Pregnant and Renovating
Hi, I am sure we will be judged by some but we recently moved into a brownstone that we are living and renovating, with my wife now 4 months pregnant. That being said, we are mainly renovating the lower duplex, while we live on the top floor apartment while the work is done. The building…
Hi, I am sure we will be judged by some but we recently moved into a brownstone that we are living and renovating, with my wife now 4 months pregnant. That being said, we are mainly renovating the lower duplex, while we live on the top floor apartment while the work is done. The building is four stories and there is another tenant apartment between us and the parlor. Our contract has put a big dust screen and it seems that dust is clearly making its way up the stairs but has not really creeped into our top floor apartment in a big way. That being said, out of caution, we moved to my parents house for the first two weeks, which will be the demolition. We’re planning to use “green” paints and have asked the contractor to let us know if he plans to do staining or anything else that will generate huge fumes. So to be clear, we are not doing the renovations and we’re living two stories above it. Also, we’re not going to scrape much plaster or lead paint. Mainly we will skim coat over that and repaint. So I hope that minimizes some of the lead exposure. We asked our doctor and she said that lead is very tough to pass to a fetus and the precautions we are taking sound fine. Our contractor and architect also both said we would be fine. Of course, they are interested parties but I do like and trust both of them. Now, I am sure I will get a lot of varying opinions here and the invariable critiques. Still, I would really appreciate people’s thoughts on this situation and the best way to mitigate any risks. Thanks.
This is the Original Poster and I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and insights. We decided to move away during the first few weeks of demolition, just coming back during the weekends and after I wipe down the steps up to our apartment. The upstairs apartment itself has stayed remarkably dust free and I also bought a Hepa air filter that i’ll keep running in there. It wasn’t too much and can’t hurt. I think that we will also have the lead test done during one of my wife’s upcoming OB visits. I am pretty sure that almost all of the paint in the parlor is leaded and will work off that assumption. On the flip side, much of it is going to just be painted over and not scraped.
Anyway, thanks again to all.
Been there done that. Did you have all the walls and ceilings tested with that “xray” gun? It is the only way to confirm and quantify where the lead paint is. When we did our place, the plaster ceilings had no lead, so did a lot of the walls that we had assumed been lead. You may not have as much as you think. Of course if you are breaking a wall with lead in it, the lead dust will go everywhere. Wet mopping with cascade is great and effective but getting your contractor to do that everyday is unlikely to happen. Best of luck.
Honestly, if you can move into a hotel for week or two during demo and stain/varnish/paint, I’d do so. It may cost a couple thousand dollars but you’ll sleep better. we gut-reno’d a kitchen this year, just after our 2nd child was born, and my wife moved in with my folks for 4 weeks until most of the rough work was done. IMO, having renovated 2 apts., there’s a lot of funky stuff that gets exposed, not just lead dust but mold, rat and bat droppings and plaster dust. They may not all be harmful to a fetus but they can increase the chance of you contracting a respiratory problem.
Also, no need to be defensive. Anyone with kids or wanting kids knows what you’re feeling…
Hi,
First congratulations on the future arrival. We recently moved into a circa 1908 single family full of fun things like lead pipe and paint.
I’m not preg but we have been trying and my husband was very nervous. As mentioned above, get the blood test, it will relieve you and your wife’s mind.
In terms of Iron consumption, also mentioned above, check her pre-natal, I am nearly certain that will contain Iron and between that and regular good eating habits, she should be covered. It was also strongly recommended to me to take Chlorella a green algea (sp) with detox properties. As your wife is pregnant, you would probably want to vet that with a doctor.
We have lead pipe that leads to the city line, and elevated lead in the water, I’ve only been showering in it and brushing teeth, no drinking (no cooking, either, but that’s another story). I got my blood drawn and it was fine.
The peace of mind is worth it tho, I would recommend the blood test.
GL,
now in 11210
If you have the luxury I would stay as far away as possible. Curiosity will undoubtedly send your wife into the constructions area. While I don’t know what effect this will have on your unborn child, I can tell you from personal experience that you can have permanent physical damage from exposure to construction debris etc. I had occasional asthma my whole life, averaging once a year, but only if I held a cat or slept with down pillows. It would generally go away in a day or two. Since my renovation, in which I did NOT live in the building but oversaw quite a bit, I now have chronic asthma. I have to take advair twice a day, (which has some side effects), and if I don’t take it my asthma will come back the next day. It’s been about 18 months. I am otherwise a healthy 42 year old male. So, just a warning. Wear a good mask, avoid demo, and get a professional cleaning at the end.
A diet high in iron also helps get lead out if you are exposed to any (although don’t overload the iron either!). Also, phosphate-based cleansers bind to any lead dust and help mop it up (I’ve heard of people mopping with Cascade). Good luck and take precautions and you will probably be fine. My downstairs neighbors gut renovated 3 days after I brought home my daughter from the hospital and they did not take precautions – I mopped every night (with a newborn) and often took her out while there were fumes. Everybody turned out okay (except I still harbor resentment toward them, but that’s another story).
As a precaution, I would follow some of the nutritional guidelines recommended for treating children with elevated lead levels. Avoid saturated fats/fried foods as lead molecules bind to the fats and are more difficult to eliminate. Eat lots of protein and leafy green vegetables. And I agree with denton. Your wife should ask her obstetrician to run lead level tests. (blood draw, not finger pricks which aren’t as accurate). I learned when I was researching lead poisoning (don’t ask, long story) that in the early 1970s, the average American child had a lead level of 20+ mcg, which actually made me feel better about the situation we had to deal with. And finally, ask your contractor if he will have the demolition areas damp mopped and wiped down with water which will also help to contain contaminents. It’s a virtual certainty that your construction will disturb old lead paint so arm yourself with information and stay away from french fries for the forseeable future. And good luck!
Sounds like you’re feeling guilty but shouldn’t. You could always get the paint tested for lead. Check the archives–there’s a new home testing kit out somewhere. And to be completely safe, could always get the wife a blood test for lead every thirty days as well.
The best way to mitigate risk is to move out. Not always possible.
The next best way is to move out for as much as possible. Especially demo and staining. And put a dust screen outside the work area and then again before the door to the unit you’re living in. That’s what we did.
There are cleaning crews that specialize in post-renovation work. If possible you may want them to clean stairway and your unit mid-reno if possible just to get the first layer up.
Also, remember pregnant women have very heightened sense of smell so you may think the low VOC paint smell is fine and she may not. Follow her directions on this — and everything else while you’re at it.
I am surprised your OB said that lead doesn’t easily pass. Not what I heard — but who knows..