Going for the Platinum
The Project
Quality means everything, especially with a very high-end job. For this 6,500 square- foot new, single-family custom home in Kentfield, California there was an even higher goal at stake. The owners were seeking Platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. If achieved, this home would be one of only a handful in the nation to earn such a prestigious honor from the green building industry.
The Painter
MB Jessee Painting and Decorating owner, Matthew B. Jessee has more than 20 years of experience. The company serves the San Francisco, East Bay and Contra Costa areas, working on high-end residential and commercial interiors and exteriors, decorative finishes, restoration and refinishing. They are Certified Green Building Professionals and members of Build It Green (http://www.builditgreen.com).
The Challenge
Jessee was asked by the builder, architect and designer for the new Kentfield home to find a truly green product that would perform to the highest standards and provide a full spectrum of colors. “We’ve been committed to environmentally responsible practices for years, but had a hard time finding a paint that would perform well, while delivering zero and low VOCs,” Jessee observes. When Benjamin Moore came out with its Aura® line in 2008, MB Jessee finally found a premium low VOC paint – even after tinting – that qualified for LEED credit. “Now, we have Natura® with zero VOCs, and we are specifying it all of the time,” says Jessee.
The Solution
Natura® premium interior waterborne paint is a zero VOC, virtually odorless formula that doesn’t compromise on performance and carries Benjamin Moore’s Green Promise™ designation. [link to page on benjaminmoore.com]
Based on using Natura® for many repaints, Jessee had full confidence to recommend it for this new construction home. “My litmus test is my guys,” says Jessee. “They’re very happy with how well Natura® performs. It covers well and has virtually no odor.” Jessee explains that on big jobs where many gallons are being sprayed, with traditional latex paint, “you can barely breathe.” Because of all of the masking at the Kentfield home, there was virtually no ventilation. “With Natura®, it wasn’t a problem,” Jesse notes. “There was just virtually no odor in the house.”
He also was pleased with the Natura® colors. “We used deep blues in some of the kids’ rooms, and it has covered very well.”
For the ceilings (all level V smooth surfaces) Jessee used Eco Spec®. “We just primed with the sprayer and then immediately did back rolling, and it dried out very flat and uniform,” Jessee comments. For the trim and wainscoting, he chose Aura® because of its superior ability to simulate a lacquer finish while also qualifying for LEED credit.
“It’s obvious to me that Benjamin Moore spends a lot of time on research and development,” Jessee observes. “They have been our product of choice since we started the business. We like the performance, we like our dealer and we do mostly high-end projects where designers and architects are specifying Benjamin Moore® quality.”
DRAFT v3 MB Jessee/Kentfield Natura Project
05/06/07
