As a property owner, you have to attend to many things, including ensuring your family’s well-being when inside your home. A common problem that you should address is deteriorating lead-based paint. It can be found on the painted walls of your home’s exterior and interior and even in your furniture. Other products that you bring into your house, such as toys and jewelry pieces, may also contain lead.
Lead paint may still be present in many homes even though it was banned in 1978. Some may be under layers of new paint. It may not be an issue if the paint is in still good condition. However, if your lead-based paint starts to deteriorate, then it becomes a hazard that demands attention. Check for peeling, cracking, chipping, chalking, and damp paint because these can cause lead-contaminated dust—a common cause of lead poisoning.
Here are some tips for keeping your home lead-safe:
1. Inspect areas inside and outside your home that may be prone to lead paint deterioration, such as your windows, windowsills, doors, frames, porches, railings, banisters, and stairs. Repair and repaint as needed.
2. Deteriorating lead-based paint may contaminate the soil around your home and get into your house. To prevent this, think about placing rugs inside and outside entryways. It is also advisable to remove shoes before going inside your home.
3. When working with products with lead, avoid touching your face, especially your mouth. Thoroughly wash your hands before you eat and drink. Also, advise your kids not to put toys in their mouths and explain to them the possible dangers that doing so may cause.
4. For your repainting needs, especially if your home was built before 1978, hire a lead-safe certified renovator. Renovating homes can bring about substantial amount of dust from lead-based paint.
If a contractor has to disturb lead-based paint during the repair or renovation process, they should be trained to perform lead-safe work practices.
5. Do a water test and purchase lead testing kits to collect water samples that you can send to a laboratory for testing. When the results show a significant level of lead, consider using a filter certified for lead reduction.
Having a routine maintenance plan for your Maryland siding and other parts of your home will prevent lead-related problems. Lead poses danger to your health as it can cause increased blood pressure, reproductive problems, and impaired kidney function.
For your home improvement needs, contact a lead-safe certified firm like us at DryTech Roofing & Home Solutions to help you. We can help make your home safer as our team has the necessary knowledge and skills to work on houses with lead-based paint.
When you need new roofing, windows, doors, or siding in Maryland, contact us to request for an appointment or an estimate. Our dedicated staff will be happy to attend to your needs.