David Suzuki  is a well known and award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster.  His radio and television programs have the amazing abillity to make science simple enough to be understood by everyone.
The David Suzuki Foundation is an organization working to find ways for society to learn to live with Nature. The strength of the David Suzuki Foundation is its undisputable basis on science and much like its founder the abillity to make Natural Science understood.
In addition, it is an organization looking and working for solutions.

This deck in Woodbridge was in need of attention. The existing stain was peeling and flaking so the homeowner called Ecopainting. The failing stain was stripped down to the original cedar and a brightening solution was applied. A neutralizing agent was used and then it was left to dry. The painters used a translucent stain from Sikkens and two coats were applied. The result of the deck staining was a fresh new natural looking cedar that the family can now enjoy.

Trench Limited is a specialized manufacturer of high voltage electrical equipment. In their Scarborough location they were in need of turning some of their storage space into usable office space. The ceiling and part of the walls had to be sprayed. We used the services of Painters for Hire. They are a painting contractor based in the Toronto and GTA area. The walls will be painted an off white colour and the floor will be painted by Ecopainting with Para Paints floor enamel.
Painting any industrial space is usually great value, as the transformation is quick and almost overnight. It is mostly done without any shutdown of  the specific area becoming necessary.

Should your facillity require a similar facelift, call COMPASE at 416 479-0131. Their  Toronto Painters will be happy discuss your needs.

Spend some time painting homes in the suburbs and you forget the charm of older Toronto homes. A flower box here, a plant there and before you know it, Toronto exterior painting becomes important, very important.
Succumbing to that charm is the order of the day, so get over it, and paint this house like you mean it!

This Central East Toronto semi-detached needed a bit of help anyway, the homeowner was a friend of a previous customer. It had a new porch that was stained with a semi-solid stain. The risers were primed and painted with a porch enamel and the railing was primed and painted with acrylic enamel.
The old windows and  trim were scraped, primed and a new coat or two of Benjamin Moore’s Oxford White was applied.

Adding to the discussion of the environmental policies of Ecopainting Inc,  the following are some of the current policies of our Toronto Painting Company

Office - Administration

-  Print only the proposals and related documents needed for jobs in progress. “Pending”,
    ”open” or “not awarded” proposals and estimates will remain digital files.

-  We only receive computer faxing. As a result we have eliminated all junk faxes. We just print what is needed or worth printing.

-  E-mail communication is not printed unless a hard copy is needed.

-  E-mail communication is preferred and promoted with all our vendors, clients and employees.

-  Computers and electronic equipment will be turned off when not being used.

-  Company documents and manuals will remain digital until a hard copy is needed.

Marketing

-  There will be no flyers, door hangers, postcards, printed newsletters, or any other mass distributed junk mail used by our company
-  Our lawn signs will be re-usable and only used on the jobsites of the projects we are working on. They will be picked-up at the end of the project to be used at the next project.

-   Internet and website marketing will be our main source of new business.

-   Referral and repeat business will remain an important source of work.

-   Networking with like-minded green businesses and individuals will be pursued inside and outside of the renovation or construction field.

 Sales

-  Glossy sales brochures, fancy literature and any “leave behind” tool will not be used. Instead the human interaction will be emphasized. We are there to help.

-  Necessary paperwork, such as take-off sheets, insurance documentation etc, will be used wisely.

-  Sales personnel will suggest and explain the benefits of using eco friendly coatings.

-  Sometimes the most eco-friendly paint job is no paint job at all. If certain areas or rooms are in good condition the question to be asked is: “does it really need painting?” For       example, doors and trim, ceilings and even closets don’t have to be done with every paint job.

-  The use of dark and bright colours should not be encouraged to the customer as they contain more VOC and possibly require multiple coats of paint. Paints with waterbourne     colourants suggested.

-  Detailed proposals and quotes should never be mailed or dropped-off.  They should be e-mailed as pdf documents.

 

The Toronto Commercial Painters of Ecopainting had a chance to paint some office space for a customer in the old Toronto Carpet Factory. The old historic building was originally built as a carpet manufacturing facility between 1899 and the 1920s. It is now home to a large and vibrant business community operating out of it. 

The main  challenge was painting this office space without interrupting the daily activities of the client.
A lot of the work was done during weekends, as  a lot of equipment such as ladders, dropcloths etc. had to be brought in and taken out every day.

The colour chosen were from benjamin Moore’s Afinity collection.  The new Ecospec Waterbourne line was used.  As a result, painting the office did not compromise the Indoor Air Quality of the clients employees.

Ignoring a deck without protecting it from the elements can be a very expensive mistake. The existing finish will start peeling  and fading and the wood itself can be damaged.
As a result, stripping of the existing stain may become necessary. Sometimes wood replacement is the only solution for some boards.   By properly protecting a deck, it’s life can be extended and it can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Deck Staining of this mid Toronto deck pictured here, was done by the painters of Ecopainting Inc. It  was pressure washed, and an environmentally friendly brightening solution was used. The finish was SRD, a penetrating oil from  Sikkens. 
Call 416 733-7767 to have your deck stained or request a deck staining estimate on line.

By Rachel.

Last week, a few of the Ecopainting staff had the opportunity to paint a group support home, run by Montage Support Services. This was a wonderful opportunity for our Toronto Painters to practice our different skills, but more importantly, we provided the residents of the home with a freshly painted interior at no cost to them or to Montage. 

Montage Support Services is a non-profit organization that provides a home setting for those with multiple disabilities. On our visit to one particular group home in north Toronto, we observed how they provide a beautiful atmosphere and caring staff members to adults with a range of disabilities. We were only too happy to be able to donate our time and skills, and provide a service that was greatly appreciated.  To find more information on Montage Support Services, here is their website: 
http://www.montagesupport.ca/

We also took this opportunity to test out a brand of recycled paint that we had not previously used. Boomerang is a Canadian company (based out of Quebec) offering a recycled paint made from unused and reclaimed paints, low in both VOCs and in price. While the paint is not zero VOC,  (Boomerang paint has 90 grams of VOC/litre) it is still well below standards, and the benefit of recycling paint that would otherwise be hanging out in a landfill is definitely not to be overlooked. As far as actually using the paint, it did not emit much odor, in fact what smell it did have was a little like slightly old milk. We found that after one coat, it had some tendency to be shiny in some patches while not in others. In short, this sounds promising in theory, but will need more experimentation with actual application.