Lead Advice
We recently purchased a small brick house that was built in the 1920s. The previous owners did some minor renovations over the years (mostly poorly), but it’s in pretty good shape and has solid bones. I am concerned about the flaking paint on and around the front door and its frame. The door looks older…
We recently purchased a small brick house that was built in the 1920s. The previous owners did some minor renovations over the years (mostly poorly), but it’s in pretty good shape and has solid bones.
I am concerned about the flaking paint on and around the front door and its frame. The door looks older – it’s heavy solid wood. I assume there is lead paint on it. There are also a few windows that are starting to chip as well. The windows themselves are newer, but the frames may be quite old. Tough to tell.
We have a baby who is starting to crawl, so I want to take care of this. Now.
Has anyone else had to deal with this situation?
Do we need to hire a lead abatement person?
Do we need to replace the door and frame?
Or do we just paint over it?
If we need to do anywork, I’d appreciate recomendations of good handymen or contractors.
Any and all advice would be very appreciated.
Thanks!
What is a “true” HEPA vacuum cleaner and where do you get one?
In addition to trying to find the source of lead dust and abating it, you should get a true HEPA vacuum cleaner and wash your wood floors on a regular basis. Anything that goes into your child’s mouth – fingers and toys – should also be washed on a regular basis. I have heard that if you eat large chunks of lead paint, it will pass through your system. It is the dust that you eat that gets into your blood that causes the problems. . . Obviously sanding or using a heat gun to remove the lead paint will cause huge lead dust problems. You can try to use a chemical stripper to remove the paint . . .
The EPA has a summary brochure that gives a lot of information:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf
Whether you’re alarmist if you are more concerned about this than the average person, I can’t say. I played with some lead toys as a kid, and who knows, maybe if I hadn’t, I’d be less crazy than I am today.
I would never criticize a parent for being extra careful on this, but it is true that people used to be more relaxed and it was often ok. My dad ( he’s 70 ) tells a story about his favorite toy when he was a kid; it was a kit where the kids melted lead in the fireplace and poured it into a mold to make tin soldiers. His little sister would always try to put the lead soldiers in her mouth and the only concern anyone had was that the baby might burn her mouth on the hot lead. My dad is fine despite playing with fire and molten lead, although my aunt is a little kooky.
Wow. Double wow. I will say that I was not as careful as I should have been in cleaning up after a renovation. My son tested very high with lead. We cleaned up. His lead level dropped. He seems fine. But…
I will continue to strap him into his seat belt. And I don’t think that makes me a wuss.
What total bs we become accustomed to. Anyone over 40 was constantly exposed to lead paint, and asbestos. Unless you’re were the industry, it didn’t kill you. As a father myself, I’m so glad that I didn’t fall prey to the scares about paint, hot radiators, falling down stairs, and what have you. Life is full of risks. Learn to assess them.
Yeah, every new law seems to be designed to raise the price of renovation or maintenance. Of course, you don’t have to follow the asinine laws.
You guys should read the new laws for lead that the EPA passed recently. Once the contractors read that the price is going to go up, up, up. Starts sounding like dealing with asbestos.
Hello,
Maybe It’s not necessary to change door, frames and windows but I definitely wouldn’t recommend you to paint it over.
If you decide to strip or scrap down the painting you will need to be VERY careful, lead paint is TOXIC.
Also, maybe a painter can not solve problems found in wood after striping, old woods may have big imperfections under the paint.
We would be glad to take a look at your door and windows, we have plenty references restoring doors and frames.
Good luck with your new home
J. Myesrton
http://www.pinocchiowoodworks.com
As someone whose son did get elevated lead in his system due to lead paint in the house, I think you SHOULD be concerned. Your child will be tested by her doctor and if she has 2 elevated (above 8 whatevers) the city will come and inspect your house for lead paint. I hired my own lead testing company, identified the problem areas and removed or covered (with dry wall). There is a wealth of information on the web about this issue. I would not think that a careful paint job on rubbing surfaces (such as doors or windows) would provide enough protection. In those situations, where there is a possibility or reflaking, you want to remove the lead paint.
While my son seems fine now (he is 8), I wouldn’t wish our experience on anyone.