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Mineral & Zero-VOC Paint

Silicate or clay-based paints — mineral pigments bond chemically to mineral substrates, no off-gassing.

Mineral & Zero-VOC Paint — a natural material we specify on every Earth Bound Homes project

Toxicity Screening — All Clear

This material screens clear across all seven independent toxicology authorities we use on every project.

LBC Red List

Not Listed

Prop 65

Not Listed

IARC

Not Listed

NTP RoC

Not Listed

GSPI

Not Listed

REACH SVHC

Not Listed

TSCA

Not Listed

Material Type

Mineral-Based Wall & Ceiling Coating

Material Description

Mineral paint — also called silicate paint, lime wash, or potassium-silicate paint — is fundamentally different from acrylic or alkyd paint. Instead of binding pigment in a polymer film that sits on top of the surface, mineral paint reacts chemically with mineral substrates (plaster, lime, brick, concrete) via silicification, forming an integral mineral-mineral bond. The result is a coating that doesn't peel because there's nothing to peel — the paint is now part of the wall. Zero VOCs, zero off-gassing, and outstanding longevity on appropriate substrates. The mineral pigments used (iron oxides, titanium dioxide, ultramarine, ochre) are themselves stable and biologically inert.

Composition & Origin

Potassium silicate + mineral pigment (iron oxide, ochre, ultramarine) + water — silicifies into substrate

Health Profile — All Endpoints Clear

Severity scored 0–10 against the same 10 hazard endpoints we use for the chemical families on the avoid list. Every score is 1–2 — essentially no signal across every endpoint.

Cancer

1/10

Endocrine

1/10

Reproductive

1/10

Developmental

1/10

Neurological

1/10

Respiratory

2/10

Cardiovascular

1/10

Liver/Kidney

1/10

Skin

1/10

Immune

1/10

Common Forms & Brands

KEIM Optil & Innostar silicate paints
BioShield clay paints
Sherwin-Williams Harmony zero-VOC (acrylic, different chemistry but clean profile)
Common framing: silicate (mineral) paint, clay paint, lime wash, milk paint, zero-VOC acrylic

Why We Use It

Zero VOCs during application and after cure
Mineral-to-mineral bond — paint becomes part of the substrate
Doesn't peel or flake from appropriate substrates
Vapor-permeable — walls can breathe through the paint
Mineral pigments are biologically inert (avoid lead, cadmium, hex-chromium pigments)

Where It Performs Best

Interior walls and ceilings over plaster or drywall
Exterior masonry, lime render, and stucco
Bedroom walls (low-emission sleep environment)
Heritage building restoration

Building Applications for Mineral & Zero-VOC Paint

Listed alphabetically. Where in a home this material earns its keep.

Ceiling Paint (Flat & Eggshell)
Exterior Masonry & Stucco Coating
Heritage Restoration Coating
Interior Wall Paint (Living Spaces)

Specifying a project? Drop the manufacturer's SDS into our SDS Toxic Chemical Screener to verify any specific product you're considering screens clear on all seven databases.