Lead paint

[sammyjayneex]

So I live in a house that was built 1935. Today husband decided that we should take up carpet and sand the stairs down and re paint with floor paint with a carpet runner in the middle. In theory this sounds like to will look nice but there is paint on the wooden stair case. He decided to get a paint stripper to strip the paint off and then I started to think about the old lead paints and got me worried that this could have lead paint in jt! I am so worried now as he has got rid of the carpet and stripped the top layer of paint but there is two more layers that hasn't fully come off so he has had to leave the job now as it's getting late and will continue tomorrow but now I'm worried about the lead in the paint and could me and kids and OH have breathed it in?
Now he's gonna try getting the rest off tomorrow as we can't leave it like this!
What are the chances of us getting seriously ill?

Now when I come to think of it we had to strip old wall paper off the walls when we moved in 3 years ago and paint was peeling off behind it so we could have inhaled it then. And also the old doors could have it as paint does peel off even though we have re painted them!
I'm really worried. Can't talk to DH as he just laughs at me and calls me paranoid! Just don't want my kids to get ill

Also this is a council house, if it had dangerous lead paint wouldn't they have got rid of it? Can't understand why it's left in houses if it's so dangerous

Do councils have to disclose any lead paint in your house?

Paint stripper should be fine.
Heat guns and sandpapering the stuff off is what causes the dust, which is less than good for you.

I suspect the council wouldn't know if there was lead based paint in a house, as they won't know if previous tenants have stripped or just repainted.

Lead Paint on its own isn't dangerous - its only when you burn it to release fumes or sand it down (or are a small child chewing on the cot bars) that it becomes a problem - if it is left in place, undisturbed, or overcoated with newer, lead free paint, it is perfectly fine.

I agree with addicted.

We have not sanded down any paint but now I'm worried when we removed the other paint from the stairs just by simply scraping it it will cause my kids to her high lead levels
Wish I never moved in this house
I have noticed the rest of the house has a lot of paint on the wood around the doors so probably contains lead paint too and is chipping so have to keep filling them
I just wanted a nice home but no it's not even safe
Isn't it he law for the council to inform me of the presence of lead paint? They didn't do this?

I don't know if you will be able to read the enclosed as it's a PDF. Let me know if you CAN'T read it, and I try and copy the essential text from it:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-on-lead-paint-in-older-homes

Let me know later. (or tomorrow)

www2.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program-do-it-yourselfers

from our country on removal. wet sand it . prime and paint it over. and use mask

The council doesn't have to inform you - they should but they don't seem to do anything even if there is a problem with lead. There's a massive lack of awareness in the UK. USA EPA link is spot on - but most states require a certified lead specialist contractor to do the work - they usually wear hazmat suits. Lead paint on its own is dangerous - and there is no safe level of exposure. You can get a lead testing kit on Amazon to know if you have a risk and likely areas, and then I recommend you hire an expert to do the test. I haven't bought property in this country yet - but after my run in with lead in my last flat and being blown away by our lead dust levels in our kitchen - (where there was no flaking paint!! - turns out the lead had never been sanded down) I will definitely buy modern or get a lead specialist in.