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| Vacant Houses - Advice About Lead Paint |
Lead was commonly used in paint right through to the mid-1960s (in addition to a large number of common household products). Used mainly as colour, but also preferred for its fast drying properties, durability and increased resistance to deterioration causing moisture.
Now prohibited in the UK, a result of better awareness regarding the adverse health and environmental problems lead involves, it is still found in several houses across the country from previous applications. Usually seen on woodwork, windows, doors and some metal items; lead is harmful to health whenever inhaled or ingested, so it is essential that you learn to identify it and get rid of it correctly where feasible.
There are a variety of methods that lead paint can become damaging to your health. When paint ages it is prone to peeling or flaking, or can become chipped by knocks or regular contact. If it is chewed by children or pets it is likely to place them at risk, and when paint is burnt or sanded off (to prepare for repainting) if it contains lead it could become an airborne threat. Although individuals who work with lead on an every day basis are at the most threat of encountering a problem involving lead poisoning, in the home it is children and women that are pregnant who are in danger.
Even though it is now illegal for companies to add lead in to domestic paints, some exclusions remain for restoration and restricted artistic applications. One method to spot if your property has lead paint is to think about its age. Houses built over the past 40 years have very little chance of including lead paint, although it is by no way an impossibility. Older properties with heavy paintwork (of multiple coats that have accumulated over the years) may possibly hold lead in the older sub-layers. If the newer outer layers are in good condition and you do not plan to eliminate them through redecoration, then the under-layers are not an immediate problem.
There are testing kits available, to be purchased in certain redecorating retail or trade outlets throughout the country, which can be used to determine whether lead exists in your paintwork. If you think that you have lead paint within your home, then there are a variety of ways you might be able to take care of it safely. Painting over the lead paint with layers of contemporary paint will not remove the issue, but will go a certain way toward stopping the paint from presenting an immediate threat. If you choose to remove the paint, it is essential that you avoid using methods which produce dust or fumes.
In the event you decide to tackle the problem yourself, you have to remember to take all relevant safety measures and wear the required safety clothing/equipment. If you are not great at such tasks, it may be worth contacting a specialist and hiring an independent contractor. If you are planning to let out your vacant property, it has to be made secure and liveable for the renters. Lead paint could present a health risk if not resolved appropriately.