ASK THE INSPECTOR: Get the lead out… don’t strip paint indoors

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/06/2009 (5981 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION: I’ve been contemplating a large project and I thought you would be the best person to ask.

I live in a 1920s home. The baseboards and trim have been painted over the years. I’m contemplating removing the paint, starting with the doors because they can be removed from the house.

I’ve been surfing the Internet and I’ve come across this tool "the silent paint remover," which removes paint using infrared heat. I’ve phoned a couple of places in the city and no one seems to have heard of it. It appears that it is relatively new. It states that it is safe for removal of lead paint and can remove 10 to 15 layers at a time.

The doors, baseboards and trim are fir. I also have two children, 11 and nine, so my first thoughts are for their safety due to likely lead in the paint. What I would most likely do is remove the baseboards and trim and work on them outside of the house.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

— J. Braun, email

ANSWER: I admire homeowners, like you, who aspire to undertake projects that not only enhance the cosmetics in their home, but strive to return it to its original grandeur. Unfortunately, some efforts may not be worth it. Yours may fall into this category, partially because of the potential for lead in the paint, as you have noted.

Many older homes have lovely, large wooden trim around the doors, windows and baseboards that may have multiple layers of paint and finish added over the original.

I have never seen infrared heat used to remove old paint, but I don’t see why it would not work. I do, however, have a concern that it would be a potential health hazard if the old paint is lead-based. Many house paints produced before the 1960s contained significant amounts of lead, which was gradually phased out over the next couple of decades. The hazards of this material are realized only when it becomes damaged by removal or flaking. Small chips of lead-based paints can be ingested by small children, creating a potential for serious lead poisoning. The lead can also be released into the environment and subject to breathing in by sanding or burning. You are well-advised to attempt your paint removal outside, as suggested, but proper breathing protection should also be worn. A proper respirator rated for lead dust and fumes should be worn, no matter what tool is used to remove the old paint.

As I stated, I have not seen the infrared paint removal tool you have mentioned, but have frequently used an inexpensive electric heat gun for this task. These work quite well, especially when multiple layers of paint are applied. If you can’t source the fancier tool, a heat gun combined with a putty knife and sandpaper may be the most cost-effective way to get the old paint off. Alternatively, chemical paint strippers can be used, but these may be quite messy and costly if you are doing a large amount of wood trim. The benefits of the second method is the significantly reduced chance of introducing lead dust or fumes into the air, but many of these chemicals are quite corrosive and not very environmentally friendly to dispose of.

The main issue to explore, beside the lead exposure potential, is the final results after the extensive work to remove multiple layers of old paint. Unfortunately, old fir may look quite good if it has the original stain and varnish, or has been refinished without ever being painted, but not once it’s painted. Oil-based paints can penetrate the older varnish or shellac originally applied to the fir and may be impossible to completely remove. The residues from this paint may permanently tint or discolour the old fir, which may be extremely difficult or impossible to remove after decades of being painted.

My recommendation is to purchase a low-cost heat gun and experiment with a small piece of casing or baseboard, before attempting to remove doors. If you are successful in removing all the old paint and varnish to your satisfaction, then the doors can be attempted.

Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the President of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors – Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.

trainedeye@iname.com