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Painting & Decorating

Gloss paint mistake

Hi, I’ve painted my toddler bedroom with oil based high gloss on the skirting/window sills/radiator. I was unaware of the smell and the harmful VOC it releases have checked the paint and is has a high VOC level. I’m really worried about letting my kids sleep in there again is there a fix here other than just giving it ventilation and time to dry?
Thanks

4 Answers from MyBuilder Painters & Decorators

Best Answer

Hello, to be honest anything that you could get the gloss off with will be more harmful. I would suggest just airing out as you said and letting it dry for a couple.of nights and then you should be fine.

2021-03-20T10:00:03+00:00

Answered 20th Mar 2021

The sooner oil based trim paints are outlawed here the better. Many issues, one of which you have found is the stench it gives off the paint has probably passed the peak of voc's being emmited into the air( initial film formation was that stage) the continuing smell is mainly from the radiator. When they changed the formulas to meet 2010 regs on vocs, whatever they did, gloss takes a long time to fully cure now. So everytime the radiator gets hot you get the smell. If possible ( trv) turn the radiator off or to frost setting and look to warm the room someother way for a while. Vent the room as much as you can. I wouldnt reccomend sealing the paint at this stage with primers etc. As i say it will be far from cured at the moment likely iif you try and sand it you will get in a mess with it.
There are so many superb water based paints now. Next time go to a good independant decorators merchant and chat to them

2021-03-20T16:35:02+00:00

Answered 20th Mar 2021

Ok

first of all as a parent I fully understand your concerns.

Letting it dry and air out are the first steps of course.

However

each time you put on the heating you will smell the gloss for a long while. Safe but each time it may make you anxious.

So

I recommend a good sand down

clean all the dust off and then use a tack rag

Prime each surface with a low voc primer/undercoat or no voc primer/undercoat.
then finish in a similar low or no VOC product.

检查网络(例如湖区)他们also have a domestic radiator paint that Is solvent & VOC free

smells will disappear and youve also now got peace of mind

2021-03-20T14:35:02+00:00

Answered 20th Mar 2021

I recently did a rescue job for a lady with the same problem (although in her case it was hired painters who used the oil paint). I sanded the paint a little and gave it all a coat of Zinsser BIN primer which is designed to block stains and smells. Basically it is shellac and seals everything in. Once that's done you can use a water-based gloss and the smells will be gone. BIN does have a smell when it's being used but it's meths based and the fumes are non toxic and disappear when it has dried.

2021-03-22T16:25:03+00:00

Answered 22nd Mar 2021

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