Guest guest Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the interior anyway. I have heard different views on this subject. Some say repainting is good enough, but others say no, everything has to be removed down to the wood. There are very few newer homes available in this area, and it is just as likely that many of these would have their own environmental hazards. thanks for any advice. Daria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Removing the lead paint down to the wood doesn't remove the lead (I have tested stripped wood). Painting over protects you from the lead as long as the paint is in good condition. One thing you definitely should avoid is to sand lead paint. Dagmar. [ ] lead paint/old house We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the interior anyway. I have heard different views on this subject. Some say repainting is good enough, but others say no, everything has to be removed down to the wood. There are very few newer homes available in this area, and it is just as likely that many of these would have their own environmental hazards. thanks for any advice. Daria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 Daria, We are in an old cottage style house. Definitely lead. We had the house painted right after we bought it. The paint chips, on door jams etc., b/c there are SO many layers after all these years. We didn't have it sanded down to the wood. It's a difficult call. Good luck in your decision. Jill G. Bill and Daria Sockey wrote: > We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer > layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the > interior anyway. > > I have heard different views on this subject. Some say repainting is good enough, but others say no, everything has to be > removed down to the wood. > > There are very few newer homes available in this area, and it is just as likely that many of these would have their own > environmental hazards. > > thanks for any advice. > > Daria > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 You can get water-based, non-toxic paint stripper. It doesn't in my experience take all the paint of, but makes the flakey bits easier to remove without creating a lot of dust. Then you can paint over it again easier. Dagmar. Re: [ ] lead paint/old house Daria, We are in an old cottage style house. Definitely lead. We had the house painted right after we bought it. The paint chips, on door jams etc., b/c there are SO many layers after all these years. We didn't have it sanded down to the wood. It's a difficult call. Good luck in your decision. Jill G. Bill and Daria Sockey wrote: > We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer > layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the > interior anyway. > > I have heard different views on this subject. Some say repainting is good enough, but others say no, everything has to be > removed down to the wood. > > There are very few newer homes available in this area, and it is just as likely that many of these would have their own > environmental hazards. > > thanks for any advice. > > Daria > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 Whatever you decide to do, I should just like to say that it is in disturbing the old paint, ie when redecorating, that the amount of lead released goes up enormously. Would it be possible to replace all or some of the woodwork before you move in? If there are painted areas where the paint system is poor eg peeling and chipping then new paint on top may not last very long, but if the existing system is sound, then new paint on top (provided it is done properly) should be effective, but it must be carefully maintained. The areas where paint chipping is most likely to happen are wherever the wood gets moved (windows and doors) or knocked (doorframes, skirting boards). If you do have any wood stripped eg doors, have them taken away and stripped off-site,and returned in a condition where they don't need any sanding before painting: preferably have them painted before you get them back! Unless the doors are very high quality and irreplaceable, I personally would buy new ones (this can be much cheaper than paying for stripping and refinishing). Apparently windows, especially sash windows, are a major source of paint chips. Also be aware that in an old house you may have a lead water main. This should be replaced, especially if the mains water is acidic (soft) in your area, as acid water dissloves the lead.If the windows have been previously stripped or sanded, the soil under the drip line of the windows may well be contaminated. www.chicagolead.org has some very useful help and information provided by Chicago Children's Hospital. Also throw out all old carpets, as even deep cleaning only reduces rather than eliminates any paint chips in the pile. Good luck. Margaret (UK) > > > We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer > > layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the > > interior anyway. > > > > I have heard different views on this subject. Some say repainting is good enough, but others say no, everything has to be > > removed down to the wood. > > > > There are very few newer homes available in this area, and it is just as likely that many of these would have their own > > environmental hazards. > > > > thanks for any advice. > > > > Daria > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 PS. If you do any paint stripping or preparation, get the children out of the house. I also don't think any woman who might bear a child in the future should go anywhere near old paint (depending on individual sensitivity it should be OK for her to do the top coat, preferably with one of the less toxic paints now available, once the underneath has all been properly sealed in). Margaret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 My daughter got lead poisoning, not from paint chips or peeling paint but from the old wooden windows. Every time you open and close them, there is lead dust produced. I had the dust tested near the windows and it was positive for lead. Another thing to watch out for is the outside soil around the house. My then house was built in 1934 and the soil right around the house had high levels from the paint flaking off the house over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2004 Report Share Posted April 3, 2004 > We are considering buying an old farmhouse, and without a doubt there is old lead paint somewhere beneath many newer layers of paint. So long as nothing is chipped or peeling, is this safe? We will probably be re-painting most of the interior anyway. This page has one family's experience and research on that http://www.danasview.net/cheltest.htm Dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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