They are made from environmentally friendly, renewable materials; conventional paints are still often based on petro-chemicals (causing huge environmental problems) and fossil fuels like crude oil (that are too precious to burn).
There is no human health hazard to users or those living and working in the space afterwards.
100% VOC-free naturally.
These products have a full declaration of ingredients and descriptions of their composition and origination, unlike many of the paints claiming to be 'green' on the market today.
They are technically good i.e. easy-to-use, hard-wearing and proven over a large number of years on thousands of square metres of wall and wood. However, because they do not have conventional artificial drying agents etc, instructions must be followed.
They are highly vapour permeable and therefore compatible with other natural and traditional building materials. They can directly help to control damp/condensation within a building.
How much paint will I need?
We work on an average coverage rate of 6.5-8.0m2 per litre - this varies depening on background. For assistance with calculating quantities - please make use of our quantity calculator that will also assist you with calculating any primers etc.
Do I need a primer?
The Aglaia wall primer is advisable especially on absorbent surfaces - see Data sheet for specific information about preparing different backgrounds.
Do I need to dilute the paint?
Yes, it needs to be thinned down with water - see Data Sheet.
Why is this paint more expensive than most conventional paints?
It is more expensive than most conventional paints because it is exclusively made from natural raw materials, it is therefore far less damaging to the environment and subsequently to ourselves.
Very few paints on the market actually make a full declaration of what they contain and then provide information about where each of the ingredients is sourced. These Aglaia paints do fully list their ingredients - see Details of Raw Materials in Documentation. Of all the paints we have used and supply - the Aglaia and Beecks ranges are completely open about their contents and technical capabilities.
The cost of 'cheap' paint is 'the environment' by e.g. depeleting natural resources such as petroleum, creating approx 20 times the volume of paint in low bio-degradeable waste, contributing to indoor pollution (some can offgas VOCs for up to 5 years) and generally adding to disposal problems in the future! See documentation - Paints and Ecology.
Why is it important that it is 'breathable'?
Old buildings need to breathe i.e. allow moisture to evaporate. If you use a non-breathable paint on your walls, moisture will become trapped - this can lead to problems of peeling. blistering paints, it can cause problems of condensation and mould growth and eventually to the decay of the main fabric of the building - bricks, stones, wooden lintels etc.
How do I know if a paint is breathable?
Any paint manufacturer should be able to supply you with information concerning the way in which their products deal with moisture. The sd-value (refer to the data sheet in documentation) is a good measure. Limewash has a value of 0.01 which is the most breathable paint, and these emulsions have a value on 0.02 so they are still extremely breathable. This will ensure that the building continues to function in the way that it was designed hence helping to care for it for years to come. See Lime in Buildings.
Are all 'heritage' paints breathable?
No, some paints may be based on traditional/heritage colours but don't assume that they are breathable or environmentally-friendly, check their techical data sheet!
Why is it not labelled as organic?
The term organic when relating to paints or pigments can be easily confused with what we understand when we see/hear the term organic food, actually organic means a substance from carbon which can be dead animals/plants which means that substances derived from petroleum can actually be termed organic - but this is depleting a limited natural resource and therefore goes against the principles we would therefore usually expect.
Can I apply it over other old paints?
Yes, it will probably adhere but if the paint underneath is not breathable then you will not regain breathability, you would have to remove the old paint first. However, you will get a lovely, soft aesthetic and of course it is completely safe to use and live with!
Is it as wipeable as a modern vinyl emulsion?
No, unless you paint it with a wall glaze which will slightly darken the colour but then makes it highly serviceable. Clients have done this in hotel corridors, nurseries and commercial kitchens. This will maintain the breathability of the wall.
Will it cover water/tabacoo stains?
Although it has good covering properties, this can not be guaranteed, you would need to try a sample. Alternatively Aglaia produce a shellac insulating primer (for small patches) and an insulating white (whole walls/elevations) to cover internal stains. Please also try to understand why the stain is there and if the source of the problem can be remedied!
Aglaia Resin Wall Paint
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