Working with Lead Paint
Are your windows or weatherboards bubbling? Chances are these are examples of lead-based paint
Most homes built throughout Melbourne before the 1970’s will have been painted with lead paint. This is toxic to both humans and pets particularly to young children.
As painters we need to ensure we don’t increase exposure to lead during painting preparation. We need to be able to paint over the old paint or remove it without creating dust or leaving paint chips in the garden for example. We must strictly follow safety guidelines to protect our painters, our clients and the general public from lead poisoning now or in the future.
Women at Work Painters is accredited in Safe Lead Paint & Asbestos Work Practices CPCCPD3031A.
This accreditation enables us to identify, remove and/or paint over lead paint following practices that do not create harm to the environment including disposal of old paint.
Systems we use to manage the process include:
- testing for lead
- sealing off work areas with plastic (which we later dispose of) where practical to do so
taping up windows, vents etc to prevent any dust or residue leaving the work area - wet scraping and sanding of peeling paint so dust isn’t created
- use of chemical paint strippers on areas where use of machinery is not practicable
- use of power tools attached to an industrial dust extraction unit so old paint and dust is taken directly to the vacuum bag
- use of a paint stripper tool that we have imported from the USA which removes paint from weatherboards and broad surfaces directly to our dust extraction unit
Lead Paint Removal – case study
This is an example of a recent lead removal project we undertook.
The client had started removing the paint from a window and part-way through realised it was probably lead paint. Lead tests came back positive.
He then called us (in a panic) to see if we could urgently help him resolve this issue as he had very young children and was concerned about them breathing in the lead dust.
We did the following:
- taped up the inside of the window
- lay plastic underneath the work area which we later disposed of
- we removed paint using chemical paint stripper ensuring all old lead paint was collected into a container as we went
- we sanded down the areas using our electric sanders attached to our industrial dust extractor
- our painter wore a respirator, disposable overalls and gloves
This photo shows our painter sanding the window using an electric sander attached to our dust extractor machine. Note our painter is fully “kitted out” in disposable overalls and respirator and there is plastic underfoot to catch any miscellaneous paint chips etc although by this stage of the project there was no debris or dust.
This photo shows the finished product. The window has been stripped and sanded ready for painting.
We have also undertaken other larger projects where we have removed lead paint from weatherboards and other surfaces. We use specialised machinery to assist with these projects and will be able to assist you if you have lead paint that needs to be removed or painted over.
Please call us if you are concerned that you may have lead paint and need assistance.
Lead Paint Removal – case study 2
This is an example of house in Brighton where we stripped a lot of lead based paint prior to painting.
We focussed on the front and sides where the paint was unstable. Our client was concerned about her child being affected by lead so we needed to be careful to minimise any lead dust especially inside. We also needed to consider the health of our painters, clients and their neighbours.
When we stripped the paint we set-up an enclosed area to prevent any paint chips and dust from being blown everywhere – see our photos to the right.
The last photo shows the house after painting.
Please call us if you are concerned that you may have lead paint and need assistance.
Lead Paint Removal – case study 3
This is an example of house in Brunswick where we stripped lead based paint from a window unit prior to painting.
Sometimes paintwork is in such poor condition it just has to be stripped, especially when there is likely to be lead paint in the bottom layers. The paint on these windows was in poor condition and beyond sanding so we used the Dumond Smart Strip to strip the paint before oil undercoating and painting. We applied the gel-like product and attached laminated paper (photo 2), we then removed that 2-3 days later (photo 3), sanded, oil undercoated and painted (photo 4).
The windows look like new now.
Please call us if you require paint to be stripped or any concerns regarding lead paint.
Lead Paint Removal – case study 4
This is an example of paint we stripped from a handrail in Toorak. We did this as part of painting the entire apartment.
Our clients wanted to remove the paint and have a wax applied to return the banister to timber.
We used Peelaway, a chemical stripper to remove most of the paint and then used a heat gun to try to remove paint stuck in timber grooves. We then sanded and applied the wax.
The end result is fantastic and our clients are very happy with the finished product.
Please call us if you require paint to be stripped and repainted or any concerns regarding lead paint.
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