People might ask, "What Are These?? I thought latex paints WERE low odor!" Yes, in fact today’s latex paints are much lower in odor – both during application and after – than are conventional oil-based paints.

But in some situations, a home owner or a building manager might want to have virtual lack of paint odor just as soon as the painter finishes the job. Because of some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) normally needed in formulating conventional latex paints, these paints do tend to have a residual odor typically noticeable for a few hours in a closed, newly painted room.

If you’re using a decorative technique, high quality interior flat, satin or semi gloss paints can be used, depending on your sheen preference. For a distressed look, a flat latex paint works well or use one of the many specialty products designed for this use.

Many paint companies now offer a line of "low odor" interior paints that can be helpful if the painted room is to be put back into service immediately after being re-done. This can be desirable in a case where it is important that the space be available for use as soon as possible, such as hotel and motel rooms, health care areas, school rooms, and of course residential living and dining rooms.

Ask the Paint Professional at your local paint store, hardware store or home center for information on their lines of top quality, low odor paints.

To see the Low Odor Paint PQI Opportunity Sheet, click here.

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