Any paint experts out there- what would you do?

[Victoria157]

Hi there,

We’ve just bought a newly refurbished house and due to move in within a couple of months. All of the woodwork (stairs, door frames, skirting) have been painted end of last year using a solvent gloss, and we can’t seem to get enough air in to properly ventilate.

I’ll be moving in with my toddler, brand newborn and heavily asthmatic husband so am pretty concerned about the toxicity of the solvent. Is there some kind of safecoat product that you could use to seal the chemicals or do we need to remove the stuff & just paint over with a water-based product?

Thanks so much! An anxious, pregnant and nesting mother 🙈

It shouldn't still smell of paint after a couple of months. I realise that opening windows in this weather will be difficult, but I can't think of anything more useful.

It'll be easier to air it out when you've moved in.

Open all the windows and doors. Leave extractor fans in kitchen and bathroom on. Plug in as many fans as you can borrow from friends and family.
2-3 days of that should sort it.

Chances are it isn't the smell of paint but all the various new materials in the house plus any treatments applied prior to decorative finishes.