I see inquiries about lead testing all the time and I kind of don’t get it. FACT: If your home was built prior to 1978, they used lead paint. Period. End of story.
Well, let me backtrack here. If your home was gut renovated since the late 70’s, good for you. No lead. If it was properly restored, the lead is probably all but gone. I can assure anyone that our Bed Stuy home, which still has most of the original detail intact, is lead free. We stripped all of the wood and even chipped away at most of the paint on the walls before skimcoating.
But if you’re one of these old home psychos lacking in funds, (like us) you’re not buying a newly renovated house. No, you see an old, decrepit, haunted looking house and you want to rescue it. The challenge is exciting. It’s an addiction. Don’t fight it.
Whether you hire a contractor or go DIY, if you’re living in the home during renovation, it’s not a healthy atmosphere. Even if lead is not an issue, there is still dust and fumes to consider. You obviously need to take safety precautions. I don’t want to be a downer, but you’ll be breathing in alot of crap.
After nearly a year of DIY renovations on the brownstone, I crashed and burned. My body just said “Ok, I’m taking a break now.” It wasn’t one big thing, but a series of little illnesses. A cold, a flu, vertigo, stomach upsets. It was partly from fatigue and stress, but I had been living under some nasty conditions during the reno. I detoxed for a week and I was fine after that.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! No other way! What would I do differently?
* Clean up better. I vacuumed, but didn’t wipe everything down with a wet sponge.
* HEPA Vacuum and Air Cleaner. Didn’t have either.
* Take more breaks. I literally woke up and got to work immediately then worked until dinnertime. Stretching, exercise and fresh air would’ve proven beneficial.
* Detox after a month or two, not a full year. I picked up the “cleansers” at the health food store. It’s no fun taking them, but they work! It’s a week long process taking a series of natural pills and you’ll want to stay close to the toilet. I also took a respiratory cleanser since I was breathing in God knows what kind of dust particles throughout the year.
* Open windows. If you can drag a piece to work on outdoors, do it. Not always possible if you’re working straight through winter.
* If you have children or pets, keep them out of the work area until finished and cleaned up in that room. Keep in mind that the dust will take a few days to settle.
* Polyurethane, paint and new material (some carpets and fabrics) send off some nasty fumes. Air out the room! Avoid the area for awhile if you can.
There is no reason to panic and move into a new construction. Try to avoid the lead as best you can. Worst case scenario, your lead levels are high. It should eventually run out of your system and you’ll have normal levels again one fine day.