VOC in 2011

Many of you may of heard about VOC’s but are unaware what they are and what it all means.

VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound, what that you may ask, VOC’s are solvents within solvent-based paints such as gloss, undercoat and varnishes. These solvents evaporate into the atmosphere as the paint dries. You can tell how high the VOC’s are in a tin of paint normally by the distinctive smell you get off from them, gloss has a high VOC content where as emulsion has a low VOC content.
If you look at the side of the paint tin it will have a symbol and also some writing about the VOC content in the tin.
VOC’s contribute to environmental air pollution and in turn damage the ozone layer.

In the past year there has been a lot of news in the press about paint being ‘VOC Compliant’. From the 1st of January 2011 the sale of non-compliant products will be forbidden.

So can I still buy and use non-compliant paint

As from January 2011 you are unable to buy non-compliant paints, as it is now illegal to sell them. If you have older paint, say in the garage or shed, you are still allowed to use them. It maybe worth thinking about if you will need more paint than what you already have as the new VOC compliant paint may differ slightly to the older paints you have.

Search online for more information about VOC’s and the current law.

Useful links

Some related links:

• Dulux
• Crown Paints
• ICI Paints
• Wikipedia – Volatile_organic_compound
• British Coatings Federation

What’s the colour of the year?

ICI paints together with AkzoNobel have come up with the upcoming trends for the coming year, through their international research they have come up with a range of colours they think will be in trend throughout 2011.

The colour of the year 2011 is……. 89YY 78/269.

“The Colour of the Year is a light, airy, citrus yellow that symbolises a freer spirit, sense of fun and positive energy. This clear, clean and translucent yellow encapsulates a mood of hope and optimism – a carefree, vitamin packed shot of purity and freedom. The slight green edge gives it newness over egg yolk tones of yellow and perfectly reflects our appreciation of nature and man made materials, as it feels both organic and technological.”

Quote from ICI website

You can see more of this years colour schemes here:
http://www.icipaints.co.uk/colours/trends/2011/colour_of_the_year.jsp or here:
http://www.colourfutures.com

If you would like to work out how much of the colour of the year (89YY 78/269) or any other colour you need to buy, use our FREE Paint Calculator.

VAT Increase coming in January 2011

How does it effect you?

With the new increase of the current VAT rate from 17.5% to 20% in January 2011 I was wondering how this will effect painters and decorators like myself. I was wondering if the increase would put people off having any decorating done because they think the increase will make the decorating job cost too much.

I hope people don’t think like this and actually think about what little difference it will make, especially by using a local independent tradesman who isn’t VAT registered. If a job costs £500 including the materials now (£400 labour and £100 materials) the same job in the new year will only cost an extra £2.50 as the materials are the only thing effected by the VAT. So, instead of paying £500 now you would pay £502.50 in January.

Still think the VAT increase will make that decorating job cost too much?

If your based in the Southend on Sea area and would like an estimate for some decorating in the New Year why not contact us or fill in our decorating estimate form to arrange an onsite visit.