Lead paint in old house

[Sean Riggs]

I have been working on my house that I am living in with the goal of moving out and turning it into a rental property. I own the home outright from an inheritance. The house was built in 1968 I have recently done some painting in two bedrooms and the kitchen which involved sanding areas where paint was chipping. I'm now concerned that the walls probably had lead paint due to the age. I was ignorant of lead paint when I was doing the painting. I don't know what I should do going forward from here. Have the house tested, and then abated if the walls do contain lead paint? Ignore it and just move forward with other renovations? I'm nervous about potentially renting out a house that could be a health hazard for a family.

[Patricia Steiner]

The best thing to do in an older house where lead paint may have been used is to paint over it with an encapsulant paint (available at Home Depot/Lowes/Paint Stores) . "Painting over will form a barrier against the toxins in the lead paint.  It's applied over the lead-based paint as a sealant to prevent paint chips or dust from being breathed in or escaping."  This only works if the walls are in good shape. If the paint is chipped/peeling, the lead was already released as dust. Sanding it releases more - "Lead paint chips and dust can get on surfaces and objects that people touch. Settled lead dust can re-enter the air when the home is vacuumed or swept, or people walk through it. "  It is recommended that you "use a HEPA vacuum and vacuum any of the paint chips and dust, bag it and securely dispose of it. Don’t just dump it into a bin. "  

I live in a historic house, in a historic neighborhood where we are in constant stages of renovation and dealing with lead paint is common.   I recommend that you have the house professionally deep cleaned to remove any traces that still might be present.  And, you probably should have a blood test to check for lead exposure.  

Hope this helps. There's a ton of support online on protecting yourself and others from lead.