Safely Removing Lead Paint

Until the late 1970s, paint that contained lead was in common usage and could be found in most living spaces. The U.S. Product Safety Commission banned the use of lead based paint in housing in 1978, but if you own a home built before 1978, you may still have lead paint that could pose health and safety issues for you and your family.

The risks from the lead in the paint increase dramatically if the paint is in poor condition and is cracked, chipping, or in high use/friction areas such as on windows and doors. Anytime the lead paint creates a dust from friction or is in small chips the risk of inhalation or ingestion indicates that something needs to be done. To determine if you have lead paint, simple home tests are available online or can be found in your local hardware or paint stores.

If you have a lead paint issue that needs to be address you have a couple of options. Certainly you can paint over or seal it behind drywall and encapsulate it, but the lead is still there. You could also hire a remediation company to remove it for you, often with considerable expense.  Or you can address the issue yourself with a paint stripper as long as you follow some simple precautions.

First of all, you never want to create lead dust by dry sanding or scraping the paint. That will only compound the issue that you are facing. Secondly, avoid using a heat gun to strip the paint as that will create lead fumes. And lastly, you are looking for a stripper that will contain the particles from the paint. The EPA restrictions applicable to contractors do not apply to homeowners and you are able to remove the lead paint yourself. Find out more here: The EPA and Lead Paint<

Enter the BLUE BEAR Line of Paint Strippers. Even within this line you have choices. The BLUE BEAR Paint & Urethane Stripper works very well on most surface coatings including lead paint. Since the paint particles are captured within the gel of the stripper you won't have to worry about any aerosolized lead particles. And you can dispose of the remnants of the project along with any other project debris since you are a homeowner.

If you choose, you can also use BLUE BEAR Lead Based Paint Stripper that has an added benefit. Not only does it remove the paint just like the Paint & Urethane Stripper, it also comes with an added component that you mix prior to application that renders the lead harmless to you and makes it completely safe for disposal. The Molecular Bonding System (MBS) Powder bonds with the lead and renders it insoluble meaning it cannot be ingested nor does it pose any hazard to ground water.

Either BLUE BEAR product will strip multiple layers of paint in one application, are safe for you to use (they don't contain any methylene chloride), and are gelled so they can be used on both horizontal and vertical surfaces. Feel free to call if you have any questions or find a dealer near you Dealers