The best home painting Fremont should not only look good, but it should also be safe for the whole family. If your house or apartment was built before 1978, there is a good chance that there may be lead-based paint on the interior or exterior walls.
If lead is indeed detected in the paint, you and your family could be at risk to lead exposure and poisoning. Lead is a toxic material that can cause serious health problems if ingested or lead-containing dusts are inhaled. Anyone – infants, young children, the elderly, someone with health sensitivities and even pet animals – can be dangerously affected by lead poisoning. However, the most significant risks are for infants and young children.
Medical and scientific research shows that absorption of lead into the blood, even the lowest amounts of it, can have harmful effects on infants and young children’s brain development, resulting in lower IQ levels.
You can check painted surfaces for lead by using a lead test kit for home use or sending a chip sample to a certified laboratory. You can also hire a licensed paint contractor with the proper testing equipment to detect painted surfaces for lead.
If the paints in your home do contain lead, your next move is to take measures to reduce or control the hazard. Sometimes, it is better to leave the lead-based paint than trying to remove it, as long as it is not peeling, chipping, or within reach of children. Disturbing surfaces with lead-based paint could do you more harm than good because you risk creating the hazardous dust that contains lead.
You can reduce the risk of lead exposure by leaving the surfaces intact and covering them with vinyl wallpaper, paneling, wallboard, or even non-lead paint.
If you plan to renovate, repair, or repaint your home, it is better to consult a certified lead professional first before beginning your project. Remodeling, repairing, or repainting projects can create a hazardous environment when painted surfaces are demolished or repainted.
Since 1992, all consumer paints produced in the United States are virtually lead-free. Still, when you go to the paint store or hardware store, it is better to check the paint can label to make sure that these products are indeed lead-free.
While most paint products in the market are lead-free, they may otherwise contain VOC’s – volatile organic compounds. These are low-level toxic emissions that leach out into the air and cause various symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, various allergic reactions, respiratory failure, and even memory loss.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the effects of VOC’s are around two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. If you’re removing paint during a renovation or repainting project, that effect can go up to 1,000 times higher.
If you want to avoid paint products that contain both lead and VOC, the best bet will be the so-called “eco-friendly” paints. These are organic paints that do not contain lead and noxious airborne gases or chemicals that can impair your health. Most eco-friendly paints use natural and organic materials (ranging from chalk to milk proteins to even citrus fruits) and are guaranteed safe, even for those with health sensitivities.
Make your home a healthy and wholesome sanctuary – not a danger zone. Lead-free paints improve overall indoor air quality, making your home safe for you and your family. Sometimes, though, choosing the best lead-free paints can be overwhelming. You can seek professional advice from the best home painting Fremont companies to help you make better-informed decisions regarding buying lead-free paints.