VOCs and How They Affect Your Contracting Business

A person with a contractor license is holding a thermometer in a factory.

It happens in every aspect of construction, and it could significantly affect you. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are more than just a buzzword in green home improvement circles. You know not to use heavy paints or solvents without good ventilation. There are a lot of products out there that could be causing you or your clients just as much harm. Here’s the basics on VOCs and how you can keep them from affecting your health or your bottom line.

What Are VOCs?
When you look at a pot of boiling water as it releases steam, you have a basic understanding for how it works and why this happens. It’s important to keep in mind that everything has a boiling point, even metal or rocks. There are a lot of building materials on the market, especially solvents, cleaning products or adhesives, that have a much lower boiling point than you might expect. These are called VOCs. When they boil, they do what is called “off-gassing.” Most of them, like plastic or paint, are manmade. Others, like that terrible whiff of mold when you open that container at the back of the fridge, are natural.

Why Are VOCs Considered Harmful?
If VOCs can come from natural sources, you may wonder why this is such as issue. To understand it, all you have to do is remember the scent of glue on a fresh piece of plywood. It’s always there, and it doesn’t smell good. The damage depends on the compound and how long you spend breathing it in. You can expect these common symptoms of exposure:

Products with high levels of VOCs don’t just off-gas into the air, either. When you pour hot water into a plastic bucket to clean up at a jobsite, you’re leaching chemicals into that water.

Managing VOCs During Construction
The best way to keep this from becoming a literal headache is to know what to expect from the equipment and materials you use, and how to decrease your exposure. Fortunately, there’s a lot of interest in creating products for use in building or furnishing that have low or no VOCs. For example, it is not particularly difficult these days to find low-VOC paint at prices similar to traditional choices.

If you can’t find low-VOC options, or you’re working in a field like remediation or repair that requires you to handle existing structures, you’ll want to cut down on exposure. Follow the directions on new products. Confirm that the ventilation systems in the building are operational before you start moving anything hazardous. Wear personal protective equipment, like gloves and masks, and make sure that everyone on your team uses it consistently.

Considering VOCs After Project Completion
Many building materials with a high amount of VOCs pose the greatest risk to you, but they can also create problems for your clients. It’s important to research how long a product can off-gas, and which activities are more likely to make it worse.  For example, paint will off-gas a lot in the first few days, then taper off sharply. By comparison, synthetic flooring can release small quantities of VOCs on a daily basis for years. In many cases, the solution may be as simple as giving it enough time to clear out before your customers can safely occupy the building. This might include opening packaged materials early, or giving them extra time to dry or cure before you finish the project.

If the thought of dealing with VOCs makes you sick, you’re not alone. Keeping yourself and your team in good shape involves careful attention to the products you use, and how you use them. To start building the skills you’ll need to start your career as a contractor, contact CSLS today!