Lead in Paint

Up until the mid-1960s, lead was widely used in household paint.  Lead is dangerous if breathed in, swallowed or absorbed and can be a serious health risk as it builds up in the body over time.  In extreme cases it can be fatal.

The lead in old paint presents an increased risk to health when paintwork is flaking, knocked or chewed by children or pets and particularly dangerous when sanded or burnt off in preparation for repainting.

If you live in an older property or plan a renovation project, there is a real possibility that poisonous lead could be locked in and hidden within the older layers of thick paintwork.