco-friendly paint?

Lead Paint Legacy Lurking in Homes, report warns: Ottawa falls behind US standards on toxic exposure in older houses
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT, the Globe and Mail, Apr 12 07