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While the EPA provides guidelines for homeowners to perform DIY lead paint removal, it is a risky process and generally not recommended due to serious health risks and strict regulatory requirements. The process requires precise safety precautions, such as wearing a respirator and protective eyeglasses, creating sealed exits, and using a HEPA vacuum for cleanup. To ensure the job is done safely, effectively, and in compliance with regulations, it is highly recommended to hire a professional lead abatement company. Certified professionals have the necessary training, experience, and specialized equipment (like chemical strippers and HEPA vacuums) to handle and dispose of hazardous materials safely.

Lead toxicity comes from inhaling lead or consuming it. Before the 1980s, when the government banned lead from consumer use, it could be found in paint, plumbing, pipes, ceramics, and even gasoline. Lead paint is toxic for the same reason lead itself is toxic, which is why lead poisoning from paint presents the same as lead poisoning from water or food sources, with a slight increase in respiratory symptoms vs. digestive symptoms. Lead paint is most dangerous when it’s old and peeling, cracking, or otherwise disturbed. This increases the concentration in the air and, therefore, in breathable air. 

If your home was built before 1978, there’s a chance that any paint on your hardwood floors could be lead paint—especially if it was already there when you moved in. Because lead is toxic, hiring a licensed pro to remove it is mandatory. The average price for professional lead paint removal ranges from $1,500 to $5,300 and depends on the scope of the project.

Exterior paint contains a higher level of VOCs, which can be dangerous if you’re exposed to it for a long period of time. The good news is that paint’s toxicity reduces significantly once fully dried and cured. Do not keep open exterior paint cans in your home, basement, or garage, exposing your household to harmful chemicals over time.