I was trolling through the Benjamin Moore (BM) showroom at the NYDC today and asked my sales guy about their new Natura line, which is BM's new no VOC paint. For a few years now I've been loyal to BM's Aura line, which is a low VOC, super- pigmented paint, available in any of BM's colors. Initially Aura costs more, but it takes a lot less coats, and is really smooth to apply leaving a great, cleanable finish. I recently used it in a baby nursery and there was barely a trace of any paint smell the day it went on.
But when BM came out with their Natura line I thought I HAD to specify it, since it's NO VOC, vs. low VOC. Well, my rep Rodger Lippman explained to me that there are some trade offs of using no VOC paints.
Rodger claims that Natura is far superior to other no VOC paints, like Mythic (often touted by our friend David Bromstad at HGTV) and Safecoat.
BM says:
Virtually odorless Natura paint is the greenest and safest paint available in the market. In independent third party testing, Natura paint has the lowest total VOC emissions of any national paint brand tested. Available in any color, Natura also outperforms the competition by being the safest paint for your family without compromising performance or color selection.
Natura exceeds more industry standards for environmental safety than other leading zero VOC paints due to our unique waterborne colorant system that keeps Natura paint at zero VOC levels even after the paint is tinted to a specific color. Natura paint’s quick drying, virtually odorless formula allows you to use your room the same day it is painted.
* Zero VOC even after tinting
* No compromise in performance or color options
* Available in any color
While Natura offers these benefits and can help contribute to LEED credits, Aura also can contribute to LEED credits and offers a superior product despite the trace VOC level:
Aura Interior paint is our best interior coating and is, "Quite simply the finest paint we’ve ever made."® With our proprietary Color Lock® Technology, Aura Interior paint delivers remarkable durability and exceptional color with hues that are richer, truer and retain their color integrity even after repeated washings. Aura interior paint is washable in any sheen, so you can use the sheen of your choice in any room.
With its superior hide properties, Aura Interior paint never needs more than a second coat in even the deepest colors. Eco-friendly Aura Interior paint is low VOC and low odor and is available in any color. It applies easily and dries quickly for seamless touch-ups.
- Never more than two coats even in the deepest shades
- Available in any color
- Exceptional durability
- VOC <48 g/l after tinting
Having been a long-time lover of Aura and seeing (and not smelling) it's results, I'll probably stick to my tried and true, while impacting the environment as little as possible. I still believe we shouldn't have to compromise to be green!
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