Just moved into an old home. Lead paint?

Question

My husband and I just moved into the cutest home, perfect for welcoming our little baby into our family in. I am exhausted from moving out of and cleaning our townhome so I have not done a lot of cleaning here at the new place. It needs a good dusting but other than that, the landlords left it in pretty great shape. SO, I thought I would just pick up cleaning in after I got all unpacked. I am unpacked now, so that’s great. 
I was laying in bed enjoying finally being done with this move and admiring our new home with my husband when it hit me, this house is over 100 years old, what about lead paint? I’m freaking out. Gah. 
Do any of you mommas live in old homes? If so, how have you managed the lead paint situation?

Answer

You can buy lead tests at your local hardware store. We live in a house that was built in 1887 and I’m also worried about lead paint. We’ve redone most of the house so hopefully we have already gotten rid of any lead paint but I’m worried about the exterior of the house. I think if it’s chipping or pealing is when it’s a problem. Or if it becomes airborne from like sanding , etc. I know they sell a paint too that’s supposed to seal the lead paint.

Answer

The paint might be new enough to be lead free. We lived in an old house, over 100 years old, when I was pregnant with my first and the paint was safe, we live in a different 150 year old out now but it was repainted within the last 5 years. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean the paint is dangerous.

Answer

Did you buy the house or just renting? If you bought it, they should've tested it and told you. If you're renting, asking your landlords and express your concern if it is because you're expecting.

Answer

You can test for lead paint. We just bought a home built in the 1940’s, luckily my fiancé is an engineer and worked construction every summer and knew that the paint was not lead by the way it peeled and that there was not very many homes in our county that actually had lead paint in them. 
You can buy paint that seals lead paint but if you’re concerned I would just test it. I always wear a mask when I peel or chip paint lead or not just to be safe but that’s just me.

Answer

Talk with your landlord. He should be able to tell you what has been painted and when. Also take a look at your lease and see if there is anything about lead in it. I haven’t rented so I’m not sure about that. But I know that when buying, there is always a section about lead

Answer

Not to completely freak you out, but what about the pipes? I know we bought an older home. completely remodeled it before we had kids. But had more issues with pipes being lead then the paint on the wall.

Answer

We live in a 1907 Victorian and so long as lead paint isn’t disturbed you don’t have anything to worry about. You can buy tests at the store easily to test. Nothing to worry about in my opinion

Answer

yeah we got the lead tests and chipped a little paint (the people before us had repainted) around the windows and tested that.

Answer

I believe you can go to a hardware store and get test strips to see if there is lead in the paint.

Just moved into an old home. Lead paint?

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