Removing Lead Paint

Lead paint removal is important if you are thinking of refreshing a room. According to the EPA, paint used before 1978 likely contained lead.  It must be removed: Exposure to lead based paint can cause serious health concerns for people at high risk, such as children and especially women who are pregnant.

You can see why removing any lead based paint is a very important thing to do for you and your family's long-term health.  Potential symptoms of lead paint exposure can include the following;

• Brain and nervous symptom problems
• Hyperactivity and learning issues in children
• Headache
• Pregnancy issues
• Stomach and digestive problems
• Elevated blood pressure
• Muscle and joint pain

Some real estate agents require disclosure and removal of lead paint before they will sell a house. It is also important to remove it if you have small children, who can ingest the paint chips.

It is of utmost importance to make sure that lead based paint is removed in a safe manner and that it is not attempted by do-it-yourself methods.  If you attempt to remove lead based paint on your own, you can actually make the problem worse by causing lead chips and dust to get into the air.  Small children can also put these chips into their mouths.

The proper methods for paint removal consist of several different steps:

1. First your contractor should set up the work area by a clear separation of the space where they are working from the rest of the home where people occupy.  They will make every attempt to isolate the areas that will produce potentially harmful dust from the removal process.   Your contractor will bar access to the work area, and make sure that the flooring in the room is protected with some type of sheeting.  All furniture will be covered as well.  Next the contractor will ensure that all tools and supplies needed are in the room so they do not have to walk in and out once work is started.
2. Next, your contractor will remove the existing paint using wet methods such as scraping and wet sandpaper.   They may also use abrasive sponges to sand down problem areas so that dust cast-off is diminished. After the wall is completely dry, a high quality primer will be applied to prepare the wall for new paint. After that is dry, a liquid coating or encapsulant is used and allowed to dry as well.  Sometimes a mesh type system is used to create stability on the walls that are vulnerable.  This mesh will be pressed into the base coat using a roller or other type of tool.
3. After all of the prep work is done, then your walls are ready to receive new paint. Of course, all newer paint formulations that you may pick will be free or lead.  You can buy the paint yourself from a home improvement store or you can purchase it through your contractor.  Most lead paint removal experts will also be able to do your new interior paint job.

If you do discover that your home contains lead based paint, it is important to quickly explore your options for removal and replacement so that your health is not in jeopardy any longer.  Most contractors will come out to the home and do a cursory inspection and give you a free estimate on removal and repair.

We have all heard the horror stories about lead, and, unfortunately, they are true.  Call a reliable painting contractor today to get any lead paint removed in your home or building.

Socaz Painting serves customers in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Garner and Wake Forest.