Painting - Concerns about lead in exterior paint

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Godzilla
06-20-05, 07:42 AM
Back again. I am power sanding my house like a mad man and the dust is just horrible. I am concerned about lead in the paint. The house is about 50 yrs old and the current paint job looks about 15 yrs old maybe 20. How do I know if there is lead in the paint? I have been wearing a face mask and googles that rap around my head. The problem is the goggles fog up very easily so I have to wear the mask with my nose sticking out a little. Even with the mask I know I have to be breathing in some dust. Is there any other types of mask/goggle combo that will work so I dont breathe this dust in or fog up the goggles every minute? Of course if there is no lead in the paint I wont be as concerned. Any advice? Thanks :D

noleguy33
06-20-05, 12:35 PM
If it is only 20 years old... then there shouldn't be lead in the paint... I believe they took it out in '78. But, you could always go up to your local paint store and get a testing kit. Good luck.

-billy
Godzilla
06-23-05, 07:51 AM
Appreciate the response. As far as goggles are concerned, are there any types that won't fog up every 5 seconds that dont cost a fortune? :cool:

spdavid
06-23-05, 06:05 PM
Though the surface or higher layers of paint may be fairly new,the fact of the age of your home almost guarantees lead somewhere in the paint layers.There is no way of controlling your work to eliminate the possibility of exposing and releasing lead.Respirators and the filter cartridges for them are labeled as to what they will or will not do so make sure they clearly label lead as something they filter.These are usually higher end items.If it isn't clear then ask the sales help and go to stores that have qualified sales help to answer the question.Better more expensive equipment is less likely to give you problems.That's just basically the way it is.Again talk to sales help at somewhere other than a big box retailer.
joneq
06-23-05, 10:21 PM
try one of these instead of goggles.They are available in most localities. It will also help to keep the dust away from your mouth and nose area. If you use this mask I would just use a good mask like this[second link].

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46526

http://www.websoft-solutions.net/3m_8233_particulate_respirator_p/3m8233.htm