Author Topic: Lead paint on trim and floors?  (Read 2574 times)

Cowardly Toaster

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Lead paint on trim and floors?
« on: May 28, 2017, 12:06:10 AM »
So remodelling an old house, will be taking leadpaint off floors and trim with sanders. Any thoughts on how to make sure the amount of lead dust in the finished house is kept at a minimum?

Spork

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Re: Lead paint on trim and floors?
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2017, 09:05:39 AM »
I suspect to be "legal" you have to hire out an abatement contractor.

The normal way to do this is to put up heavy plastic sheeting around the area and put in an exhaust fan (with HEPA filter) that keeps the work area under negative pressure.  It's normal to wear Tyvek suits and full respirators, so expect this to be hot and miserable.

TheThirstyStag

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Re: Lead paint on trim and floors?
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2017, 10:56:32 AM »
I believe many states do not have restrictions on DIY lead removal (whereas contractors have to adhere to abatement standards).  The rationale is to make it more likely that lead will be removed if the homeowner isn't discouraged by regulation.

I would seal off any air ducts, use a floor-to-ceiling plastic tarp (with zipper access), and get yourself one of those scrapers with a vacuum attachment, attached to a HEPA vac.   Try to take it out in chunks and minimize dust and you should be fine.

Cowardly Toaster

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Re: Lead paint on trim and floors?
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2017, 11:23:42 AM »
Ended up using a big drum sander with a shop vac with a good filter hooked up. Minimum dust left behind.

Before we move in, we will be thoroughly vacuuming and wet wiping all walls and ceilings.

I have some of the kits to test for lead paint, but I wish there was a way to analyze dust.

J Boogie

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Re: Lead paint on trim and floors?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2017, 02:32:38 PM »
There's a way to analyze dust particle % in the air, but not lead particulate in particular.  Not sure what it is but Jay Bates the youtube woodworker used it on one of his shows about the war on dust.

gmp029

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Re: Lead paint on trim and floors?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2017, 09:17:48 PM »
I stripped some woodwork in my house using chemical stripper (klean strip, methylene chloride based) followed by the after wash solution instead of sanding (finish sanding once the paint is gone). Much less potential for paint dust that way. I used chemical resistant gloves, full tyvek, splash goggles, and respirator with organic vapor and particulate combo cartridge. Washed down everything with trisodium phosphate solution, multiple times, afterwards. Miserable job, I will never do it again. The paint stripper is very aggressive and will ruin any finish it touches (by design, I suppose). Burns like an mf'er if it gets on your skin.

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