Deal with old lead paint safely

Test old paint for lead, then contain, wet-strip and dispose of it safely without spreading toxic dust.

LP-01Work out if the paint is likely to contain leadIf your home or the woodwork was painted before 1992, treat old paint as a possible lead risk, especially on skirting, doors, window frames and metal railings. Buy a lead test kit and swab a small scraped area of each different paint layer. A positive result means you follow the wet, low-dust methods below - never dry sand or heat-strip it.

1 each · Lead paint test kit (swabs)

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LP-02Decide whether to remove it at allIf the paint is sound, not flaking and not somewhere it will be rubbed or knocked, the safest option is often to leave it and paint over it with a fresh coat, sealing it in. Only strip it back if it is failing, or if you need a bare surface for repair work.

LP-03Clear and seal off the work areaMove furniture, rugs and soft furnishings out of the room. Tape heavy plastic sheeting over any doorways and cover the floor with a dust sheet, taped down at the edges. Open a window for ventilation but keep the door shut so dust doesn't travel through the house. Keep children and pets out of the room until you've cleaned up.

2 each · Dust sheets (heavy duty)

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1 roll · Masking/painter's tape

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1 roll · Plastic sheeting

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LP-04Put on the right PPE before you startWear disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves and a properly fitted P3-rated respirator mask - a paper dust mask does not filter lead particles. Wear eye protection if you're using a chemical stripper. Keep this PPE on for the whole job, not just the messy bit.

1 each · P3 respirator mask (reusable)

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1 each · Disposable coveralls

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1 box · Nitrile gloves (box)

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1 each · Safety glasses

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LP-05Choose a wet or chemical stripping method - never dry sand or use heatDry sanding and power sanding throw lead dust into the air where it stays for hours and gets breathed in or trodden through the house. A hot air gun or blowtorch turns lead paint into toxic fumes. Instead use wet hand-sanding (keep the surface damp with a water spray as you work) or a chemical paint stripper paste, following the tin's instructions.

1 tin · Chemical paint stripper (paste type)

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3 each · Wet-and-dry sanding pads

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1 each · Spray bottle for water

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LP-06Strip the paint in small, manageable sectionsWork on one small area at a time so the debris stays wet and doesn't dry out and turn to dust. Use a scraper to lift softened chemical stripper, or wet sandpaper worked gently by hand. Wipe up sludge and scrapings straight into a heavy-duty bin bag as you go rather than leaving them to dry on the sheet.

1 each · Flat scraper

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2 each · Heavy-duty bin bags

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LP-07Clean the room down while everything is still dampWet-wipe skirting, sills and any surface dust settled nearby using disposable cloths, working from the top of the room downwards. Never dry-sweep or vacuum with a normal household vacuum - use a wet wipe-down or a vacuum with a HEPA filter only. Fold dust sheets inwards to trap debris before lifting them away.

1 pack · Disposable cleaning cloths

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LP-08Dispose of the waste as hazardous waste, not the household binDouble-bag all scrapings, wet wipes, sanding pads and used PPE, and seal the bags. Lead paint waste counts as hazardous household waste in the UK - most councils will not let you put it in your normal black bin, and you need to take it to a household waste recycling centre and tell staff what it is. Check your council's website for their exact hazardous waste rules before you go.

RULES

2 each · Heavy-duty bin bags (for double-bagging)

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KNOW THE RULES

UK councils generally treat lead paint waste as hazardous household waste, not ordinary rubbish. Check your local council's rules before disposal - do not put it in your general waste bin.

LP-09Decontaminate yourself before leaving the roomRemove gloves and coveralls last, turning them inside out as you peel them off, and bag them with the other waste. Wash your hands and face thoroughly, and shower as soon as you can if you've been stripping a large area. Wash any reusable clothing separately from the rest of your laundry.

LP-10Prime and repaint the bare surfaceOnce the surface is fully dry and free of debris, apply a suitable primer before your topcoat - this seals the wood or metal and stops any remaining trace of old paint being disturbed later. Let the primer dry fully before painting as normal.

1 litre · General-purpose primer/undercoat

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1 each · Paintbrush

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