For one eco-friendly paint, it's apparently not so easy being green

"We didn't consider this. More and more, you make a decision that's good for the environment, but there are results that you don't expect. The cities will have to issue a (recycling) directive on this."—Mario Clermont, General Manager, Société Laurentide Inc.

That quote—referring to a plastic-and-metal paint bucket used for Canadian paint brand Boomerang—jumped out at me from "Eco-Paint Container Isn't That Green," an engaging read by Ellen Moorhouse, who writes the Trash Talk column for The Toronto Star.

Moorhouse's story details some of the problems associated with being green (in an environmentally aware way, not as Kermit the Frog bemoaned about his color): Boomerang is made from recycled paint—does the name make sense now?— but the manufacturer recently switched to a black plastic (polypropylene) bucket with a metal handle. Problem is, according to Moorhouse, empty steel paint cans are accepted by municipal recycling programs in Ontario but plastic pails aren't yet. Read the rest of Moorhouse's article.

As for greener paints themselves, knowing which finishes have the lowest level of volatile organic compounds isn't a cinch either, as we found for our March 2009 report on interior paints. Our tests uncovered some surprising information on the VOC levels touted by paint makers and what's in the can.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Read our coverage of the statewide recycled-paint program in Oregon and efforts to establish paint recycling in Minnesota.

Q&A: Why are some of the Kilz exterior paints you tested no longer in stores?

I referred to your magazine and ConsumerReports.org when shopping for exterior paint, but at my local Walmart I can't find the Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint from your June 2009 ratings. What happened to it, and do you recommend the Kilz Casual Colors I saw at Walmart?

Manufacturers frequently change the formulation of their paints and stains for a number of reasons, including to improve performance, lower production costs, or meet updated environmental standards, as we covered in our March 2009 report on interior paints.

The Kilz Exterior Semigloss paint we tested is no longer available at Walmart, exclusive retailer of the brand, because Kilz recently discontinued the satin and semigloss versions of its interior and exterior products. The company has replaced those paints with the multipurpose interior/exterior Kilz Casual Colors paints you saw in the store. For more information, read our June 2009 report on exterior paints and stains and see our ratings of exterior paints and stains (available to subscribers).

Although Kilz products have generally performed well in our past tests, we can't predict the performance of these new finishes. We plan to test the interior- and exterior-use versions of the new Kilz Casual Colors this year. Given our test cycle, we won't have initial results on the performance of the exterior paint until 2011 but should have initial results for interior paint by March 2010.

Among alternatives to the Kilz semigloss paint to consider for exterior application are the Kelly-Moore Acry-Shield Semigloss ($37 per gallon), available in the Southwest, and the Valspar Ultra Premium Semigloss ($26), sold at Lowe's nationwide. And while testing is not complete, the Behr Premium Plus Semigloss ($26), sold at Home Depot, and the Ace Royal Shield Semigloss ($25) look very promising after the equivalent of six years of use.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

EPA proposes tougher lead-paint rules

In conjunction with last week's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program.

Contractors renovating, repairing, or painting homes built before 1978 would be required to be trained and certified in and follow lead-safe practices, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint. So contractors would no longer be able to opt out of these practices if a homeowner certifies that there are no children under the age of six or pregnant women living in the home.

"This proposed rule will further increase protections for children and their families from lead-based-paint hazards associated with home renovation and repair," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in a press release. "The administration is demonstrating its continued commitment to eliminating childhood lead poisoning and strengthening lead poisoning-prevention efforts."

While lead-based paints in homes were banned in 1978, many homes built before then probably have some lead paint. The new rule is intended to help protect older children and adults from exposure to lead, which can cause brain damage and diminished mental and physical development. It should also ensure that families with young children who purchase a recently renovated home aren't exposed to lead-dust hazards.

Another proposed change would require contractors to provide information demonstrating that they complied with lead-safe training and work practices to homeowners when a final invoice is delivered or within 30 days of completion of the renovation, whichever is earlier.

In a related action, the EPA has also proposed lowering lead-hazard standards in lead dust and modifying its definition of lead-based paint. The new standard would be 10 micrograms or less of lead per square foot for floors and 100 micrograms or less for windowsills, down from 40 micrograms 250 micrograms, respectively. Also, paint in existing structures with levels of 600 parts per million (0.06 percent by weight) would be considered lead-based paint. The current level is 5,000 ppm (0.5 percent) or 1 milligram per square centimeter.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about the presence of lead in your home, read our report on home-use lead test kits. If you discover elevated levels of lead, hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. If you're planning to paint or renovate your home yourself, follow the EPA's safe-work guidelines. When you're finally ready to paint, be sure to use the best finishes, like those covered in our latest report on interior paints.

