Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Lead Paint and buying an older house

  1. #1
    God/dess colleen's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    South Chicago Suburbs
    Posts
    2,059
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 139 Times in 62 Posts

    Default Lead Paint and buying an older house

    So my husband and I are thinking of buying a 1930's farmhouse. I am concerned about the presence of lead paint under the wallpapaer (which is on almost every surface in the house) and the window sills. The last owners had kids and from their careful child-proofing, it seems like they were very contientious. But I am still wondering wheter there is any risk to a 4-year-old (almost 5) kid from risidual lead paint.

    For those of you who have and older house, what else should I look for, and what questions should I ask? I have never bought an actual house before (only a condo) and I am totally at a loss.

    Any advice woudl be appreciated here!


    My MySpace Page:


    When you perform... you are out of yourself--larger and more potent, more beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth. And it is yours, nightly.

    --Agnes De Mille

  2. #2
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    I'd be more worried about termites. One of my toddler relatives lives in a 1940s farmhouse and he exhibits no signs of lead poisoning, because the old paint is freshly papered over and he cannot put paint chips in his mouth.
    We're doing some renovations this spring on a house built in the 1970s and are worried about asbestos, but will take the right precautions to not get exposed....if you truly are concerned, there are some counties/ government mortage lenders that help with the cost of eradicating lead-based paint residue.

  3. #3
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    13,598
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 28 Times in 23 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    With a house that old, you want to make sure that it's got up-to-code wiring and that they were done professionally and not by some yahoo.

    If you are concerned about lead paint, you can have a lead inspection, which will tell you where the lead paint is located (usually trims, windows, railings, and outside surfaces...rarely on interior walls, but it can be there).

    If there IS lead paint in the home, you have several options...none of which are cheap for long-term solutions:

    1) REPLACE all lead painted surfaces
    2) Covering the lead paint with sealant
    3) Have all of the lead paint removed by a professional contractor (you don't "sand" away lead paint...the dust is just as harmful--if not more so--than the painted surface

    Make sure that you really have a GOOD inspector out there to inspect the place. While buying old homes is great because of the personality they have...they can also be endless money pits. Especially if you do not possess the know-how or skill to make needed repairs. Do not pass up on the inspection.

    Quote Originally Posted by madmaxine
    I'd be more worried about termites.
    Ehhh...that's probably the last thing us midwesterners need to worry about. It's too cold up here for them to really survive the winter. But, there are plenty of other little pests that inconspicuously make their homes in the interior of old homes.

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    198
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    skip the inspector (unless you're going to remove) 'cause I GUARANTEE the house had lead paint used, and in New England (with their laws) the cost can be a couple grand per room to remove. Just paint / seal over it and you'll be fine. Keep the air moving in the house whenever possible and of course monitor childs health.

    My mom was a realtor, I' was a summer contractor and my brother and Iboth owned 100 year old hosues. THey're great...but u gotta insulate, rewire and (maybe) replace windows or get better storm windows...good luck

  5. #5
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    13,598
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 28 Times in 23 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    Quote Originally Posted by proMarket
    skip the inspector (unless you're going to remove) 'cause I GUARANTEE the house had lead paint used, and in New England (with their laws) the cost can be a couple grand per room to remove. Just paint / seal over it and you'll be fine. Keep the air moving in the house whenever possible and of course monitor childs health.

    My mom was a realtor, I' was a summer contractor and my brother and Iboth owned 100 year old hosues. THey're great...but u gotta insulate, rewire and (maybe) replace windows or get better storm windows...good luck

    You NEVER skip an inspection. Sure, there probably IS lead in that house...or the last family could have removed a lot of it. But, an inspector can tell you how good the wiring is, the plumbing, the roof, etc, etc, etc.

    We just had an inspection done on a house that we're looking to buy...and the guy even had a moisture meter to see if there was any water leaks/moisture behind the plaster walls (the house we're buying was built in 1910).

    Spending any kind of money on a house? It's a good investment to hire an inspector to make sure the house is in good condition before you sign your name on the line and have to put in $$$$$$.

  6. #6
    God/dess colleen's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    South Chicago Suburbs
    Posts
    2,059
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 139 Times in 62 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    Venus, could you PM me the name of your inspector? He sounds really good.

    Anything else I should ask?


    My MySpace Page:


    When you perform... you are out of yourself--larger and more potent, more beautiful. You are for minutes heroic. This is power. This is glory on earth. And it is yours, nightly.

    --Agnes De Mille

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    198
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    You're right...I'm sorry...inspectors are vital in buying a home. My choice was to have the inspector NOT do a lead test (as it costs more) since lead was used in most/all paint through 1972 it wasn't a question of IF lead exists but where.

    I did the full inspection (structural, wiring, etc) and radon test, had the area (we live in coal country) checked for under-house mine (there was, bought mine insurance) and moved in.

    Insurance co (go with an A- rated insurer or better) made us rewire before moving in.

  8. #8
    God/dess Bunny's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2003
    Posts
    2,495
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 36 Times in 30 Posts

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    I grew up in very old homes and me and my brother as far as I know have nothing wrong. Sorry I can't offer any more detail because I was a kid but I do know the houses were old and must have had lead paint somewhere.

  9. #9
    aussiepunkshocker
    Guest

    Default Re: Lead Paint and buying an older house

    Are these any help?

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-09-2011, 02:43 AM
  2. Paint-like smell in my house
    By shasta in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-25-2010, 06:37 PM
  3. buying a house...
    By Mia M in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 09-19-2006, 05:03 PM
  4. Buying A House
    By MadisonM in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 09-08-2006, 04:33 PM
  5. Buying a House
    By AudreyLeigh in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 03-01-2006, 08:30 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •