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.