With spring coming soon, you might be thinking about making some updates and renovations to your home. Throughout areas of Jefferson County, we do have older homes that may have lead paint issues, however, paint isn’t the only problem when it comes to renovating your home.
According the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the most common way to get lead in the body is from dust. Lead dust comes from deteriorating lead-based paint and lead-contaminated soil that gets tracked into your home. Common renovation activities like sanding, demolition, and digging in the yard/landscaping can create lead dust which can be hazardous.
Older homes (usually built prior to 1978) are more likely to contain lead-based paint. It is recommended that you hire a certified professional to check for lead-based paint before beginning renovation projects on older homes. You can find a lead certified contractor and assessor on EPA’s website.
If you choose a do-it-yourself home improvement, take some precautions to minimize risk:
Seal off the area you are working in with plastic and tape to minimize dust traveling through the home
Work in one area at a time and keep all equipment in that space
Remove furniture from work area and don’t let kiddos or pregnant women in that room to avoid possible exposure
Use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) vacuum to clean up dust on all surfaces
Thoroughly clean up the space and equipment after completing the project