How To Test For Lead Paint At Home

The paint in houses built before 1978 may contain lead.

How to test for lead paint at home. You can find out if the paint in your home contains lead with a lead paint test kit. Though the use of lead paint was banned in many cities in the us it can still be found in older homes and buildings. Rhodizonate based kits for nearly any color except red or pink or sulfide based kits for lighter paint colors. Otherwise if you buy a lead testing.

You can hire a pro to test for lead which can be a great solution if you suspect lead contamination not only in your paint but in the soil around your home. Choose the appropriate diy lead test. If you havent done a test and no one told you there was lead in the paint of your home you are not forced to test. One of the diy lead paint testing methods that is becoming more popular is the stick swab kit.

Make a quarter inch incision through a thick. You can then deal with the lead paint so it is not a hazard in your living space. Then get the paint tested to confirm it is lead based. To identify lead paint look at the age condition and history of the paint.

While home test kits are available online the us environmental protection agency epa does not recommend diy testing. Apply the applicator to the spot to be tested making sure to rub it against all of the exposed paint layers. While you most certainly have to disclose your knowledge of lead based paint in the home you do not have to test for the presence of lead based paint. Using a test kit to test old paint for lead.

While this may not pose a significant hazard if the original paint is intact and has been painted over it can become a health concern if the paint is peeling or being removed for renovation. To test your home for lead paint contact a certified lead inspector or a certified lead risk assessor. They can often test soil and dirt. Continue to rub the applicator while squeezing gently for 30 seconds.

This swab looks like an insect bite relief pen or a slender paint dauber. To use it you just crush the swab stick shake it then swab the surface that you suspect of being contaminated with lead. To assuage concerns regarding lead paint in your home you can hire a professional inspector who will provide a report of the lead levels in and around your home. The xrf measures lead in the paint without damaging it and provides a fast method for classifying painted surfaces as either positive lead or negative no lead.