Canstar Blue

An independent consumer survey revealed 1 in 3 respondents are purchasing low chemical paints for health reasons.

"Eco-friendly products are becoming far more mainstream to meet consumer demand and this is extending into the paint market, with most paint manufacturers today producing at least one low chemical option," said Canstar Blue Manager Rebecca Logan.

"Lower chemical paints are particular popular for those consumers with allergies or chemical sensitivities. Interestingly, we saw males are almost as eco-conscious when it comes to their paint of choice than females, with 33% of men choosing lower chemical paints compared with 37% of females.

The survey also showed the explosion of DIY reality shows must be catching on, with 73% of Australians ditching the professionals and painting the majority of their property themselves."

It also revealed a concerning one in two Australians don't wear the recommended protective masks and breathing equipment when painting with oil based paints.

"This was the biggest issue for Generation Y respondents, with 55% saying no to protective gear compared with 39% of Baby Boomers," Ms Logan said.

"The results also revealed a worrying one in five respondents ignored manufacturer warnings and disposed of paint down household water drains."

When it comes to paint brands, the survey showed Australian consumers are most satisfied with the Australian-based paint manufacturer Solver Paints which triumphed over brands including market leader Dulux when it came to most satisfied interior and exterior paint customers.

Solver Paints were voted number one by its internal paint customers not only for overall satisfaction but also for price, ease of application, range and finish quality. The company's external paint customers gave them top marks in every category.

Canstar Blue commissioned Colmar Brunton to survey 2,500 Australian consumers over a number of months to measure their satisfaction across a range of products and services. The outcomes reported are the results from interior and exterior paint purchasers within the survey group. To qualify for each category, the customer has to have bought paint from that category within the last three years.

"We launched Canstar Blue to give Australians a free online resource to help them with their key purchasing decisions by making it simple for them to learn from the experiences of other consumers. It is essentially a guide to product excellence as voted by customers," Ms Logan said.

The independent survey was undertaken in conjunction with professional market researchers, Colmar Brunton.

The full Canstar Blue results are available at www.canstarblue.com.au.