Lead Paint Removal

Lead Paint Removal Brisbane

Safe and effective lead-based paint removal in Brisbane

If your home contains lead-based paint, this can cause a health issue for you and your family. Lead paint also makes it more complicated to paint the walls if you’re looking to refurbish your house. Commonly found on older character homes in Brisbane, lead paint removal is definitely something best left to the professionals.

Any amount of lead-based paint can cause a risk. If you’re unsure whether you have lead-based paint, and your home was built prior to 1970, then there is a high likelihood lead was used to paint your home.

Surepaint can carry out a range of services for dealing with lead paint. We can test the paint to determine whether or not you have lead-based paint.

When we discover lead-based paint, we’ll discuss the options available to you for dealing with the issue. We are highly qualified, professional experts who can remove it safely and ensure your family and your home is protected.

Learn more about how we remove lead paint or get in touch today for a free quote estimate.

Get in touch today for a free quote from one of the best lead removal companies in Brisbane. We’ve built a reputation for friendly, amazing service and exceptional professionalism. Call up our customer service team or complete the form to get your free quote today!

Our Lead Paint Removal Service Process

Surepaint’s teams use methods and products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when removing lead paint. If you decide to proceed with Surepaint after receiving a free quote estimate, we’ll follow best-practice procedures to ensure everyone is kept safe and you experience great service.

Planning

One of our highly experienced tradesmen will come out and visit you to do a full assessment of the house. They’ll work with you to figure out your goals (e.g. preparing the home for sale, removing lead-based paint or complete refurbish) and discuss more detailed costs and timeframes. Site access and height access requirements will also be worked out at this stage. If necessary, Surepaint can carry out lead paint testing to detect whether your home contains lead-based paint.

Lead Paint Removal

Our professionals will get to work in removing and disposing of the lead paint in the best way possible, using EPA guidelines and the highest professional standards. This process can take some time, but it’s important to do it right!

Final clean up and follow-through

By the time we’ve tidied up, the house will be in tip-top condition ready for repainting. We’ll work to resolve any issues should they arise. We may recommend some associated services, such as exterior house painting, to help you get the best result possible and protect your home for the long run.

How do You Remove Lead Paint?

Surepaint’s teams have the ability to remove lead-based paint entirely from any surface, or we can prepare lead-based paint so that you can paint over the top of it. Either way, when we carry out lead paint removal in Brisbane special precautions must be taken.

Our complete lead paint preparation process looks like this:

Cover the ground underneath and around the areas to be cleaned with heavy-duty plastic sheeting to contain chips and flakes of paint

Tape up windows and gaps around doors to prevent lead paint waste from entering the home

Wet scrape the area with tungsten steel scrapers or LiNBiDE scrapers

Wet machine sand lead paint. Starting with 40 grit and progressing our way up to 120 grit sandpaper

Gather up plastic sheeting and all paint chips around the work area

Dispose of lead paint and waste in accordance with EPA lead paint removal guidelines

Wet sanding with an attached water source helps prevent toxic lead dust and can prepare a lead paint home to be painted over. In projects where our lead paint removal specialists are preparing your home for repainting, we start sanding with 60 grit sandpaper.

Now if you need full paint removal we can do this via wet sanding (mostly for large flat external walls) or we can use chemical lead paint removal products. Our chemical paint removal process follows this method:

Apply various products to test which one will work best for your home, and how long it will need to be in place for

Lay down heavy-duty plastic sheeting around all areas being treated to contain waste

Tape off windows, doors and other gaps to cover surfaces that don’t need to be treated

Apply the paint stripping agent to the walls based on the results of the test patch carried out earlier

Cover the chemical agent with laminated paper to prevent accidental exposure or premature removal

Wait for 12 to 72 hours for the chemical paint remover to work, based on test patch results

Scrape off and remove lead paint

Clean up and dispose of waste

Associated Services for Lead Paint Removal

Depending on the specific needs of your home and the amount of work you want to put into your home, we may recommend one of the following associated services. Feel free to ask us any questions about these other services.

Lead paint testing

Exterior house painting

Pre-painting colour consultation and visualisation

Rotten timber repairs

Exterior pressure washing

Specialised height access (for multi-level homes and difficult to reach areas)

What are the health risks of lead paint exposure?

Lead-based paint can lead to lead poisoning, which occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead can wind up in the body when paint chips are consumed (generally an issue with little children, who like any parent would know often put things in their mouth), or when lead dust is dispersed through the air – typically from sanding. Other sources include contaminated air, water and soil. Adults who work with batteries, do home renovations or work in auto repair shops also might be exposed to lead. There is treatment for lead poisoning, but taking some simple precautions can help protect you and your family from lead exposure before harm is done.

Do I have to remove lead-based paint?

During the initial assessment, we may determine that your home has no signs of a large-scale paint failure. If this is the case, then your home is in remarkable condition and the coat of paint is intact and won’t be an issue, at least until wear and tear occurs. Given that most homes with lead paint are quite old, the likelihood that no paint failure or damage from exposure has occurred is quite low. If the coatings are intact but you’re looking to repaint the home, we can encapsulate the existing lead paint so you can safely paint over the top of it, and seal the lead underneath.

What is wet sanding?

