Lead Paint Dangers in the Headlines
The company originally contracted to sandblast the lead paint from the Williamsburg bridge back in the early 1990s received a $20 million payment from the City this week. After residents of the Lower East Side and Brooklyn sued the city over the paint chips and clouds of paint dust wafting over their neighborhoods over a…
The company originally contracted to sandblast the lead paint from the Williamsburg bridge back in the early 1990s received a $20 million payment from the City this week. After residents of the Lower East Side and Brooklyn sued the city over the paint chips and clouds of paint dust wafting over their neighborhoods over a decage ago, the City made the contractor switch from sandblasting to a much slower (and hence more expensive) hands-on technique to remove the paint. We have heard through the grapevine of two children in the Burg who’ve had moderate levels of lead paint detected in the past week–there was also some discussion on the Reno Blog recently about the issue. Since we’ve been living in Williamsburg for the past couple of years and are about to move into an old house that has had its share of lead paint glopped on over the years, it’s of particular interest to us as well. Can anyone direct readers to a good description of the risks and practical preventative steps homeowners and renters can take?
W’Burg Bridge Shock [NYPost]
Glass Panel Door [Brownstoner Renovations]
we have recently bought a 100 year old house and lead paint is an issue. There is a new technique to solve this problem——–THE SILENT PAINT REMOVER recommended by THIS OLD HOUSE. Sounds too good to be true but it IS TRUE. Pull it up on the internet————you will be amazed.
If you post that you keep kids/pets out, we might assume that you have kids/pets.
Lead “fumes” are not the issue. It’s the chips and dust, which is why it requires a “wet” clean-up, etc.
And I was also told that heat guns are bad. In fact I was told my several contractors, etc to leave the paint alone unless I was going to have it professional moved. I had my lead in my home tested (about $300) and have a couple of windows professionally stripped and left the rest intact.
From http://www.epa.gov/lead/rrpamph.pdf
Pg. 17
“Heat guns may be used to remove paint, but do not use those that operate above 1,100 deg. F.”
Just how hot does the typical heat gun get?
Instead of checking your blood you should have checked your children’s blood. Please be advised that heat guns create a fine dust that is spread by the little fan on the gun. It can cover a room with a very fine layer of lead dust which can be spread easily.
Wait a minute – I’m “that guy” that talked about removing 100 years of paint with a heat gun! So many door and window frames – couldn’t send those out to be stripped.
What I SAID was . . . we sealed off the area and kept kids/pets out of the room. We wore masks, cleaned up (btw you have to use tack clothes with all this sanding anyway), and sealed all the surfaces afterwards. When a friend raised the spector of lead fumes, I had my blood levels checked. Even tho we all KNOW the big risk is for children, no 5 year old is running around with a heat gun in my house.
As it went, I didn’t have lead in my blood. I still think that is interesting concrete personal experience to share for all of us that live in these old houses and do some of our own renovations. It does not constitute advice.
Some of us couldn’t possibly afford to get a professional service in to do the work, and don’t care to add another layer of paint to the many already obscuring the lovely woodwork. I’m not at ALL convinced that your average contractor is going to do it better/safer than I did myself!
Lead paint is a problem to be solved, that’s all.
I think it’s ridiculous to get flame-y about it, and I never post anonymously.
http://www.thebluebook.com/cl/all2670.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/lead/
Please be careful of lead, esp lead in dust after a renovation, esp if you have children under the age of 6. Children should be tested (simple blood test). The damage is irreversible.
Most of all, don’t take advice from anonymous posters on sites like this. I read (but did not post) one guy talking about how he removed lead with heat gun and was fine. Heat guns are pretty much rule #1 on what NOT to use on lead paint. Dry brushing/scraping is rule #2. Look to CDC or similar experts on this topic.
The steal you got on that door — I think you basically paid someone to remove their biohazard waste.
some information here:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/