Tailgating Alert: Gasoline-powered blender banned by California Air Resources Board

With football season in full swing, you might be doing a little weekend tailgating or entertaining at home. If you need a new blender or gas grill for your football fiesta, check out our buyer's guides to these appliances and try these easy, delicious grilling recipes. If you live in California, where the strict air-quality standards set by the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have an impact on the outdoor power equipment, paint, and other consumer goods available, there's one margarita or daiquiri maker you won't be able to buy.

The Los Angeles Times' Up to Speed blog recently reported that CARB fined Lake Forest, California-based On the Edge Marketing and CSK Auto Inc. of Phoenix $240,000 for selling a gasoline-powered "Party Blender" (shown) to California residents because the souped-up appliance is equipped with an illegal, uncertified two-stroke engine that runs afoul of CARB's regulations.

CARB maintains that the type of two-stroke engine used on the blender can produce emissions 10 times higher than those produced by engines approved for use in the state. "Gasoline-powered blenders may be this year's tailgate sensation, but drinkers should not be polluting our air while having a good time," said CARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols.

Many outdoor-power-equipment manufacturers are phasing out two-cycle engines as local, state, and federal emissions standards get tougher. Lawn-mower-exchange programs are one way states and municipalities can get consumers to replace old lawn mowers with greener models.

Note that our ratings of string trimmers and leaf blowers (available to subscribers) do not identify whether an engine is a two- or a four-cycle type. The Cub Cadet 4125, Craftsman 79614, and Troy-Bilt TB465SS string trimmers have a four-cycle engine. In our testing we found these models to be a little heavier at the handle, and their engines were as hard to start as a two-cycle engine. The John Deere BH25LE and Craftsman 79498 leaf blowers have a four-cycle engine.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer's guides to string trimmers and leaf blowers.

Q&A: How can I tell a water-based paint from an oil-based one?

I've read that water-based paints are easier to clean up than oil-based finishes. How do I know whether I'm buying a water-based or an oil-based paint?

About 80 percent of paint sold today is water-based; the rest is oil-based. Oil-based paint is considered more hazardous than water-based paint because the solvents used to make it are toxic and flammable. Note that you can recycle both types.

Water-based paint often has the word "latex" as part of the product name. Ingredients include water and ethylene or propylene glycol. Water is indicated for cleanup.

Oil-based paint often has the word "alkyd" as part of the product name, and the label will indicate "caution" and "flammable" or "combustible." Ingredients include petroleum distillates or mineral spirits. Cleanup method indicates the use of paint thinner, mineral spirits, or turpentine.

Essential information: Fall is a great time to tackle interior-painting projects. If you're painting rooms inside your home, read our latest report on interior paints (article and ratings available to subscribers) and visit our paints page for details on specialty paints, tools you'll need for your project, and tips on avoiding common painting mistakes.

Sometimes DIY can mean “Do In Yourself”

A few years back, the contractor I hired to refinish my deck proved inept. After his crew cleaned the deck, we had to chase them away twice when they showed up to apply stain to still-wet deck boards. And the stain they applied was clear stuff that didn’t last past a year before it was no longer protective.

With that memory in mind and despite a bad shoulder (still hurting from some bush trimming I’d done in early June) and a sore body (aching from the recent digging and gravel laying I’d done on the site for my new shed), I just refinished my deck myself.

Cleaning the deck with a powerful rented pressure washer went off without a hitch—mostly. The three times that I didn’t tighten the tip of the wand, the tip went sailing off when I pulled the trigger to spray. (One might never find its way out of the pachysandra.) And when I rested a hand in the wrong place while restarting the engine, I got a curiously shaped blister. And even with help from my teenage son, Andrew, I tweaked my back when lifting the 70-pound washer into and out of our little Toyota.

Still, I fared better overall than my sneakers (shown), and a couple of days later I feel pretty good. What’s more, I used the pressure washer to clean a retaining wall, the front steps, a trellis, and parts of the driveway. And unlike some of my Consumer Reports colleagues and respondents to an Angie’s List survey of DIYers who mess up projects and sometimes land in the emergency room, I did the job well—and at reasonable cost—without a trip to the ER.

As for my new shed, it was supposed to be delivered and installed yesterday, but the job got rescheduled for this weekend since the lead man on the crew—a professional, mind you—hurt himself.

My shoulder thanks me for not taking on that job, too.—Ed Perratore | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you’re cleaning your deck or other surfaces with a pressure washer, follow our safety advice, and when you’re shopping for a pressure washer, read our buying tips. And before you buy a new finish for your deck, check out our latest report on deck stains (available to subscribers).

