When absorbed into the body, lead causes health problems ranging from impaired development to anemia and severe kidney damage. Lead paints were once used widely, and many structures that were finished before such products were banned still contain them.
In some cases, it will be best to leave lead paint alone, but that is not always practical or safe. Whenever lead paint needs to be eliminated from an area, it will be necessary to prepare and work carefully whether you do it yourself or opt for painting services Frisco TX. Keep the following five tips in mind when planning to remove lead paint and things should proceed safely.
1. Arrange for an Inspection
Knowledge is power, in many cases, and lead paint removal is one of them. Understanding the situation before taking any action at all is the best way to ensure such a project can be carried out safely.
Companies like Air Quest Environmental Inc specialize in conducting inspections that can be scheduled for any part of the process. An inspection that happens before any paint gets disturbed will highlight any issues that will need to be accounted for along the way.
This will make it possible to develop an informed strategy for removing lead paint without allowing it to create avoidable dangers. Experts who are trained in how to inspect sites that include lead paint will always be able to produce helpful insights.
2. Wear Protective Equipment
Lead can be swallowed, inhaled in the form of dust, or simply absorbed through the skin. Any one of these methods of intake can be harmful and must be guarded against by people who remove lead paint.
While other precautions will always be necessary, protective equipment provides a final line of defense against dangerous lead. A mask that is capable of filtering out airborne particles of lead will rule out a particularly threatening type of exposure.
Durable but flexible gloves will make it possible to remove lead paint without ever allowing flakes of it to contact the skin. Disposable shoe covers will stop lead dust from being tracked out into adjacent areas.
3. Seal the Targeted Area
Even the removal of a small amount of lead paint will give rise to the possibility of contamination. The area to be worked on must be sealed off as completely as possible from its surroundings before any lead paint gets removed.
The same techniques that are often used in the course of conventional home remodeling can be employed to keep lead dust safely confined. It will always be best to start by sealing an affected room before doing anything else to the paint.
4. Cover Everything
Once lead paint gets broken up and moved around, it tends to become tricky to keep track of. A room to be cleared of lead paint can end up harboring a lot of dangerous dust particles if appropriate precautions are not taken.
Every surface that will not be treated should be covered completely in rugged plastic sheeting before removal work begins. This will keep lead particles from working their way into materials like fabric and spaces like molding crevices that could otherwise trap them.
5. Keep Working Surfaces Wet
Dry lead paint tends to flake and turn to dust quite easily, particularly when it is especially old. Moistening paint with spritzes of water will make it much easier to control lead and keep it manageable. All impacted surfaces should be kept wet until the process of removal is completed.
Use the five tips above to make sure your lead paint removal project will proceed smoothly and safely. Whenever lead paint needs to be eliminated from an area, it will be necessary to prepare and work carefully.
