I'm about to finalize the purchase of a home that's over a century old, and I'm pretty sure it has lead paint everywhere. I don't have kids or pets right now, and I'm not planning on having kids soon, but that could change in the next few years. Should I invest in getting the lead checked and possibly removing it before I move in? This might mean putting some other renovation projects on hold, but I want to prioritize safety. Or is this something I can wait on until I'm closer to starting a family, maybe in five years?
4 Answers
I live in a house that's 140 years old and full of lead paint and asbestos. We've got kids and pets and have had no issues. Just be cautious before starting any big renovations. We always hire contractors who understand how to work with older homes. We never even bothered testing since we knew about the lead. Removing it sounds like a massive task that most people I know don’t even consider. Just avoid chewing the window sills!
You don't need to do anything drastic—just be careful if you're planning on doing any construction work.
Thank you, this feels really relieving!
Honestly, it's probably not worth it at this stage. You might also have asbestos, but again, it’s usually fine unless you start messing with it. Once you move in, you'll likely discover other projects that will take higher priority anyway.
Good to know, and asbestos was one of my other questions, so this is super helpful too!
Lead paint only really becomes a problem when it gets disturbed—like if you're sanding, drilling, or if a kid chews on a window sill. If you’re not planning on diving into any of those projects right away, I wouldn’t stress about getting it checked immediately. Just take care with any renovations.
Great to hear, thank you!
Thank you! This is really helpful.