Forum Friday: Consumer Reports readers debate the best paint types

Painting’s a hot project, based on projections for recession-defying sales and an ever-expanding proliferation of new colors. It’s also a hot topic, as evidenced by the many discussions in our paints and stains forum.

Our ratings of interior and exterior paints and deck stains (available to subscribers) always spark discussions over the best brand of paint (Behr has its share of backers and detractors) or a debate over two specific brands (in this case, Valspar vs. Benjamin Moore).

Whichever brand you use, follow this pro painter’s surface-preparation tips (we’ve got more of our own here and in the video at right). Keep in mind this mixing trick from forums moderator Angelo Mannino, and don’t miss his warning on painting over stain.

Other posters have added valuable warnings on VOCs paints (unfortunately, one mentioned brand did badly in our tests—see our report on safer paints here) and the need to check whether paint is suitable for spraying. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Forum Friday: Reader discussions about cookware, freezers, and paint

If you haven't visited our revamped appliances and home-and-garden forums, take a quick spin. A streamlined navigation and look seem to be spurring discussions. The following discussions center around home-related content from the September 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Cookware
Forums moderator Angelo Mannino offers great tips to avoid warping griddle pans and to quickly test whether cookware will work with induction cooktops.

Freezers
Chest freezers cost less than upright models, but some commenters are starting to wonder whether the time needed to defrost them is worth the savings. Our latest report on freezers includes a self-defrosting upright model for $380—close to the price of many chest freezers.

Paint
"Hue Name It: How Pink Paint Became 'Marry Me'" details how to make sense of the the names associated with paint. Check out the discussion on the reliability of paint samples and read our latest report on interior paints. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Efforts under way in New England to stonewall stone-wall thieves

Good fences can make for good neighbors, and in New England they're also a favorite of thieves seeking a free supply of stone for building and landscaping projects, according to this Boston Globe report.

Given their significance as a quintessential New England landmark, New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch recently signed a bill to assess triple damages plus attorney's fees against thieves who pick apart walls.

The stone fence at my Connecticut home (right) hasn't been victimized but has started to tumble down in spots, and raised ridges that characterize mole-feeding burrows have also started to appear around it. Taking the advice from a contractor friend, I'll apply some adhesive to the stones before setting them back into place. This work should make them less prone to falling or disappearing in the future.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: "Yard Makeovers for $500 or Less" is full of low-cost ways to use materials like stain and lattice to spruce up your outdoor spaces.

What's new on ConsumerReports.org: September 2009 home-related content

Summer got off to a slow start in much of the U.S., but some features in our just-posted September issue will pay dividends during the dog days of August and far into the upcoming year and beyond.

• Freezers are hot. Freezers have been the only appliance to post sales gains this year, and federal, state, and local utility incentives make it even easier to trade your old clunker for an efficient new model. Our latest report on freezers found that upright models were more convenient than chest-type models. But upright models also cost more, and during our tests manual-defrost upright models couldn’t keep a consistent temperature in door shelves.

Our ratings (available to subscribers) include four excellent chest-type models ranging from $250 to $400. (A downside to these models is that you’ll have to bend to reach the Ben & Jerry's.) Recommended upright standouts cost from $600 to $800.

• Safer, better cookware. As our latest report on cookware shows, nonstick sets from Emeril and Calphalon provided good performance and value for under $200. Testers also found three under $190 sets whose manufacturers claim they’re free of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—a potentially harmful chemical. A Swiss Diamond Reinforced set also claimed to be PFOA free, since its cooking surfaces are lined with a nanoparticle composite of diamond crystals. But while it was a top performer in our tests, its $500 price tag kept it from being recommended (ratings available to subscribers).

• Paint colors proliferating. As paint sales rise, so does the number of sometimes oddly named colors. In "Hue Name It: How Pink Paint Became ‘Marry Me’," you’ll find out why purple, gray and yellow . . . oops, mimosa, are this year’s hot shades—and how you can pick the a perfect personalized tint from this ever-expanding palette.

• FDA targets celebrity endorsements. If you feel that celebrity pitchmen and women have been painting too rosy a glow on some products, you’re right. Our past reports on kitchen knives and cookware have shown that a celebrity endorsement doesn’t always make for a top-performing product. Proposed guidelines from the Federal trade Commission will further regulate what’s allowed in such endorsements. The celebs’ informal mentions of products in media appearances or  blogs will also be regulated for the first time.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you’re sending your kids off to school in September, see the many smart buys we’re collected into our recently published Back-to-School Appliance-Buying Guide.