Good questions. We'll get to the heart of it.
We can provide you an extensive plan to redecorating your property with chemical-free products that hold up to the test of time. From the point of contact, we'll come round and offer a free, no-obligation quote, educate you on the values of what we do and why the products we use will benefit your experience.
What is widely known is the health risk of mainstream paint. The host of hundreds of chemicals that make up mainstream paints and oils — take Acetone, for example — have known health implications. Even if labelled "low or no VOC", mainstream paint is still extremely bad for your health, leaving bad indoor air quality and polluting the environment.
It's not just the drying process that can be harmful — after the curing process, clients are still being exposed to the leaching of toxins into the air. Many of today's paints give off harmful fumes from volatile organic compounds — acetone, xylene, toluene, benzene, etc. — linked to serious health issues around respiration, cognitive function and development. Many of these chemicals can cause cancer, as well as eye/nose/throat irritation, allergy problems, headaches, memory loss and nausea.
Absolutely not. The Natural Paint Company and Natural House Company already have a huge clientele with great reviews right across New Zealand. After years of using mainstream products, we've been mightily impressed — these products not only live up to conventional commercial products but actually outperform them. And better still, they're local NZ products.
We use two NZ-based suppliers. The Natural Paint Company (Christchurch) supplies chemical-free paint made from chalk, china clay, plant oils and tree resins, with a fully disclosed ingredients listing — none to very low VOCs, no harmful chemicals or solvents. The Natural House Company (Motueka) specialises in timber oils and varnishes using Tung Nut Oil, Tree Resins, Plant Waxes, Micro Earthen Pigments, Essential Oils and Lead-Free Dryers.
VOCs — Volatile Organic Compounds — become gases or vapours very easily and can be extremely toxic when inhaled. They're largely responsible for that "fresh paint" smell that often leaves people with headaches or irritated nasal passages. Paints labelled "Ultra Low VOCs" have the least amount of these toxic chemicals and are much safer to have in your living spaces. Our supplier's products go further — made with ingredients like earth clay, resin and plant oil, they have none to very low VOC content.
Declare Certification is a sustainability certification for the Living Building Challenge — a globally recognised standard for product transparency. It means every ingredient in the product is disclosed to customers. The Natural Paint Company is the only company in New Zealand to hold this certification. Their exterior oil also holds the "Living Building Challenge Red List Free" certification from the International Living Future Institute in Seattle, USA.
From the point of contact, we'll come round and offer a free, no-obligation quote. We'll take a walk around and inspect your current paintwork conditions — this determines the level of preparation needed to achieve the finish you deserve. We'll educate you on the values of what we do and why the products we use will benefit your experience. There is no silly question.
It's everything. The secret to a perfect paint job is in the preparation. Inspecting your current paintwork conditions is vitally important — it determines the level of work needed to get your finish back up to scratch and protect your home. The repair work can vary on a large scale, so assessing this carefully from the outset means we never cut corners and you get the finish you deserve.
The paints we use have varying recoat times of one to four hours. All paint also needs time to cure — or set properly — to the surface it's been applied to. It is only after the curing process that it is safe to wash or clean that surface. Curing can take anywhere from two days to four weeks, depending on the ingredients, application technique, surface and climate. We'll give you specific guidance for your project after application.
We primarily service the Nelson and Tasman regions. We're happy to discuss projects in surrounding areas — get in touch and we'll let you know if we can help.
Interior paint comes with a 25-year product warranty. This reflects both the exceptional quality of the Natural Paint Company's products and the standard of application we deliver.
Exterior paint comes with a 10-year product warranty. Combined with proper surface preparation, these products are built to protect and perform in New Zealand conditions for the long term.
For every 1m² of area painted or coated with our supplier's products, they purchase 1m² of rainforest through the Rainforest Trust, saving it from deforestation. The products themselves are natural and breathable, with none to very low VOC content — far less environmental impact during application, and far better air quality in your home afterwards.
Yes. Both our suppliers are New Zealand companies — The Natural Paint Company is based in Christchurch, and The Natural House Company is based in Motueka. Supporting local is important to us, and it means shorter supply chains and fresher products for you.