TIL my old house paint might have lead in it from a free test kit at the library.

I grabbed a test kit on a whim and it turned positive on my 1978 kitchen trim, so now I'm looking at safe removal options before I sand anything.

4 comments

4 Comments

wright.jesse2mo ago

Whoa, that's a serious wake-up call. I always figured lead paint was an overblown worry in older homes, but a positive test right there in your kitchen changes the game. Good on you for checking before sanding, because that dust is no joke. Look into wet sanding methods or just sealing it over with a fresh coat of the right primer.

patking1mo ago

Yep, saw a study on that dust spread.

margaretj402mo ago

Honestly @wright.jesse, sometimes I wonder if all the lead paint talk is just fear mongering. My grandma lived in her old house for 60 years and was totally fine, you know? Maybe we worry too much about stuff like that.

-3

riverm481mo ago

The CDC says there is no safe level of lead exposure for kids. Your grandma was lucky, but I've read about studies showing even low levels can cause learning and behavior problems. It's one of those things where you don't see the damage until later, and by then it's too late. That's why the rules got so strict, to protect the most vulnerable.