[Greenbuilding] Natura Paint - Any thoughts

[Jason Holstine]

David, I don’t know exactly who’s up in NYC with Mythic but they’ve expanded
the Mythic label all over, including in the NYC area. They’ve set up the
Mythic label for regular hardware stores and the American Pride label is in
the older green-only stores like ourselves. Same products on the inside.

I would also be amiss if I didn’t mention that we can do 3 oz sample jars
and we can mix just about ANY color from almost any color line―so mixing Ben
Moore or other lines’ colors in these paints.

You’re absolutely right about the painters and what’s on the way from the
7-11. But, hey, what’s new there.


Jason Holstine

Amicus Green Building Center
“Sustain Your Space”
Member - USGBC, GreenAmerica, NARI, NAHB
e: jason at amicusgreen.com
w: www.amicusgreen.com
p: 301-571-8590
tf: 866-587-9140
f:  301-571-8597



On 1/30/11 3:18 PM, "David Bergman" <bergman at cyberg.com> wrote:

> At 03:04 PM 1/30/2011, Jason Holstine wrote:
> We sell 4 lines of wall finishes: American Pride (aka Mythic)....
> 
> 
> I do like Mythic/American Pride, but the problem is local availability. I
> participated in an eco show house a couple of years and Mythic sponsored the
> paint. The problem was that all colors had to selected and ordered ahead so
> they could be mixed and shipped. If we didn't like some of the shades and (of
> course) had no time for shipping, etc., we had to use local stores and B-M
> paints.
> 
> Also, many painters don't want to work with material they can't get locally,
> as in on the way to the job. Especially with finicky designers and clients
> (myself included) who want to look at lots of color samples. Maybe Mythic's
> distribution has gotten better??
> 
> I also like that some B-M outlets have those baby-food size samplers. They
> have saved us a lot of $ and waste in not buying pints for samples.
> 
> David Bergman  RA   LEED AP
> DAVID BERGMAN ARCHITECT / FIRE & WATER LIGHTING + FURNITURE
> architecture . interiors . ecodesign . lighting . furniture
> bergman at cyberg.com   www.cyberg.com <http://www.cyberg.com>
> 241 Eldridge Street #3R, New York, NY 10002
> t 212 475 3106    f 212 677 7291
> 
> 
>> Home Hardware sounds like a local hardware store...they may be a Ben Moore
>> dealer and selling the same Natura paint. Ask them for MSDS and technical
>> data sheets. 
>> 
>> Also ask about their tinting systems­most lines add VOCs and Alkylphenol
>> Ethoxylates (APE), which are surfactants (detergents) that can be oestrogenic
>> (hormone disrupting) and bioaccumulative (they don’t break down in the
>> environment and increase concentration up the food chain).
>> 
>> You have to look beyond the VOC label. This is an old issue but still quite
>> relevant. Many paints still have exempted VOCs (b/c they don’t react with
>> sunlight to cause ozone smog they aren’t regulated and so aren’t part of the
>> label’s VOC number), acetone (nail polish remover), crystalline silica,
>> ethylene glycol (antifreeze), or formaldehyde precursors (in the can they
>> don’t do anything but when their applied the chemicals react with the air to
>> form formaldehyde)...you have to check the MSDS for disclosures and even then
>> they can still be hidden. For example, BM Aura still has 35 g/l VOCs and
>> ethylene glycol.
>> 
>> And of course there’s the junk factor ­ is the paint actually a good paint
>> and does what paint is sposed to do. All good paints will tell you 2 coats
>> are recommended, and often a coat of primer for best hiding and adhesion.
>> Some of the waterier paints will need 3-4 coats, especially for darker
>> colors.
>> 
>> 
>> Now, b/c we sell paints, the following has bias in the answer...
>> 
>> We sell 4 lines of wall finishes: American Pride (aka Mythic), AFM Safecoat,
>> American Clay plasters, Bioshield paints. All are ZERO VOCs and zero of the
>> above junk and there are no VOCs or APE in any of the tints. About as healthy
>> as it gets. Costs: $20s-40s a gallon, so about 40% less then BenMoore and a
>> BMW less than Farrow and Ball. Don’t take that crap that great paint has to
>> be so expensive.
>> 
>> We have had a number of customers come in and complain about both Aura and
>> Natura odors and reactions, and have covered them with our American Pride or
>> AFM Safecoat lines to fix it. These lines are extremely popular.
>> 
>> In terms of quality of the finish, the Smithsonian uses our American Pride.
>> Their curators do some serious testing.
>> 
>> Hope this helps,
>> 
>> 
>> Jason Holstine
>> 
>> Amicus Green Building Center
>> “Sustain Your Space”
>> Member - USGBC, GreenAmerica, NARI, NAHB
>> e: jason at amicusgreen.com <jason at amicusgreen.htm>
>> w: www.amicusgreen.com <http://www.amicusgreen.com>
>> p: 301-571-8590
>> tf: 866-587-9140
>> f:  301-571-8597
> 
> 
> On 1/30/11 1:58 PM, "Lynelle Hamilton" <lynelle at lahamilton.com
> <lynelle at lahamilton.htm> > wrote:
> 
> I am searching for a No-VOC paint for my house.  I know that Farrow and
> Ball is great, but can't swing the $$ to prime and paint with it.
> 
> I am looking at Aura and Natura, but am confused about Natura. Both
> Benjamin Moore and Home Hardware sell "non-VOC" paints under this label.
> I can't find any information on whether they are indeed the same paint,
> or not.
> Home Hardware's is much cheaper, but I don't know anything about quality
> and coverage.
> 
> Can anyone shed light on this?  Or, is there a better one out there for
> new walls.  I'm painting on my own, so need something available to
> consumers.
> 
> Many thanks!
> 
> Lynelle
> 
> 
> 
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