Hi all,
I am a paranoid homebuyer of a house built in the 1970’s with lead paint and have some questions.
First, the house has been repainted many times. How does one know if the current paint is actually an encapsulant and not just any type of paint?
Second, there was a major remodel of the house in 1995. Given the fact that lead-based paint was banned a couple decades prior to that remodel, can it be assumed that an encapsulant was used and proper techniques were followed to trap the lead paint?
Third, when touring the house I observed the current owners hanging pictures on walls. I assume they used push pins, and since pins go all the way into the wall, do they damage the encapsulant and the underlying layer of lead paint and therefore release lead?
I have small children so I’m very concerned and paranoid about this. Thanks for the inputs!
Replies
There are test kits available and agencies/businesses that can provide more in depth testing. If you are interested in the home you can always put in an offer contingent upon results of a lead test. The only way you can know for certain that no lead (or safe) levels of lead exist is if you test.
In general, if the layers of paint on top of lead paint are in good condition they are effectively encapsulating. If paint is chipping and cracked there’s a good chance of lead contamination. Typically the highest level of lead contamination are located at windows and doors where surfaces are being rubbed the most. Baseboards can often have higher levels as well from vacuum cleaners etc rubbing the surface.
If you plan on making improvements to the home in the future it’s good to factor in cost and inconvenience of dealing with the lead later.
Make sure whoever tests also tests soil area next to exterior walls to determine any lead build up from painting prep for exterior walls
For any remodel in the mid 90’s there was no Federal monitoring nor certification for remodelers. So assume nothing was done with Lead Safe practices.
about the only way to ensure a "lead free" house is to gut it down to the studs and start over
you should also be considering the water supply - in my area (100 yrs old housing stock) there are lead water supply lines, additionally, you have lead solder in the copper piping. As seen in Flint MI, that seems to be a bigger problem than lead based paint
I seem to recall an article where lead poison rates dropped significantly when the occupants were taught how to properly clean a house - much easier than replacing everything
good luck