The Ownder Builder Magazine - April 2009
http://www.theownerbuilder.com.au/
From reading publications such as The Owner Builder, Earth Garden, and ReNew we had learned that paints and varnishes were chiefly made from petrochemical derivatives, had high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and could outgas for years after being applied. We also knew that this time we did not want to go down that path which we had merrily trodden many times in the past without realizing it. An internet search of 'green paint' led to www.greenpainters.com.au, which is a very thorough website with lots of useful information and lists of suppliers of different kinds of environmentally friendly coatings.
After visiting most of the websites and making comparisons, three manufacturers made it onto our short list: BIO Products, Livos Australia and Amma Earth Products (Volvox) www.amma.net.au
Much downloading of information later we compared the different products looking at their Material Safety Data Sheets, coverage rates, ingredients (which funnily enough natural paint manufacturers have no problem in listing and standard paint manufacturers are very reluctant to!), prices, whether primer was needed, and availability in Tasmania. We decided that we liked the look of the Volvox Clay Paint. At the same time we were looking for products to put on our Tasmanian oak floors and they also make a Hard Oil Wax Finish that is applied very sparingly and dries in a very short period of time.
We looked for Tasmanian suppliers of Volvox but found none and only a couple that supply Livos. Most of our information and comparative pricing was found on the websites of Colours By Nature and Painted Earth. We ordered some samples of the clay paint from Colours by Nature www.coloursbynature.com.au
The samples went onto the walls and ceiling very nicely with great coverage and a fantastic natural feel and look. The only smell present when applied was a faint one of vinegar. We then ordered 10 litres of Mont Blanc and ten of Ivory, as well as 2.5 litres of their Hard Oil Wax Finish.
Cost wise the paint was only marginally more per ten litres than good quality acrylic paint from the hardware store. The floor finish was expensive at $185.00 for 2.5 litres, but at a rate of 20ml per square metre it should be enough to do the whole house. We will end up with a house with no VOCs and a great natural finish for not very much more than buying from traditional sources.
The paint was dispatched to Tasmania by Australia Post and arrived within four days of ordering.
We painted two coats of Mont Blanc white on the ceiling and two coats of Ivory on the walls. Very impressed. It goes on smoothly and dries to a great even coverage. Three of the walls were new plasterboard and one was already painted. When it first went on we thought it was not going to give good coverage because it is very translucent and much darker than when it dries.
The first coat on the plasterboard was preceded by spraying the wall with water from a hand pump spray bottle. No primer was needed. When the first coat dried it was a little patchy but dried the right colour and coated both the plasterboard and the painted wall well.
After two coats there was no patchiness at all. It has a great matt texture and feels just like... well, clay. Overall it had a coverage rate of about nine square metres per litre.
Jamison Guesthouse and Rooster Restaurant - May 2009
48 Merriwa Street
Katoomba N.S.W. 2780
Australia.
Phone/Fax: 02 4782 1206
E-Mail: rooster@jamisonhouse.com Web: http://www.jamisonhouse.com
All doors and windows where decorated with Volvox Clay Décor and finished with a coat of Volvox Wax Finish to give it a shiny and very hard wearing protective coat.
The doors & windows already had a coat of old blue paint that was painted over with Gingko (4-098) Clay Paint and once the coat was reasonably dry the paint was sanded to give the door a very rustic appearance as you can see in the picture, and then a coat of wax finish was applied to protect the paint.
The job was done in the morning and by late afternoon the paint was completely dry with no smell noticed throughout the day, in fact the restaurant guests that night did not even realize the restaurant had been painted.
Here you can see how the rustic look & colours really suite the walls, furniture and surroundings. Please click on the images for bigger sizes.
