Breath of fresh air
Getting rid of VOCs around your home is a smart move
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are in a lot of the products we put in our homes. Everything from carpeting, cabinets and furniture to the paint on our walls and caulking around our tubs, showers and toilets contain VOCs.
Some materials have more, others less. For example, varnishes and caulking can be heavy on the VOCs, and darker pigments in paint usually have more VOCs than lighter colours. But you can also find VOCs in things like cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, air fresheners, furnishings and even plastics.
Volatile organic compounds, which are really just chemical byproducts, evaporate or off-gas into the air. Sometimes, all it takes are a few days for most VOCs to be practically gone from certain products, like spray foam insulation, if properly installed. But in other cases, VOCs can off-gas for weeks, months and even years.
In a home, VOCs can accumulate and become a serious health concern. Breathing them in is dangerous; they can cause headaches and dizziness, but in more severe cases, they can be very toxic.
Var nishes, glues and adhesives are among the worst for VOC off-gassing, mainly because of one dangerous ingredient they can contain: formaldehyde. A strong-smelling, colourless gas, formaldehyde can make your eyes burn, irritate your nose, or give you a bit of a sore throat. Being exposed to higher doses can cause coughing or wheezing.
In some cases, formaldehyde has been known to cause more serious symptoms, even some types of cancer. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a known carcinogen.
Back in the ’ 70s, it was used in various building products and materials that used glues or adhesives in their production, like pressed wood. There was also a type of insulation that was made from formaldehyde, UreaFormaldehyde Foam Insulation, but it was banned in the ’ 80s.
In the air we breathe, VOCs are a health concern for anyone, so as a smart homeowner, you always want to keep them down to a minimum. You can do that by choosing better, safer products for your home.
Glass, ceramic tile, metal, stone and other hard, inert materials don’t release any VOCs, so they’re smarter choices as far as VOCs go. If you can afford it, always choose custom, solid wood cabinetry with a low- or noVOC finish, hardwood over vinyl flooring, and natural carpet instead of synthetic.
Avoid materials or products that require dangerous adhesives for their installation, and as I said before, lighter colours for paints — whites are best. Harmony and Emerald by SherwinWilliams are very good noVOC paints.
These are different ways you can minimize the amount of VOCs that are introduced into your home. But it’s difficult to avoid them altogether, so what do you do?
Well, now we have new products that can actually contribute to making your home healthier. For example, AirRenew drywall which absorbs VOCs — specifically formaldehyde and other aldehydes — then turns them into inert gases. It’s like a filter on your walls for VOCs. The bonus is that it’s also resistant to fire, mould, moisture, abuse and impact.
It’s a great product to install in a room for a baby or anyone who has asthma or other respiratory issues. But overall, it’s a great product to have in any home because VOCs and indoor air quality issues affect everyone.
As builders, developers, manufacturers and contractors, we have a responsibility to build homes that are safer, stronger and better. And better to me includes healthier — that’s a no-brainer.
I’m glad we have industry leaders that are stepping up their standards and developing products with your health in mind. I’m also glad contractors now have options that not only help them build better homes but also make them better contractors.
But the key here is you, the homeowner. The industry changes when you demand it — contractors like me can’t force it on you. You have to demand better standards from your contractors. Accept only healthy, safe products from manufacturers and suppliers. And trust me, we will make it right and build better homes that do what they are meant to do: keep you and your family safe from what’s inside and out.