• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Fiber Control Inc

  • Home
  • About
  • Process
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact

April 28, 2019 by FCI Admin

Worried About Lead Paint? Steps to Take Before Renovation

Set of tools for painting.Ready to paint your home, but worried about the presence of lead paint in your house? It’s an understandable concern in older homes, especially those before 1978 when lead paint was banned from use in building paint. Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or looking to get assistance from a contractor, it’s essential to understand the risks and safety measures needed to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from lead paint.

Lead Paint and Dust During Renovation

The biggest risk during a renovation is releasing lead paint into your home, either by having lead paint chips or dust. Lead paint dust is especially dangerous as it can easily enter the body via the mouth, throat, and lungs. Three things to keep in mind:

  • Understand the Risks: Start by knowing the risks of lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for children as it interferes with physical and mental development.
  • Prepare the Room: Paint removal, in particular, will create a lot of chips and dust. Furniture should be removed, not just covered. Anything that can’t be removed should be wrapped in plastic and securely taped in place.
  • Keep It Wet: Use wet sanders and use a spray bottle to wet the surface when working with hand tools to avoid the spread of dust.

Good Work Practices and Equipment

If you’re going to handle the project yourself, remember to purchase the right equipment you need. This will include having HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) certified gear and following good work practices.

  • HEPA Respirators and Vacuums: Due to the fine particulates when removing paint, you will need NIOSH-certified respirators as well as HEPA filter-equipped vacuum cleaner. Using a normal vacuum would vent the dust into the air.
  • Lock Down the Room: Besides removing or covering furniture, make sure windows are closed, vents sealed, and for larger projects an “airlock” is created using two sheets, one taped to the door along all corners and slit down the middle, and the second hanging flush as a flap.
  • Keep It Clean: Wear full body covers to avoid tracking around dust. Clean and launder them separately and discard after the project. Clean the workspace regularly with vacuum and mops, replacing rages, sponges, and mops often and discarding the old ones.

Learn more about self-run projects on the EPA’s page for Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) personal projects.

When to Call in Lead Abatement and RRP Contractors

For larger and commercial projects, or if you don’t have the time to invest in proper work gear and project time, think about contacting a lead abatement specialist and RRP contractor. They can test for the presence of lead in your paint and perform the proper procedures to keep your home safe during any remodel.

If you’re worried about asbestos or lead in your home, or your contractor has discovered the presence of these hazardous building materials, we can help. Fiber Control, Inc. are experts in asbestos abatement and lead remediation. Contact us today to learn about your options when it comes to removing these materials.

Filed Under: Blog, Lead Tagged With: Contractors, Lead Abatement, Lead Paint, Lead RRP, Lead RRP Rule

Primary Sidebar

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017

Categories

  • Asbestos
  • Blog
  • Demolition
  • Environment
  • Lead
  • Mold
  • Sandblasting

Recent Posts

  • The Chronic Issue of Mold in College Dorms
  • Is It Possible to Remove Asbestos in Winter?

Footer

FIBER CONTROL, INC.
1687 Middlesex Street – Lowell – MA – 01851
(617) 922 – 3203
email: contact@fibercontrolinc.com

FULLY LICENSED IN MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONTACT US

  • Home
  • About
  • Process
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 • Fiber Control, Inc. All rights reserved. • Marketing by Vision Advertising

Copyright © 2021 · Executive Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in