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Can I Paint Over Lead Paint?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

So, you moved into a new house or opened a business in a new building. While you are busy taking in all of the new features of the home or building, it’s important to take note of the structural components of each space, going beyond simple aesthetics.

A thorough evaluation of your property is necessary to ensure the safety and security of everyone under your roof. This is especially true if your building was built or remodeled before 1978. Why 1978, you ask? Before then, lead paint was widely used as a painting solution in both residential and commercial spaces.

The presence of lead paint in your building or home isn’t necessarily a cause for immediate concern, but you have some choices to make if you have lead paint on your walls.

You might wonder, “Can I paint over lead paint safely?” The short answer to this is sometimes. Let’s break down more about lead paint and when it can and cannot be painted over below.

Why Lead Paint is Dangerous

Lead paint was a widely used resource up until the mid-1970s. Touted as a budget-friendly alternative to traditional paint, lead paint quickly became the solution to bring vibrancy and durability to painted walls.

Unfortunately, as time passed, it became known that lead paint is actually toxic and can cause significant symptoms and illness if it is ingested or inhaled. Lead dust is considered a toxin, and levels can build up in your body the longer you are exposed to it. Children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are more susceptible to the effects of lead, but anyone can experience an adverse reaction over time.

Common symptoms of lead exposure include:

Headaches
Abdominal pain
Muscle and joint pain
Insomnia
Fatigue
Irritability

The good news is that simply having lead paint in your home or building doesn’t mean you will become affected. Lead paint isn’t dangerous while it is in good shape. For the paint to become toxic, it needs to be released in the form of dust or paint chips. As your property ages, it becomes more likely for the lead paint on your walls or banisters to chip, peel away, or crumble.

As that happens, lead dust is released into the air and those particles are what causes lead exposure symptoms.

Testing for Lead Paint

If your walls are in good condition, it might be hard to know whether you have lead paint. If your home was built in the last few years, your risk is pretty low. However, if your property was built before the 1970s, it is crucial that you have your walls and other areas tested for the presence of lead.

Hiring a certified lead inspector is the best way to go about this! XRF lead testing, or X-ray fluorescence lead testing, uses X-ray beams to detect the presence and concentration of lead paint on your walls or other surfaces.

It is a simple, noninvasive, and nondestructive way to learn more about your home! You can have results almost immediately, and then you are equipped with the knowledge you need to move forward.

Pros and Cons of Painting Over Lead Paint

So, your testing revealed the presence of lead paint. The first thing to do is not to panic. While it may not be ideal, dealing with lead paint may not be as overwhelming as you think. To start, you need to understand the quality of the lead paint. It cannot be chipping, crumbling, or peeling away; otherwise, it will need to be sanded down and expertly removed before you paint again.

If your paint is in good condition and is not wearing away, encapsulation may be an option. Encapsulation is a process of sealing the lead paint with a special coating before painting over it with traditional paint. While this process doesn’t entirely remove the threat of lead, it does ensure that the paint will stay where it is. However, it is important to remember that simply painting over the lead paint with a store-bought paint is not a safe or reliable solution.

Painting over lead paint offers a faster, more budget-friendly way to handle lead paint that is in good condition. If it is in a smaller area or in a space that is protected from children, encapsulation may be the way to go.

On the other hand, painting over lead paint may only be a temporary solution. If you run a commercial property or are a landlord, any further lead testing done by your inhabitants will yield the same results. You may be required to undergo lead remediation anyway, even if the paint is sealed.

The Lead Remediation Process

If you decide to avoid the hassle of painting over your lead paint, lead remediation or lead abatement are the next logical steps. Removing your lead paint entirely will offer a lasting solution for the potentially dangerous lead dust on your walls.

Lead paint abatement starts with securing the affected area. Windows are shut, fans are turned off, and your HVAC system is temporarily shut off or diverted from the space. While this process is usually secure, lead dust can be unpredictable and can become airborne quickly. Without a secure space, these particles can be inhaled or can settle into another area of your home.

Once your space is ready to go, wet sanders, chemicals or heat are used to remove the paint in careful sections. The main goal of lead paint removal is to keep the paint strips intact while they are being removed from the space.

After the paint is gone, the entire area is cleaned and sanitized while the lead paint chips and strips are disposed of properly. With lead remediation, you can rest assured that your property is safe from the dangers of lead paint!

Don’t simply paint over lead paint. Call the team at Exit Mold today at (516) 512-7877 to schedule your XRF lead testing and to handle your lead paint with care and consideration.

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