5 Things to Know About Lead Paint
If you are in the process of buying or selling a home that was built before 1978, there is a good chance that there is lead paint in your home. Since lead paint is one of the only federally mandated disclosures, having lead paint in a home can pose some challenges no matter what end of the buying or selling process you’re at.
The Issue with Lead Paint
Prior to 1978, lead was used to make paint, even though it’s a toxic substance that can have an effect on all organs in the body. Lead is also extremely harmful to children six years and younger because of their interest in exploring and consuming things.
There’s also a misconception that if there is lead paint in a home that was painted over with modern paint the risk is eliminated but this is not true. The lead can still vaporize and be inhaled through non-lead-based paints.
How to Test of Lead Paint
If you have a home built prior to 1978, there is a large chance that there is lead-based paint in your home and you should assume that the paint in your home is lead-based. To test for lead-based paint in your home, there are two options: hire a certified professional or purchase a DIY lead paint test kit.
While the DIY test kits can be much more convenient, we do recommend hiring a certified professional. A professional will be able to determine whether your home or a portion of your home has lead-based paint and where it’s located. The professional will also help you determine which actions you need to take to address any hazardous areas.
Cost of Deleading Your Home
If there is lead paint in your home and you decide to remove it, the cost can be high. According to the EPA, the average cost of professional lead-based paint removal can cost between $8 and $15 per square foot, with the average removal project coming in around $10,000.
Lead Paint Removal Options
When it comes to removing lead paint from a home, there are four options.
Encapsulation - This process is the most common because it’s the least complicated and most affordable option. The process involves brushing a specially made paint-like coating on the surfaces to create a watertight bond and seals in the lead-based paint.
Enclosure - This process involves covering the old surface with a new one. For walls, it’ll be putting up new drywall or covering windows with aluminum or vinyl cladding. This isn’t a popular option because if these surfaces are removed, the lead-containing surfaces will be exposed.
Removal - The most time-consuming option, there are several options for removing lead-based paints. Depending on your contractor, they could opt for wire brushing, wet hand scraping, or wet sand surfaces using an electric sander and HEPA filter vacuum. Other popular options are stripping off the paint and hand scraping.
Replacement - When it comes to lead paint, replacing the windows, doors, woodwork, and other surfaces that have lead paint is your best option to truly ensure the lead is fully removed.
Cleaning Up After Deleading
To minimize your exposure to lead paint, it’s crucial to:
Clean up paint chips immediately.
Clean floors, window frames and sills, and any other surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner.
Use a HEPA filter vacuum to clean up any debris.
Wash your hands often.