If you are unfortunate enough to be affected by lead paint in Ohio, there are a few things that you need to know to keep your family safe and to protect your real estate investment. Here at SafeAir Contractors, we have aided many Ohio residents with their lead paint remediation projects and today we’re sharing a few things that we feel are important for you to know about lead paint and your home.
Lead Paint in Ohio: 10 Things You Should Know
1. You Can’t Tell If You Have Lead Paint By Looking At It
It’s a common misconception that you can tell if a paint is a lead paint just by looking at it. This simply isn’t true. The only way to know for sure whether paint used in your home contains lead is to call in a qualified professional to test it, even those at home testing kits aren’t reliable enough to give you the answers you need.
2. Removing Lead Paint Can Cause More Harm Than Good
When it comes to removing lead paint in Ohio, we have decades of experience, but we also know that sometimes removing lead paint can do more harm than good. For example, sometimes the best solution for a home is to encapsulate lead paint rather than removing it which can cause lead paint dust to be inhaled. Additionally, in situations where lead paint removal is necessary, it’s important to call in a professional lead abatement company because lead paint removal without the proper precautions can also cause lead paint dust to become airborne.
3. As Much Work Goes Into Preparing For Lead Paint Removal As Goes Into The Removal Process
Before removing lead paint, a professional lead paint abatement company should always put plenty of planning and preparation. This means isolating the affected area, having family members leave the area, removing furnishings or covering items completely and securely. Without these precautions, your lead paint removal project can cause serious health effects.
4. Wearing a Dust Mask Does Not Provide Enough Protection Against Lead Paint Dust
Many homeowners believe that wearing a simple dust mask provides enough protection against lead paint dust inhalation, but this is not true. Special respirators are necessary to provide complete protection against lead paint dust inhalation and without the use of these respirators, you risk serious illness.
5. A Blood Test Is Necessary To Determine Whether Someone Has Experienced Lead Poisoning
If you have lead paint in your home, you may notice that you or your family members are feeling unwell and even showing some definitive signs of lead poisoning. The only sure way to know whether lead is the cause of your symptoms, however, is to undergo a blood test looking for signs of lead exposure.
6. Lead Paint Is Still A Concern
Many people believe that because household paints are no longer permitted to use lead that they have no need to worry about lead paint in their homes. Unfortunately, because paint that was manufactured in the 1970’s and prior did contain lead, there is a chance that your home could already contain lead paint!
7. There Is A Proper And Improper Way To Remove Lead Paint
Even if you do confirm that your home contains lead paint, it’s crucial that you have the paint removed properly by a fully trained professional with the right equipment on hand. If you attempt to remove lead paint improperly you run the risk of increasing the lead contamination of your home and exposing your family to further health conditions.
8. You Don’t Always Have To Remove Lead Paint
A lot of lead paint abatement companies that deal with lead paint in Ohio will tell you that you always need to remove lead paint in your home. They tell you this simply because they want to charge you for its removal. The truth is, however, that removal of lead paint isn’t always necessary, sometimes encapsulation is a much better solution!
9. If Your Home Was Built Before 1978 It Likely Contains Lead Paint
Homes that were built prior to 1978 are notorious for being painted with lead-contaminated paints and the chances are that if your home was built before 1978, your home contains at least some trace of lead paint.
10. Lead Paint Can Cause Problems For Everyone!
We often hear of children being poisoned by lead paint, but the fact is that everyone can be affected by lead paints including unborn babies and pets!
Need Help with Your Lead Paint in Ohio?
If you need to call in the professionals for help with your lead paint in Ohio, SafeAir Contractors can help! All you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call at 440-639-1191 and we’ll take care of your lead paint professionally and on a timeline that works for you.
