Repair & Improve

Renovating an Older Home

Use Lead Safe Practices to Avoid Dangerous Exposure

Almost a million children under the age of six in this country suffer from lead poisoning.  We’ve heard a lot about lead paint and toys in the news recently, but there is even a bigger danger from lead paint you may have in your own home. 

Are you getting ready to renovate your older home?  If your home was built before 1978, chances it has lead-based paint somewhere under all those layers.  There are about 38 million homes that contain lead paint.  One of them could be yours.

Lead is especially harmful to kids and affects brain development.  The vast majority of children with lead poisoning are exposed to lead from the old paint in their OWN HOME. The EPA estimates that there are as many as 8 million renovations each year that could generate dangerous levels of lead dust – which even in miniscule amounts can harm children. 

There are ways to reduce the amount of dust and potentially prevent lead exposure during a renovation.  The following tips are courtesy of the folks at the National Center for Healthy Housing:

-Use a certified lead-based paint professional for painting and remodeling projects.
-Keep paint in good shape.
-Work safely and clean up if you paint or repair.
-Keep your home free of dust that may potentially contain lead-baesd paint.
-Watch where your children play.
-Have your child tested for lead exposure.

Visit www.nchh.org for more info.

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Cleaning, Decorating & Design, Fall, Painting & Staining, Spring, Summer, Winter...