Lead paint may be lurking on your walls. What now?
If your home was built before 1978, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says it may contain lead-based paint. You’ve most likely heard about the dangers this presents to your family and pets, and we often are asked how to deal with plaster walls and ceilings that may contain lead paint.
Disturbing lead-based paint by sanding, scraping or demolishing its surface is considered the most dangerous way of dealing with it. If you have an old plaster wall that is covered in lead paint, tearing it down and throwing it in a dumpster creates a huge amount of dust that may be toxic. This is one more reason we recommend using Big Wally’s Plaster Magic to reattach plaster to lath. With reattachment, little dust is produced, and paint disturbance is kept to an absolute minimum (below the six square feet EPA threshold per room). Think about the dust produced by a complete tear-out versus a few dozen small holes drilled in the wall with plaster reattachment (watch our instructional video to see how reattachment works).
Lead is most dangerous to young children and pregnant women. Developing bodies are more apt to absorb dangerous amounts of lead. Because babies routinely put their hands in their mouths, they are at high-risk of lead poisoning after touching contaminated dust in or around a home. Adults face dangers as well. Reproductive problems, high blood pressure, nerve disorders and concentration problems have all been linked to lead poisoning.
Most American homes containing traditional plaster were built before World War II, meaning they are candidates for lead-based paint. Big Wally’s Plaster Magic is proud to offer a safer, easier alternative to plaster wall and ceiling tear-outs while preserving the beauty of historic plaster at the same time. We strongly recommend that you contact a certified and/or licensed contractor before you begin any renovation project where lead paint may exist. The EPA’s official website is a great source for educating yourself about the hazards of lead paint, testing methods, precautions and solutions.
Good luck, be safe, and happy plaster repairing!
Category : Blog &Plaster Knowledge
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