Lead Based Paint in a very old home.?

Question

Is it ok to paint over a lead based paint? If not what should the proper steps be for removing lead based paint?

Answer 1

It's ok to paint over, but if you ever sell the house, you have to declare there is lead in the house. That could affect a sale.

Here is a portion of the removal procedure required by Rhode Island:

Removal Methods.

The following lead paint removal methods are permitted: wet hand scraping with or without a heat gun, followed with light feather sanding; dry hand scraping with or without a heat gun; or use of a non-flammable chemical stripper that does not contain methylene chloride
The use of flammable or methylene chloride paint strippers and open flame or torch burning is prohibited.
Abrasive blasting or power sanding is prohibited, except when performed by a Rhode Island licensed lead professional in accordance with the Regulations.
Post-Abatement Clean up and Clearance:

After completing the work, the entire work area must repeatedly cleaned by wet vacuuming or vacuuming with a special HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum followed by wet cleaning of all surfaces. An all-purpose cleaner is recommended for wet cleaning. Dry sweeping and dry vacuuming are prohibited.

Answer 2

You can paint it. But if you sell the house it may have to be removed. Usually from the floor up to 36 or 42 inches. That is child proofing. You may want to ask some questions at the local paint store. They will know the rules and regulations. It is an expensive process to remove the lead paint as well.

Sorry to break the bad news to you.

Answer 3

Those Lead Base paints are also oil base. It is proper to prime over the lead base with an oil base primer such as Kilz Oil base Primer from Lowers or depot.

On removal, no its not ok to go scraping the stuff away unless you are properly licensed and trained on lead base paint removal, in fact itis against the law to do so in most states.

Painting over is just as effective and safe as removal of the lead base paint. So there is really no reason to scrape it off.