Painting Definitions

Latex: Water based paint.

Alkyd: Oil based paint.

Enamel: Paint that air dries to a hard, usually glossy finish, used for coating surfaces that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature. Enamel paint can refer to oil or latex paint.

Pigment: The ingredient that provides the color and opacity or covering power. The major pigments used presently are titanium oxide, iron oxide, calcium sulfate, clay or silicates. These pigments are relatively nontoxic. Some highly colored pigments may contain heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium or arsenic.

Resin: The main ingredient of paint that forms a coating or film on the surface being painted. This typically non-hazardous component includes linseed, acrylic or other synthetic resins.

Solvent: Material that keeps the paint in a liquid form until the solvent evaporates after the paint is applied. The solvent in oil-based paint is derived from a petroleum distillate and can include such hazardous ingredients as mineral spirits, toluene and xylene. The solvent in latex paint is water.

VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds are gases emitted by various solids or liquids, many of which have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Solvents in traditional paints often contain high quantities of VOCs. (wikipedia)

• Normal Primer: up to 550 or more grams per liter (g/l) of VOC.
• Normal Paint: up to 380 g/l of VOC.
• Low-VOC Primer: the primer should consist of < 100 g/l of VOC.
• Low-VOC Paint: the paint should consist of <50 g/l of VOC.
• Zero-VOC Paint: the paint should consist of <5 g/l of VOC.

Use of low- and zero-VOC paint

Weekend Painting uses premium quality Low or Zero VOC finishes from Behr or Benjamin Moore. For most wall applications, we use Behr Marquee paint, which has excellent coverage and adhesion properties, and dries to a rich deep colour. For trim paint, we use either Behr Marquee or Benjamin Moore Aura paints, both of which are durable and highly washable.

In most cases, primer is not required since the finish coats we use are self priming. However, some applications require a specialized primer that normally contains a much higher VOC content. For example, the shellac based stain blocking primer contains up to 550 g/l, and 450 g/l to seal smoke stains. It is not advisable to be exposed to this smell for long periods. If you are elderly, have children in your home, or are pregnant, it is not advisable to exposted to these primers at all. Even if moderate quantities of these products are required Weekend Painting will advise you prior to starting so you can arrange to be elsewhere.

Storing Your Paint

Under proper conditions, paint can be stored for five years or more. Normally Weekend Painting does not need to store paint since we use it quickly. Since you as homeowners keep paint stored for future touch ups, you can use the following points to store your paint for a long time:

• Paint should not be allowed to freeze (the freezing point is a little lower than water due to the glycol content). It may look fine when it thaws and is remixed, but there may be chemical changes in the paint that will make it adhere poorly as it dries. Store your paint in the basement or crawl space, or in a garage if it never freezes.
• Ensure the lid is on very tightly and store the paint can upside down (on the lid). This will prevent any air exchange through the lid, and if a skin does form it forms on the bottom when you right the can.
• When you want to use the paint, take your can into a paint store or Big Box retailer to have the paint reshaken. Or, you can spend the time to hand stir it but it will take a long time. If the paint is clumpy or smells rotten the paint is bad and should not be used.

Paint Disposal

Empty and dry paint cans can be disposed of in household trash or recycling. Normally dry paint will be removed from the can and disposed of in the garbage and bare metal paint cans will be recycled.

Remaining tinted paint will always be left with our customers so that touch ups can be done or further rooms can be painted. Any paint that Weekend Painting uses on a regular basis will be taken with us for future jobs. This includes items such as primers and untinted trim or ceiling paint.

Unneeded paint can be disposed of at hazardous waste collection locations for free by homeowners. Please check with your local municipality for times and locations of collection. Paint should never be put into sewers or septic tanks, or spread on the ground, as long term chemical contamination will occur and water treatment plants are not equipped to remove the concentration of hazardous chemicals present in paint. Further, dumping paint is illegal.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites

In the Niagara Region, you can find the next hazardous waste disposal locations and dates by going to the following website:

Or by searching the following in your favorite search engine:

In addition, residents of Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham and West Lincoln can take their items to Niagara Road 12 Landfill at Concession 7 Rd, West Lincoln, ON, L0R 1M0.