Whether you are moving into a home or simply fixing up your existing home to meet your specific design tastes, painting and decorating can be great fun and very satisfying.  But, before you begin your project you need to be aware of the possibilities of lead in your home if it was built prior to 1978. 

Lead, like most toxic substances when kept under control it poses little risk.  However, there are specific actions you should take for you and your family if you are contemplating work on a pre-1978 home. 

Before the work begins:

• If your home was built pre-1978 presume the paint is lead-based unless testing proves otherwise; it is recommended testing be done by a State-Certified professional;
• Contain the work area by covering interior and exterior exposed areas with plastic sheeting; secure with duct tape;
• Turn off forced-air heating and air conditioning.

During work on lead-based painted surfaces:

• Keep all non-workers outside of the work area;
• Wear protective clothing and shoes while doing the work;
• Use a properly fitted respirator equipped with HEPA filters
• Water-mist the work area as you scrape to reduce dust; collect all chips and dust on plastic sheeting;
• Be cautious when using paint strippers since they contain toxic chemicals;
• Don't eat, drink or smoke in the work area;
• Don't dry-sand, blast or power-wash to remove lead-based paint;

When work has been completed:

• Remove the plastic sheeting used to protect surfaces by rolling or folding inward;
• Dispose of construction debris in a heavy-duty plastic bag and tightly secure it;
• Wash the exposed areas with a general household cleaner diluted in a bucket of water; use a wet sponge or wet cloth to remove all the dust and dispose of the waste water to the sewer;
• Vacuum carpeted areas with a HEPA vacuum cleaner;
• Change clothes and shoes before leaving the work area and machine wash them separately;
• Shower and wash your hair after finishing work;
• Consider hiring a State-Certified professional to test the area for lead dust contamination after the final clean up;