Been doing some reading on google, and it seems that the only way to remove lead based paint is to get a professional in to do it. Correct? What an awful job it would be to do yourself. I know it's nasty stuff, and wouldn't want to attempt it myself, but if you pay someone to to it, how do you know they've done a good job? This question coming from someone who's never needed a tradie for anything! Like removing asbestos, do you just cross your fingers and hope the person you've paid has done the right thing?
Secondly, how do you find someone who would remove lead paint? Is it *just* a painter?
Doing some research before we potentially buy an old house....
What I mean is, lead paint is pretty inert unless you damage it, sand it or heat it up. If it is just that the house is old and you assume there is lead paint in it you can just paint over the top if you can do that no problems at all.
There is a really good booklet published by the federal department of environment and heritage here
THANK YOU Muppity! I couldn't actually find anything Australian about lead paint! The closest was NZ.
Was wondering on the removal, *just in case* the paint is damaged, and the paint (inside and out) would have to be sanded prior to any painting being done, or else the new paint won't stick properly, and just peel off. Correct? That's why I was thinking it would need to be removed.
The place we are looking at is weatherboard, and the paint is peeling in places, and the inside, is pine daddo board and fibreboard. Haven't got to look at the inside condition up close yet, but the kitchen cupboards are all painted as well, so I don't know what the go will be. OMG, I just realised, I think the WHOLE house is painted! Inside and out! Oh no!
The booklet that I sent you is pretty informative about the process that you need to go through to protect yourself if you are removing paint etc. They aren't complex, just things that you have to be aware of.
We live in a house built in the 1920s and I did most of the reno myself so I had to get pretty informed about it all. One door I stripped had 16 layers of paint on it!
My preferred method in the end was wet sanding. I would use a bucket and then let the bucket dry out (so I had 2 - one that I was working with and one that was evaporating ITKWIM) and put all the residues in an old paint tin which at the end I disposed of in the paint area at our tip.
To be honest - I'm pretty carefuly about things like this and I didn't find it too much of a drama. I was happier doing it myself than employing someone because quite frankly I didn't trust them to do as good a job and I didn't want there to be paint dust flying about the house that I was living in.
Have a read of the booklet - it was really informative for me. And I think there is also a helpline that you can ring if you have any queries.
Oh, and yes - if you want to get a good surface at the end it is always best to sand etc first to get a good surface.
Yep, I read how to remove the paint if need be. I only started read the actual booklet itself after I posted . Obviously, it will take a bit of time to read, but thank you again for posting.
Sixteen layers of paint! Wow, hard to believe! I've only ever wet-sanded cars (good bye fingerprints!), so the thought of wet-sanding something timber is a bit foreign, and a bit scary. I guess the timber dries out properly before you can paint it? How long did one bucket take to dry out?
Your statement about doing it yourself and the reasoning are exactly what I was thinking. I just didn't want to be hopeful that it was something that was a possible DIY. We are pretty handy (the Man and I), so want to be doing everything we can on a place (except the things that need to be done by licenced tradies).
The house we are looking at is over one hundred and twenty years old. Unfortunately we can't get in to inspect it before towards the end of the first week in April (not too long really), but will be walking around the outside with the agent tomorrow.
Yep, have learnt from the cars that good prep is the only way to a good finish. Many many thanks.
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Lead Paint
. Obviously, it will take a bit of time to read, but thank you again for posting.
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