raft paint

[Jovan Johnson]

What paint do you use to paint the rafts?

Does it stop the extruded polystyrene from breaking don because of UV light?

And wont the paint leech chemicals into the system? 

Thanks in advance 

[David Hart]

Hi Jovan, this very topic has been addressed before.....I used the 'search' and found these...you may find some answers in them...

 

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/rafts-for-dwc?commentId...

 

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/styrofoam-uv-breakdown?...

 

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/group/raftdeepwaterculturegrowers/fo...

[Kate Mink]

I set up several years ago, used flat white latex house paint. On a later system I used beige, because I had some around and would have had to go by white. I believe the white reflects light up under the plants and for some that may be better. It gets dirty, but it doesn't chip off, at least not in 3 years. Blueboard that I've left out unpainted has definitely degraded, the surface has "powdered"; the painted has not.

As to leaching chemicals, it hasn't been a problem. Dried latex paint is not very soluble in water, and the painted side is up so it's usually not in contact with the trough water. Rain might theoretically rinse something off but certainly not much.

Myself, I wouldn't use either interior paint (wouldn't hold up) or non-latex (nasty solvents).

[Jovan Johnson]

Thanks all!!
Your input is appreciated

Jovan 

[Little NYC]

I just bought exterior acrylic semigloss enamel and noticed that it contains lead. Does anyone know if this is a standard ingredient, or if I should be worried? Thanks.

[Little NYC]

Never mind, I misread the label.

The paint I have is lead-free, the lead warning was regarding removing old paint.

Alisa Chang said:

I just bought exterior acrylic semigloss enamel and noticed that it contains lead. Does anyone know if this is a standard ingredient, or if I should be worried? Thanks.