Working Safely with Lead Paint in Older Homes:
What Painting Contractors and ''Do-It-Yourselfers'' Need to Know

This helpful guide may be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

Many homes built before 1978 may have been painted with lead-based paint, particularly on exterior surfaces but also frequently on the interior.

Houses and apartments built before 1950 are even more likely to contain lead paint although it may be covered with layers of non-leaded coatings. When these deeper layers of lead paint are disturbed by dry-sanding or scraping or other paint preparation techniques, painters and "do-it-yourselfers" can create toxic lead-contaminated dust and debris which is capable of poisoning residents, particularly young children under the age of six.

The National Center has written a brochure that provides guidance on how to work safely with lead-based paint in older homes. This brochure was developed in cooperation with the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, Inc. The National Center is working to make it available in retail outlets where paint is sold.

Basic Tips
The following seven points summarize the guidance provided in the brochure. In order to avoid and control lead hazards when painting older homes, follow these basic tips:

  1. Unless you have had special lead testing done, assume that all painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 are coated with lead-based paint.
     
  2. Minimize and contain any dust and debris created by the painting project.
     
  3. Avoid work practices like machine sanding, using a torch or high temperature heat gun, using blasting equipment or excessive dry hand-sanding and scraping.
     
  4. Perform a thorough final clean-up using a "high efficiency particulate air" (HEPA) filter-equipped vacuum and a detergent based solution and clean water rinse. (Keep children out of the work area until it has been cleaned.)
     
  5. To check for lead contamination left behind, perform lead dust tests after work is complete and re-clean if lead levels remain higher than federal standards.
     
  6. Change work clothes before leaving the work area and machine wash separately.
     
  7. If you are not a "do-it-yourselfer," hire painting contractors who will observe these same practices.

Note: These basic tips are not intended to meet specific federal, state or local regulations nor guarantee that any or all lead hazards will be eliminated. Rather, they are suggestions for reducing lead hazards when lead-based paint is disturbed during residential painting activities.

Publications

You may download a text-only version of A Guide to Working Safely with Residential Lead Paint document in Acrobat (.pdf) format. (File size 39k.)

 

 

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The National Center for Healthy Housing, 10320 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 500 Columbia, MD 21044
410.992.0712 / Fax: 443.539.4150
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