Making sure that your home is free of lead paint can be vital to your health and that of your family’s. It is especially important to carry out a home inspection that checks for the presence of lead if your home was built before 1978, says Dave Park, owner of Advantage Inspection, which is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, but serves the entire Triangle area.
Was your home built before 1978? If so, you may need to get the lead out. Lead-based paint is an issue for the majority of homes built before 1978. That’s because a pigment known as white lead was widely used at that time. Yes, we are talking here about the paint that is on your windows, doors and walls. The paint that is on your shutters, siding and trim. It was used in our schools, our office buildings and more.
The use of alternative pigments only came about in the 1960s, and not because concerned citizens came out in droves to protest its wide use. It was because white lead become too expensive, so more affordable alternatives were found. But that was not until 1978, when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the distribution and sale of all residential paint containing lead, that this dangerous pigment was pulled. This occurred only after a growing awareness of lead poisoning in children and adults. By last count, it is estimated that only about 20% of all residences built before 1978 did NOT contain paint containing at least some presence of lead.
Exposure to Lead Paint in the Home
Inhaling/ingesting lead dust is the primary reason it can be dangerous to have lead-based paint in the home. Painted items, such as walls, that are not maintained properly will tend to chip and peel over time, and will also produce a chalky dust that contains lead. Friction on painted surfaces such as doors and windows can also produce lead dust.
Children under age six are particularly at risk as they are the most likely to put paint chips in their mouths, while pregnant women can also be at risk from inhaling the dust. An estimated 10% of children of preschool age could have enough lead in their blood to poison them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is Testing Necessary? What Should I Do?
If you home was built before 1978, then testing multiple areas in your home can give you some peace of mind, especially if you have children. If found, remediation is not the only answer. A certified painting professional can seal the old and repaint.
Today, the federal government requires sellers to disclose any information about lead paint in their homes if the building dates before 1978. As home inspectors, we look for paint peeling, chipping and cracking. But only proper testing by a certified home inspector can determine if your home needs to get the lead out.
