High
Performance, Environmentally Friendly Coatings |
- 1.
Where can I purchase American Pride® paint?
- Our
paints are sold through a national network of green building
supply stores and traditional paint stores. Please give
us a call at (601) 271-2588 and we will be glad to refer
you to a dealer near you. If there is not a dealer in your
area yet, you can order products from our website at www.safepaint.net.
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- 2. How
do I know I am buying a safer, higher quality product?
- American
Pride® paints were originally developed by polymer scientists
at the University of Southern Mississippi for use by the
U.S. Department of Defense. The Pentagon wanted to eliminate
the off-gassing and odor found when using traditional latex
wall paints. The media attention surrounding the first shipment
of paint to the Pentagon prompted numerous calls from the
general public asking where they could purchase products
for use in their home and the rest is history. Today, American
Pride® paints meet and exceed the most stringent environmental
and performance testing standards including those by Green
Seal® and Master Painters Institute.
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- 3.
What differentiates American Pride®
paints from other coatings that claim to be environmentally
friendly and safe?
- Our
formulations are built from the ground up with an emphasis
on performance and your personal safety while protecting
our environment. We are the only company that offers Green
Seal certification on every product we manufacture. We are
unlike other larger companies that offer a few green products
while simultaneously fighting tougher VOC regulations and
polluting our environment with conventional, higher solvent
containing products.
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- 4.
Do your paints contain lead, mercury, formaldehyde, formaldehyde
precursors, crystalline silica or other known toxic materials
or suspected carcinogens?
- Absolutely
not.
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- 5.
How do I know which sheen is right for me?
- Selecting
the right sheen (gloss level) is important to ensure your
complete satisfaction. Keep in mind that the appearance
of paint colors is also affected by differences in gloss
level.
Flat: A soft, non-reflective finish that is ideal for hiding
minor surface imperfections. Ideal for use in living rooms,
bedrooms and on ceilings.
Eggshell: Rich and velvety, this is our most popular and
versatile finish. The outstanding cleanability of this finish
make it ideal for virtually any room including higher traffic
areas and kids rooms.
Semi-Gloss: A shiny finish that is widely used on wood trim
and in high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Frequently used to provide decorative contrast.
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- 6.
I am chemically sensitive. Can I use your paint?
- We
have had individuals with severe chemical sensitivities
use our paint successfully even when they had tried other
“safe” paint brands and experienced a reaction.
We are happy to supply you with MSDS and VOC information
if that will help in your decision. If you are still unsure,
we recommend consultation with your physician.
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- 7.
What are VOCs? Why are they used? Why are they
regulated?
- Most
of the solvents used in the paint industry are classified
as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By definition, a VOC
is any compound of carbon (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates,
and ammonium carbonate) which participates in atmospheric
photochemical reactions. VOCs react with nitrous oxides
in the air to create ground level ozone (smog). Because
of the negative impact on human health and our environment,
VOCs are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Each year, VOC laws become more restrictive and traditional
paint companies are forced to change their formulations.
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- 8.
Some companies use “exempt solvents”
to reduce the reported level of VOCs. Do you?
- No.
Our zero VOC wall paints are truly zero VOC.
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- 9.
How durable are American Pride®
paints?
- Our
paints are premium quality and compare favorably with premium
conventional, solvent containing paints for key properties
such as spatter resistance, hiding, and cleanability. In
fact, our paints are so durable that they consistently scrub
10 to 30 times longer than the performance standard set
by Green Seal®.
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- 10.
What colors are available?
- We
offer 940 standard palette colors. We can also match virtually
any other company’s color. Just give us the company
name and color chip identification and we will match it.
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- 11.
Does the addition of colorant (tinting material)
impact the VOC or safety of your products?
- Zero
VOC colorants are available. Please consult your local retailer
for details.
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- 12.
Can your paints seal in off-gassing?
- American
Pride® paints are formulated to minimize off-gassing
yet breathe to allow for a healthy exchange of outside air.
It is not prudent to completely seal the wall surface as
this traps potentially harmful chemicals that offgass from
carpeting and furniture inside the room.
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- 13.
What is the shelf life of your paints?
- When
properly stored, unopened American Pride® paints have
a shelf life of at least two years. Because we do not use
toxic fungicides, our paints are subject to microbial contamination
if painting tools are dipped directly into the paint can.
Therefore, we recommend pouring the required amount of paint
out into a separate container and immediately resealing
the paint can for storage in a cool, dry place.
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- 14.
Why is coverage reduced in dark, bright accent colors?
- Certain
accent colors may require more than one coat to obtain complete
coverage and develop their true color. This is because the
white pigment that provides hiding properties (through the
scattering of light) in lighter tint base colors cannot
be used to make dark, rich accent colors.
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- 15.
Do you offer any paints that resist mold and
mildew? What is ZOE protection?
- Mold
and mildew can be a problem in areas of the home that have
high humidity and poor ventilation such as bathrooms and
kitchens. In areas where mildew is a problem, we recommend
increasing the ventilation and installing a dehumidifier.
The existing mildew should be removed by using a dilute
1:3 bleach and water solution. Caution: Wear appropriate
protective equipment when handling bleach. Once the surface
is thoroughly dry, we recommend painting with American Pride®
Semi-Gloss with ZOE protection. ZOE is a safe, antifungal
material found in leading dandruff shampoos.
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- 16.
How long should I wait before applying another
coat of paint?
- Although
the paint will dry to touch fairly quickly, we recommend
waiting four hours between coats. High humidity, low temperature,
poor ventilation and thicker films will increase the recommended
dry time.
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- 17.
How do I clean my walls?
- We
recommend using a mild liquid dish detergent and water.
Do not use harsh cleaning solutions such as ammonia based
window cleaners or abrasive powders. Use a soft sponge and
move in light circular motions. American Pride® paint
may be washed 30 days after application.
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