

This is most likely due to the lower solvent content of paints in general, as companies now face pressure to reduce their VOC levels. And while the likelihood of experiencing the ‘wall odour phenomenon’ is about 1 in 100,000, there have been a growing number of reports. This problem is not brand-specific it has been known to happen with a wide range of paints. The smell comes as a combined result of the fresh paint not only reacting with the bacteria but also sealing it in behind the new coat and the microbes continue to give off an unpleasant whiff from beneath that new coat. And the reason this is such a difficult problem to predict is that those microbes are invisible to the naked eye. Research has shown that this happens in areas that are prone to bacterial growth because the odour is caused by microbes that pre-exist on the wall surface. And it can be accentuated by the warmth of direct sunlight or by draughts disturbing the air. In some very rare instances, once the paint is dry, you can be left with an unusual smell that is unlike the normal smell of paint. If, however, the use of solvent-based paint is unavoidable, please note that good ventilation is very important-not just to fight those odours, but for health reasons too. This non-toxic paint offers the same durability and coverage that you would expect from premium paint, but without the offensive smell. One particular product that gives you the best of both worlds is Mythic. There are significantly less of those nasty-smelling solvents. And the benefits include easy cleanup with water and-most importantly for odours-low VOCs. With recent advances in technology, the drawbacks of using water-based paint are few and far between.

The solution is simple: switch to water-based paint. This ‘gassing off’ is referred to as a paint’s VOC level (Volatile Organic Compound), which is relatively high for solvent-based mediums. In this instance, the odour is caused by the evaporation of solvents that are mixed in with the paint to thin it. brush strokes fill themselves in to create a smooth surface). And this is sometimes enough to outweigh the benefits of using a solvent-based product: the attractive gloss finish and good ‘levelling’ (i.e. Unfortunately, though, the smell of solvent-based paints can be quite noticeable. We are all familiar with the smell of fresh paint.
