Do you have peeling and failing paint?
Problems and Symptoms of a failing paint job: Most of the time a failing paint job is obvious to see, by the homeowner and by the passerby. Cracking, peeling, flaking paint. Fading, blistering, hair-line cracks, “alligatoring” and tannin bleed through are all common problems facing the ageing stock of Madison area homes. If the house was built before 1978 then there is a high chance that lead paint is present. There is a higher chance that the exterior has lead than the interior but both are assumed unless paint samples are tested at the State Dept. of Health Services. Testing a sample costs $25 and usually two or more samples are required. Wait time is approximately one week.
Hire a professional painter to take care of and remediate a lead paint problem. A house may have many layers of lead paint and when they start to peel or crack the heavy metal Pb is now a potential health threat. Do not risk the health of yourself or your family. Lead paint dust can be carried inside on your clothes and easily spread to the inside of your home. Remember, there are only two ways that lead can enter your body: through the mouth and through the nose. Was hands and face regularly with soap and water when dealing with lead paint.
As a homeowner you do not need to be certified to do work on an area with lead paint, but if you do I strongly recommend that you follow the same precautions that we do as a certified lead-safe company. It is now the law to disclose if there is lead paint on your property to a potential home buyer. It is the sellers responsibility to remediate all potential lead paint hazards before closing.
scraping | in exterior painting 
Reader Comments (4)
Wow! That's a lot of scraping. I think I'll leave that to the professionals and save myself the trouble. I'd rather make sure the job was done properly and not have that fear of the health risk. It is quite embarrassing when people walk by and see some of this paint peeling off, I don't mind too much but you're quite right and does look pretty bad, I'll get this sorted asap!
Yes I have lots of peeling and falling paint and I'd very much like to get you round for a quote. I've had the house for so many years now and have been focusing on the interior as most people would but recently I've noticed how bad the paint job is on the outside wall and through fear of even the wood failing I may have to get this looked at asap. It is a pre-1978 build so it might need a bit of extra attention but it definitely needs doing!
@Jaden, It is import to take care of and encapsulate any known lead paint hazard. Lead paint effects children the most by impairing the nervous system and can cause a wide range of developmental problems, such as, hyperactivity and irritability. They may be inattentive and have delayed growth or learning disabilities. At the highest levels, lead exposure can cause permanent brain damage. Please have your potential lead paint problem looked at and dealt with as soon as possible.
Thanks, Eric
@Shawn, I'm glad you're taking the time to learn how to properly prepare your exterior surface. It does take a little additional care to prep a pre 1978 house, but the time is well spent. Call 608-Painter if you live in the Madison, WI area, otherwise you'll have to find a lead-safe contractor in your area. Good luck with your exterior!