Repainting Lead Siding

Buy a lead testing kit from a home improvement store.

Repainting lead siding.

These rules were intended to stop lead poisoning in children due to disturbing household surfaces containing lead such as trim moldings wall surfaces and floor coverings. Or if the cost is high replace the old wood with brand new wood whether it s siding trim window sashes or entire windows. How to prepare aluminum siding for repainting 1. Place a drop cloth over your plants that sit close to the house to protect them from chemicals in the water you re.

Buy a top quality paint if it is in your budget and the paint job is more likely to last longer. Begin by hosing down the siding. Washing alone is often not enough to remove mold or mildew from the surface. Painting over lead based paint also known as encapsulation is an effective lead paint remediation technique.

Paint the surface of the primed wood with 2 coats of latex paint in the color of your choice. Encapsulation is less expensive than lead paint removal and it s actually safer since it doesn t release lead dust or debris into the air. A high lead finding might even steer you away from painting and toward siding that safely covers contaminated paint. Builder and editorial adviser mike guertin replies.

In some places you have to remove lead paint before re siding. Take extra care around trim lead concentrations tend to track pretty closely to. Generally you can encapsulate old siding under a new skin of sheathing and install siding over it but check with your local or state authorities governing exterior lead paint to make sure you can cover it. If you use chemical strippers yourself be sure to wet sand the surface when you re finished.

This is usually a small stick that you rub against the siding. That gets the lead out of the house. Although the wood might look paint free lead residue usually remains in the wood. Back in 1991 new rules were established for dealing with painting and renovations on homes built before 1978.

Use a clean roller and brush to apply the coats of paint.