Lead Paint Floor Sanding

Sanding lead paint using an electric sander without a hepa filter is illegal.

Lead paint floor sanding.

The agency s proposal would lower the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors and window sills after lead removal activities from 40 micrograms µg of lead in dust per square foot ft 2 to 10 µg ft 2 for floor dust and from 250 µg ft 2 to 100 µg ft 2 for window sill dust. Lead is toxic and exposure can cause serious illness especially in children and pregnant women. Protect your family by educating yourself on the dangers of lead paint and ways of treating it. Avoid sanding torching grinding sandblasting or using a heat gun on surfaces containing lead paint.

Even on bare wood most floor paints don t require primer we use a random pattern orbital power sander that attaches directly to our hepa filter. You are not trying to remove the old paint layers just give the surface tooth you won t need to prime. Begin by vacuuming paint chips and other debris with the hepa vac. Step 7 mist the surfaces and debris with water to reduce the amount of lead dust in the air.

Think of the most mild means of scraping or sanding. Lead based paint also often called lead paint contains large amounts of this toxic substance and unfortunately many homes have lead based paint. Wear a niosh certified respirator with a hepa filter that is made for use with lead. When removing paint from wood by scraping sanding or other means you may release lead dust if the paint was made before 1978.

Sand the lead paint using sandpaper or an electric sander. The epa estimates that 87 percent of homes built before 1940 contain lead based paint. Before repainting you must sand the floor for best adhesion. Any removal of lead paint may also be subject to federal and state regulations.

Read the press release. Cover the floor with tarps or plastic. Sometimes badly peeling or flaking paint must be removed by scraping and sanding. Clean up the construction area often using a hepa filter vacuum and damp mop.

Here are a few pointers and methods that will minimize the spread of lead contamination. If this is necessary you must carefully seal the area off to avoid contaminating other areas. Wet sanding takes a little longer than dry sanding but it won t create toxic lead. Spread 6 mm plastic sheeting over the entire floor.