There is not much to consider when painting a relatively new home with a different color. The same cannot be said for older homes, particularly those built-in 1978 or earlier.
There are a couple of things you need to know about working on old homes, particularly when it comes to the possibility of dealing with lead.
Lead-based paint was widely used for residential purposes, especially in the early 20th century. As many as 87% of homes in the US that were built before 1940 are confirmed to have used lead-based products.
Lead was normally added to household paint because of its many benefits, especially when accelerating the drying time. It increases its resilience to different conditions and prevents corrosion of the metal surfaces it is applied to.
It was later discovered that lead has adverse health effects on people exposed to it, with pregnant women and children the most vulnerable. And with constant exposure or at high amounts, anyone is at risk for lead poisoning. The effects include:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Motor issues
- Behavioral problems
- Constipation
- Neurological damage
- Kidney problems
- Miscarriage or premature birth
- Joint and muscle pain
- Cramps
- Developmental delays
- Death
The number of homes that have it in them has steadily declined since discovering its health effects. However, the official banning of lead-based paint for residential use in 1978 does not mean that those who live in such homes are safe.
Undisturbed lead is safe. If it shows signs of damage, it can create dangerous lead dust that anyone can easily inhale. It includes cracks or peels. The risk is even higher when doing renovation or maintenance works on such homes. These tasks can damage the surface and release lead dust into the air.
Exposure to its dust occurs through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact with lead dust or chips, making it a serious concern.
Working Safely with Lead-Based Products
If a home is at risk for potentially having lead-based products, it is a given that painting will not be easy. But most importantly, you need to know how you can work safely with such a home.
You must always observe proper safety measures when doing so, from preparation to cleanup. This includes:
- Wear safety equipment that completely covers your skin and a face mask or respirator intended to prevent lead inhalation.
- Minimize the creation of lead dust while working by spraying the surface with water before stripping off the paint when sanding.
- Cover up any vents and openings of the workspace when working indoors to confine any dust and debris generated in that area alone.
- Place coverings on the ground and creating a barrier. It prevents dust from being blown away to other peoples’ properties, which can also put them at risk unknowingly. It’s also done to avoid contaminating the soil when working outdoors.
- Prevent anyone not part of the team from entering the site, especially pregnant women and children.
- Properly clean up spots where layers were removed.
While DIY work for lead-based paint is possible, it is not recommended. It is easy to be exposed to lead dust with various home improvement projects.
It’s especially the case when prepping the surface before getting started. There is no way to detect once anyone starts being exposed to lead; you only know it when you start exhibiting the symptoms. That is why this task should be left to the pros.
Not all businesses are qualified to do so, even if the workers are licensed contractors. The EPA came with the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program to minimize the health risks. It’s known as the RRP Rule.
This program requires businesses working on any renovation or painting project only to let workers who have an EPA-accredited certification do the job.
This applies to projects that may potentially disturb at least six square feet of the interiors of a home or facility suspected to have lead in it.
This rule ensures that only those knowledgeable in lead-safe work practices will do the renovations or painting tasks. It’s even if it only involves doors and windows.
Since the removal of the “opt-out provision” back in July 2010, the RRP has been met with great criticism from both homeowners and businesses alike. It allowed homeowners to hire businesses without the certification if their household does not have any pregnant women or children aged six years or younger. This move meant businesses had to go and get their workers certified, which required them to raise their rates and potentially drive off customers.
The RRP rule does have a few exceptions. This provision allows non-EPA-certified workers to work on specific projects that may have lead-based paint, such as in:
- Homes that lack bedrooms.
- Already tested homes or surfaces that are declared as free of the dangerous heavy metal.
- Surfaces or spaces that involve six square feet or less of interior paint or twenty feet or less of exterior.
You may or may not be covered by this ruling when painting only an old home’s window frames or sills. The more windows involved, the higher your chances of being required to obtain certification.
