Lead Paint Removal and Remediation
Lead paint has been banned for commercial use since 1978, more than 40 years ago. That said, plenty of homes, apartments, and commercial properties built prior to the U.S. Lead Poisoning Prevention Act and subsequent laws are still used today. Not all of these properties are guaranteed to contain lead paint. Some might have never used it, while others may have had it removed years ago. But if you live in and/or own a property built before the 1980s, there’s a chance you might have a lead paint problem.
Commercial buildings and multi-family complexes must receive lead paint risk assessments prior to transactions, but homeowners might not be required. Either way, it’s recommended to have a professional test your property for lead paint for the health and safety of all residents. If lead paint is found, you must act accordingly by hiring a certified lead paint abatement contractor like Anderson Painting.
You might wonder why lead paint removal and remediation is so important in the first place. According to the U.S. Department of Housing ad Urban Development (HUD), lead is a toxic metal that, when taken into the body, can damage the brain, kidneys, nerves, and blood. Paint containing high levels of lead can be especially damaging to young children and can result in behavioral issues, learning disabilities, seizures, and even death. The dust of old lead paint is the primary vehicle for delivering lead into one’s system. Therefore, simply removing lead paint can cause more harm than good, and covering it up is only a temporary solution. This is why certified lead abatement professionals must take care of all traces of lead paint properly.
If you find out that your property contains lead paint, your first step should be to find a certified lead paint remediation contractor in your area and set up an appointment. In the meantime, there are several things you can do each day to minimize your exposure to lead, such as:
Lead abatement specialists like Anderson Painting contractors are trained to prevent the spread of toxic lead particles inside and around a property. Depending on the situation, we will either remove or encapsulate the lead paint. Regardless, our workers wear highly protective gear, such as thick clothing, goggles, and HEPA respirators for their own safety.
During the removal process, we might sand the surfaces in question with a moist material so dust primarily clings to the tool and doesn’t spread in the air. Or, we’ll use a heat gun to capture and enclose the lead paint particles. The main goal of either method is to ensure that no dust lands on any other surfaces. In the most extreme cases, the walls and other surfaces may need to replaced entirely
The encapsulation process is meant to hold lead paint particles in place by covering any lead-painted surfaces with a special coat of epoxy or some type of polymer. As mentioned earlier, while encapsulation prevents the spread of lead dust inside a property, it does not eliminate the risk entirely. This is a temporary solution.
If the property you live in or own in Raleigh, North Carolina still contains lead paint, you can count on Anderson Painting to safely remove or contain it. We’re more than your average Raleigh painting provider.
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