Home improvement, fumes and dust

[NHCardinal]

I've already trashed my goto skillet for a stainless steel set, because I read about the harmful fumes non-sticks cause. In a related question...

I'm planing on eventually laying down some sheetrock, sanding and painting. I know birds have such fragile lungs and I won't have my lovie there while I'm working. I always vacuum with an appropriate HEPA filter and ventilate the area. But let's say I'm just painting a book shelf, are the fumes harmful?

[Polarn]

it basically depends a bit on what colors you use, personally I do not use any paint or anything inside (I do paint quite a bit) I always either does it outside in the yeard and then let it dry and actually stay out for a day or two after dried before I take things into the house. but then I do have a yard a garage and a studio where I can do these things at without it being a hazzle.

But I am assuming you painting a bookcase you may want todo it with a laquer paint or something, and I wouldnt use it in the house with birds. If your going for a robust look where brushstrokes etcetera should be visible there are some paints that would have less harmful fumes you could use.. but most paints do have unhealthy stuffs in the fumes, but you definitly want to look for a waterbased (not water-bourne) paint, but even that does not guarantee that no chemicals from dyes etcetera does not come out when the water evaporates...

Now someone here may work as a paintsupplier or something and can provide you with better answers, to me it has never really made a difference since I avoid it all together.. so my baseline for harmful paints (during curing or application) is where I wear a mask or not, and if i am on the toxic/smelly side of paints, I always shower before I go home after using it...

[Pajarita]

There are non-toxic paints with zero VOS but I think they only work on walls - I am not sure if there are any enamels strong enough for wood like that.

[CSLFiero]

I've always figured I'd cozy my parrot up to the upstairs for a week before painting downstairs and then return them to the birdroom and paint the upstairs when the time came for new colors in the house.

If your painting job can be take outside or to a garage, I'd do that. If space constraints prohibit you from doing it anywhere else, maybe you can reverse logic and see if you can get your birdie situated someplace else for a couple days while the fumes air off.

There's gotta be work around available, but if you're just wondering if paint or stain fumes cane be harmful, just look on the can I can't even smell when teflon fumes are present, but it can harm my bird. If the can says explicitly the fumes will harm me and they waft in my direction with all the weightiness of 10 lbs of smoked fish, I'd be quite sure it's gonna asphyxiate my bird on top of waging chemical warfare on it's cells.

[BrunoPolli]

The normal paints definitely have fumes. You can search for non toxic paints as suggested here.Click here to get some wonderful information regarding houses.

[Pajarita]

Is this question in regards to birds or just a general one? Because an inspection service would not know anything about birds... If it's a general one, you must have had an independent inspection as well as the city's done right before you bought it and that should tell you pretty much what needs to be done but, if this is a house you've owned for a long time, the best one to determine whether what you want done is actually possible, it's an architect.

[sophiecoombe]

I appreciate that you think about your pet's health also while cleaning home.Yes fumes and dust can have some adverse effects on their health so you should first settle them into a safe place like at backyard of your house or at your neighbor's house.