Lead Paint - What's the Deal? (Boston, Newton: real estate, apartment, houses) - City-Data Forum

elijahwilliams · 02-10-2008, 06:25 AM

I don't really know that much about lead paint. What should I know? What should I worry about? My kids are young but past the the stage of eating stuff off the floor but is that enough not to worry? What if a place is old but has new windows? Sorry for the complete ignorance, hoping for you to gently educate me.

Valerie C · 02-10-2008, 06:54 AM

Lead paint is a definite issue, and a good question, especially since you have kids. A couple of things about lead paint: As long as it remains encapsulated, it's not thought of as being a problem; the danger is when it becomes airborne.

New windows are a good start, since lead dust is created when old painted window are raised and lowered (contact points repeatedly rubbing will create dust from the friction). Same for old doors in frames that might not fit perfectly. Again, the contact points will create dust that may contain lead. Remodeling can release lead-dust into the air, and certain precautions need to be taken.

Other lead paint issues can come from outside the home. Exterior paint could also contain lead, and the act of scraping siding could release lead into the soil all around the home.

Homes built after 1978 will not contain lead paint, but any house built before that time is suspect. The lead content was lowered dramatically in the 60's and earlier 70's, but is still present. Many disclosures (if the Seller has provided them) will say "There is no lead paint that we are aware of" which is dramatically different from saying "This house is lead-paint free". Homes built pre-1978 will have a lead-paint certification if they have gone through abatement.

elijahwilliams · 02-11-2008, 05:43 AM

Thanks for the reply!

So I'm guess the little house built in 1880 is lead-full! Are there programs that help people de-lead their homes? Does the de-leading process just kick everything into the air? One of my kids has asthma so I'm always thinking of air quality, mold issues etc. (we're currently living in a lead-free apartment built in the late 70's) But I've not let myself think of lead, seems like I'll now add it to my list of things to freak out, I mean research, about.

Valerie C · 02-11-2008, 07:36 AM

You're welcome

Don't freak out... but definitely research. The little 1880 house, yeah, probably has lead.

There is a TON of good information on this lead paint FAQ: Boston Real Estate FAQs / Lead Paint FAQ
(mods, this links to a real estate site, but it's not mine, so I don't think it's advertising )

Just thought of this... if you're a first time buyer, or considering going FHA, some of the programs available might allow you to borrow more $$ with the intent of de-leading. Also, there are funds available to help owners de-lead. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will refer you to your local city/town resource. For more information call (617) 624-5757 or (800) 532-9571 or go online at www.mass.gov\dph.

The City of Newton has an abatement program--call the Newton Housing Rehabilitation Fund at 617-796-1150.

elijahwilliams · 02-11-2008, 02:48 PM

Valerie, thanks so much for this information. You've made it less overwhelming for me and I appreciate it. I'm just bummed to have one more issue that's going to make it even harder to buy a house. As if cost of housing isn't a big enough bummer!

MovingForward · 02-11-2008, 02:53 PM

Valerie: What does de-leading entail, exactly? Do they come into your home and strip all the trim and doors of paint?

Valerie C · 02-19-2008, 12:28 PM

Moving Forward, I missed this thread, just saw your Q.

As far as I know, any lead paint that is peeling or chipping, plus the trim around the windows and doors, baseboards, moldings, jambs and thresholds, plus all door units and window units. The trim on the interior areas and the door units are generally dry scraped to the bare wood or replaced. The windows that test positive for lead are replaced with new windows.

Exterior: dry scraping up to the level of five feet, including the windowsills, doors, jambs, and thresholds. The latticework around porches is replaced. Another solution to handling the lead issue on the exterior is to install vinyl siding and wrap the windows with aluminum coil stock.

However (and I just learned this!) de-leading isn't a "forever" thing. Check this out: Lead Paint!

haberstroh · 02-19-2008, 01:48 PM

Not to diminish the danger of lead, it is real and can cause serious damage in humans. But you have to see it in perspective. First you yourself probably grew up around lead. It used to be in almost all paints. But did you lick your windowsill as a child, probably not. Do you let your kids do that. Do they eat dirt? Again probably not. Also do you have seriously peeling paint in your house, probably not. Do you work in a paint factory or in a refinery. Again most likely not.
A lot of these regulations very from state to state and it happens that MA has some of the strictest lead laws. Which is a good thing. But is also means you hear and see alot about it. We used to live in NJ with just as many old houses and structures and there you just needed to disclose that you did not know of any lead when you wanted to sell your house. Just use your common sense and don't freak out about it. It is all relative.
PS: There are government and state programs that help with lead abatement, not sure about income levels. They also provide a ton of information.
Good Luck

kathio · 04-12-2012, 07:03 AM

I've had concerns about trying to repair my painted metal registers in our house that was built around 1976. Of course, it would be costly to replace all the registers. There is major rust on most of them. I would have to remove this rust and paint them. Should I have this paint tested, before doing any work on them ?

tikaram · 04-15-2012, 09:04 AM

Just wanted to chime in to Valerie's excellent answer. Keep in mind, that mainly painted parts of the house are concern for the lead. Our house was built in the 60s, and had original windows. When window people came in to replace, they had to have lead test on windows and frames (because working on the windows would release lead dust, if there's any lead). Since the windows were never painted (stained wood), there was no lead found. So while these windows were old, a PITA to operate, and leaked air etc, they were still safe in terms of lead.