how do you take lead out of your house?

Question

the state of new jersey says that if your home was build before 1978 you have led and they send my dad to a course problem is he doesnt understand english so i want to know if you know what is the process to eliminate led . Example do i have to scratch off the paint and then paint again or what..

Answer 1

never try to remove the paint. if you try to scratch it off lead dust will get in the air and stay the settling in to stuff and in the air system for ever possably. paint over it. just keep painting over the layers. never try to remove any layer of the paint, thats the best and safest thing to do.

Answer 2

You're somewhat incorrect in assuming that any home built prior to 1978 has lead. It MAY have lead based paint, but not necessarily so. Lead based paint manufacture was outlawed in the United States in 1978, so the assumption is that no home built after that date has such paint. However, lead based paints were in heavy decline for many years prior to that law.

In order to FULLY remove lead paint, it must be carefully removed without sanding, since dust from same can be ingested. As a matter of practicality, lead based paint which is in good condition, not peeling or flaking, and not located where a child might chew on it is not much of a hazard. It's not as though the lead evaporates out of it and contaminates the surrounding air.

If you improperly remove lead paint (sanding, etc.), you create far more of a hazard than you would have by leaving it intact, assuming the paint is in good condition.

The following is a link to the standard lead based paint disclosure booklet distributed under law for premises which may contain lead paint. It is in English, of course, but perhaps you may be able to translate it for your father.

Good Luck !

Answer 3

You are supposed to have a licensed professional do that, at least in Chicago you do. You need the right respirator, so you don't inhale the paint. You only have to remove it if there are chips in the paint. You can paint over it, there are special paints for this, contact a paint store. The idea is to keep the paint wet when removing it, when it is dry and airborne is when it is the most dangerous. Read a little about it before you tackle this job. Disposal of the waste is also a problem, check local codes.

Answer 4

Lead removal can be complex process. Scraping the paint off is NOT a good idea as it releases lead into the air as well as onto the ground outside the home and into the flooring inside the home. Free lead is particularly hazardous to young children as it interferes with the development of the brain in early childhood.

Lead paint is most problematic on window sills as young children tend to pull themselves up on them and then chew on the edge of the sill, thereby ingesting the paint and the lead. Lead also has a sweet taste and this attracts further chewing by the child. (The ancient Romans used lead as a sweetener! Probably one of the things that lead to the collapse of the Roman Empire!)

The ideal way to remove lead paint is to remove and replace the components that are painted with lead-based paint. Lead was primarily used in glossy paints used on window sills, window frames and trim around doors and walls so this isn't as difficult or expensive as it sounds. Expensive antique pieces of trim can be chemically stripped by a commercial stripper and reinstalled if you wish.

It's also possible to use chemical strippers to strip lead paint in place since this doesn't release nearly as much lead into the atmosphere or the environment. Care must be taken with these chemicals, howerer, as they have their own hazards. Some give off toxic vapors and others are corrosive.

Lead paint that is not on window sills or otherwise within the reach of young children can safely be left as is as long as the paint surface is sound. You can paint over it with a non-lead based paint if the surface is showing some minor wear and this will encapsulate the lead and prevent it from being released into the environment. If you have to break the glaze on glossy paint, do not sand or scrape it but use a solution of TSP in warm water and scrub it lightly.

Answer 5

Leave the potential lead alone!

The law requires that a homeowner is informed of the possibility of lead based paint, however, it does not require its removal!

Public housing authorities will require that some measures are taken if the house will be rented to a Section 8 (low rent) person/family, and are concerned if the paint is chipping. The worry of chipping is that young children may attempt to eat it.

Answer 6

You first have to hire an expert to determine if there is lead in the paint. If there is, you have to hire a licensed lead abatement contractor to remove the lead paint. It has to be done in a controlled matter, so lead paint chips and dust don't get scattered everywhere.

Answer 7

Measures to permanently eliminate lead dust hazards include component removal and replacement, paint removal, and covering surfaces. There is no completely safe method for do-it-yourself removal of lead-based paint. Each paint removal method -- sandpaper, scrapers, chemicals, and heat guns -- can produce lead fumes or dust in the air that can be inhaled. Dust can settle on floors, walls and tables. It can be ingested through hand-to-mouth contact and re-enter the air through cleaning (such as sweeping or vacuuming) or when people move throughout the house.

Except for the most elementary measures, dealing with lead removal is a complex task. Implementation may be affected by local regulations. In most instances, lead-based paint should be removed by professionals who follow detailed procedures to minimize, control and contain lead dust created by the removal process. Do not attempt to remove more than a small amount of lead-based paint. However, address all chipping, peeling, or flaking lead-based paint, as well as friction surfaces (for example windows and doors) in the home.

It often is much safer, and sometimes more economical, to replace painted items and cover painted surfaces. You can replace a door, molding, or other item yourself if it can be easily removed without creating lead dust. Cover walls and ceilings with gypsum wallboard, plaster, or paneling (encapsulation). If it is necessary to strip lead-based paint to maintain historic integrity, remove the item (for example molding) from the home for stripping. If the painted surface is not peeling or cracking, you can spray the surface with a sealant. Painting over lead-based paint is not a permanent solution. Obtain a copy of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) pamphlet Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home before you begin any lead removal project.

Temporary lead-removal measures:
Clean up paint chips immediately (duct tape efficiently picks up chips).
Clean floors, window frames, window sills and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water and a powdered high-phosphate automatic dishwasher detergent or a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP). Wear protective gloves and use two buckets -- one for wash water and one for clear rinse water. Always wring dirty water into the wash bucket.
Thoroughly rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning.
Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat or go to sleep.
Keep play areas and toys clean.
Keep children from chewing painted surfaces such as window sills or cribs.
Remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil.
Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium (such as dairy products, eggs, beans, spinach, and lean red meat). Children with good diets absorb less lead.