I discovered some paint peeling off my window trim in my 1928 house, and when I touched it, bits came off easily, generating some dust and small chips. I started to panic as I realized it might be lead paint since the house is so old. I vacuumed the dust, but then I was hit with concern over whether I caused any serious health risks, especially with my son coming home from school later. I've opened the windows and put the vacuum outside, plus I turned on an air filter. Is this a big deal, and what steps should I take now? Can I just repaint over the chipped area or do I need to hire professionals?
2 Answers
You should definitely pick up a paint tester from a local hardware store. They’re super cheap and will let you know if lead is present in seconds—if it turns pink or magenta, that means lead is there. While it sounds scary, a one-time exposure to the dust isn’t likely to cause harm. Dangerous effects usually come from long-term exposure. If lead is found, you can either strip the paint or apply a special encapsulation paint to seal it instead of regular paint.
It's usually okay to encapsulate the paint by just painting over it. The real risk comes from the dust and any peeling paint that could be ingested, particularly by kids. Keep an eye on how things are looking, and consider checking with local guidelines on lead paint.
Thank you for the advice!