Normal sanding leaves a large amount of dust, which can be very dangerous when lead paint is involved. Wet sanding simply involves keeping the surface wet and moist with water or another harmless liquid solution so you can still sand the surface back – but without any dust.

Why use chemical paint removal products over wet sanding?

There are different reasons for using a chemical removal or wet sanding removal method for lead paint, and these will be specific to each site we visit. Generally, we use chemical paint removal for internal surfaces and external walls that are not smooth or flat, such as timber weatherboard. Wet sanding can be quicker, depending on what the results of a chemical test patch show, but can only be done outside. Surepaint’s expert staff can help explain the options available and the process that will provide the best results for you and your building.

How do I know if my house paint contains lead?

If you’re unsure whether your home has lead-based paint, there are lead-detecting tests designed for coats of paint. Any number of lead paint removal companies, including Surepaint, will be able to test the paint for traces of lead. Typically any house built before 1970 in Brisbane might have lead paint, and this holds true in several cities across Australia. The earlier you go back in time towards the 40’s, the higher the concentration of lead.

Why was lead used in paint in the first place?

There are several reasons why lead has been used in paint in the past. Firstly, it wasn’t until the 70’s when we learned that even tiny trace amounts of lead can be dangerous. Before that, it was thought you would need to consume a large amount of lead to risk lead poisoning. As a material, lead is cheap, and when added to paint it can accelerate drying time, improve resistance to corrosion, and forms a barrier against mould. Fortunately, today we have modern products that do all of this without risking our health.

Can I continue living in the home while lead paint is removed?

Yes, you can continue to stay on your property while we work to remove lead-based paint. Surepaint’s crews will work to protect all window opening and door openings in the area in which we are working to remove the risk of contamination entering the inside of the property.

How long does it take to remove lead-based paint?

Exact project times will vary between households, but in general it can take 2 to 3 weeks to carry out our lead paint removal service, based on the size of the project and how difficult it is to remove the coatings. This can take some time, but we will work to be as minimally intrusive as possible – it’s important to take the time to ensure lead paint is removed safely.

How much does it cost to remove lead paint?

Lead paint removal can be expensive, with an average cost of $125 per square metre. There are numerous factors that can affect the total price for your specific project. For example, post-war homes are normally half the price of Queenslander homes as Queenslander’s are more intricate and often larger than post-war homes. Additionally, inconsistent test-patch readings, pressed-metal roofs, lead paint on interior surfaces, fireplaces, VJ ceilings and small, ornate spaces can increase how much lead paint removal will cost you. Having large, flat spaces and removing doors or windows prior to paint removal can help lower the price. You can get a free quote (with no obligations on you) from us today to get a better estimate of how much it will cost you.

Sommerfield Street, Mt Gravatt

Australia Court, Newport

Cedar Street, Greenslopes

Sommerfield Street, Mt Gravatt

Australia Court, Newport

Cedar Street, Greenslopes

Our Promise

When you choose SurepaintTM, you’re choosing an experiencing business with expert professionals who hold themselves to the highest possible standards. We know how important it is to get lead paint removal right, and we promise to deliver the best results possible.

Our Quality Guarantee

We have established strong protocols to ensure we’re always doing the best work possible, so you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re in safe hands.

10 Year Warranty

For any painting service you hire us for, SurepaintTM is proud to provide a 10 Year Warranty on our workmanship. If the paint flakes, peels or blisters within 10 years of completion, we’ll fix it for free.

Competitive Pricing

Lead-based paint removal can be costly, but we work to keep prices affordable and fair - we believe you should never have to compromise on safety or quality.

Honest Policy

Honesty is integral to how we operate as a business. We’re transparent and upfront on costs, and make recommendations for any extra services based on experience and expertise alone.

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Looking to paint your own home but not sure where to start? Check out our free ebook for advice, inspiration, the latest trends and top colours – all based on over 1,000 past projects. Download your copy today.

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Lead Paint Removal Brisbane

Our Lead Paint Removal Service Process

Planning

Lead Paint Removal

Final clean up and follow-through

How do You Remove Lead Paint?

Cover the ground underneath and around the areas to be cleaned with heavy-duty plastic sheeting to contain chips and flakes of paint

Tape up windows and gaps around doors to prevent lead paint waste from entering the home

Wet scrape the area with tungsten steel scrapers or LiNBiDE scrapers

Wet machine sand lead paint. Starting with 40 grit and progressing our way up to 120 grit sandpaper

Gather up plastic sheeting and all paint chips around the work area

Dispose of lead paint and waste in accordance with EPA lead paint removal guidelines

Apply various products to test which one will work best for your home, and how long it will need to be in place for

Lay down heavy-duty plastic sheeting around all areas being treated to contain waste

Tape off windows, doors and other gaps to cover surfaces that don’t need to be treated

Apply the paint stripping agent to the walls based on the results of the test patch carried out earlier

Cover the chemical agent with laminated paper to prevent accidental exposure or premature removal

Wait for 12 to 72 hours for the chemical paint remover to work, based on test patch results

Scrape off and remove lead paint

Clean up and dispose of waste

Associated Services for Lead Paint Removal

Lead paint testing

Exterior house painting

Pre-painting colour consultation and visualisation

Rotten timber repairs

Exterior pressure washing

Specialised height access (for multi-level homes and difficult to reach areas)

Lead Paint Removal FAQ’s

See the work