Exterior Painting Hazards

When painting the exterior of your home, keep in mind that the paint you use or the paint your home is coated with is potentially hazardous. It has chemicals that can pose health and environmental risks if not properly used, stored, and/or disposed.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your paint's toxic ingredients. Keep the work area clean before, during and after painting. Dispose of waste each day. And make sure any ladder you use is secure. Do not overextend its reach.

The greatest hazard of painting exteriors comes when working on homes built during or before 1978. These homes were painted with lead-based paint. The older a home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint in housing in 1978. Some states banned its use even earlier.

Lead-based paint has been used both inside and outside of the home, and can be found in the soil around older homes when exterior paint peels and settles on the ground.

Lead-based paint can have severe health effects on children. If undetected early, children with high lead concentrations can suffer from stunted growth, brain and nervous system damage, hearing problems, behavioral and learning problems (like hyperactivity), and persistent headaches.

Adult women can suffer from complications during pregnancy as well as other reproductive problems. Pregnant women can pass lead poisoning to their children via the bloodstream. Lead contamination can also cause for men and women digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, high blood pressure, and pain in muscles and/or joints.

Lead-based paint is not typically hazardous if it is in good condition. Lead dust forms when lead-based paint is scraped, sanded, or heated. Dust also forms when painted surfaces bump together. Lead chips and dust can settle on surfaces and objects people touch. Lead dust can also re-enter the air when people vacuum or sweep it. If painting the exterior of an older house is required, it is recommended to use contractors who are certified and trained to remove lead-based paint.

To reduce the hazard, buy only as much paint as you need and use it all. Measure the area to be painted to determine the quantity needed. Buy the least hazardous product for your specific job. Water-based latex paints generally have fewer toxic and inflammable solvents.

If you do have leftover paint, give it away to others who can use it, if possible. Otherwise, keep it tightly sealed in the original can. Store it in a well-ventilated area away from extreme heat, cold or flame sources, and away from children. Store the can upside down to form a seal around the lid and preserve the paint's quality since some paints can stay usable for 15 or more years.

Be wary of the potential hazards of the paint you may use for painting the exterior of your home and/or the paint your home was already coated in. Your home's preexisting paint coat is especially relevant if it was built before 1978.