Decorating Help

Beanikki

Regular Member
hi all
Not been on here for ages but whenever I need advice I come back. I've got a blue crowned conure and I need to do some decorating.
I've heard people say that lino floors can give off toxic fumes - is this right? If so how far away from the new flooring does he need to be and for how long till it's safe? How about laminate flooring- any issues using that with birds?
Same with paint. I need to paint my lounge as well and I know paint fumes are very bad for birds. Are these 'breatheasy' paints ok to use or the low VOC ones? Unfortunately I can't send him to another house while I do the work. So again if you could help with types of paint I can use, how far away he needs to be and for how long before I can bring him back to his usual place that would be great.
Appreciate your help as always
 
I used Crown breath easy emulsion in an upstairs bedroom, well aired and away from the birds, it didn't smell, but the water-based satin that was used for the woodwork, did have a residual smell that lingered for quite a few days, even with the room being aired each day.

Most commercial high street paints are classed with low VOC these days...but that doesn't mean they haven't any VOCS in, or that they won't have an odour.

IF your budget will allow, I would recommend a certified non-VOC "green" paint...thankfully now that environmental hazards are considered by the wider community, and children's asthma, etc taken into consideration, there are a lot more companies producing these type of paints, and when I need to decorate downstairs, I will certainly use one of these...just google for non VOC paint uk and that should bring you up a few brands and newspaper articles which reference others.
 
Or could you put birdie in the garden ( if the weather is nice? ) while you paint?


Sarah-Jane
 
Thanks for the response. I've looked at the zero voc paints but they are expensive compared to the low voc paints from the normal diy shops.
I'm probably being over paranoid but can anyone advise how long before I can safely return Apollo to the room after painting with low voc paint?
 
We`ve used emulsion and been fine, virtually no smell from them at all as they are water based, it`s gloss you need to watch. Open the windows and as Sarah suggested outside time for your bird if possible but I wouldn`t worry too much.
Apparently onions in a bowl of water in the room absorb the smell too but that might be an old wives tale!
 
Thanks Scarlett.
So do you think I'll be ok using low voc satin paint for the woodwork?
Will he be ok to come back in the room after 24 hours or would you leave it longer?
 
I found low VOC satin did leave a smell, and took a few days for it to wear off.
Do you have an air purifier?
 
How long did you leave until your parrot came back in the room? I do have an air purifier I suppose that will help some.
 
I use the breath easy paint and have the windows wide open.
Bird wise out of the room for a long as you can is always best so if you can go for 48 hours brilliant :)
 
Hi
Try lake land paints they are non toxic no odour voc free. My mom has chronic COPD and normally even the low voc paints caused her breathing problems this time around we used lakeland and she had no problems at all u wouldn't have known the bungalow had been painted unless you noticed the change in colour as there was no other evidence. They are not cheap but I would highly recommend... www.lakelandpaints.co.uk
Jeanette
 
Hi everyone
Apollo has been away for 3 weeks now while the building work has been done. The decorator finished the gloss painting today. How long before I can bring Apollo back? I don’t want the paint fumes to harm him but at the same time I m having to pay for him to be looked after so the sooner I can get him back the better.
Also, will he remember me after this length of time?
 
How strong is the smell of paint?
If you can have windows etc open all day and the smell gone in 24hrs my guess that would be okay.
 
Hi thanks for replying. It’s quite strong at the moment, the painting was done by lunchtime today. My plan was to open all the windows overnight and all day tomorrow and maybe fetch him Wednesday evening. If the worst of the smell has gone do you think that’ll be ok?
 
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