
Owning a home built before the 1980’s comes with a unique set of responsibilities, one of which is the potential presence of lead-based paint. The use of lead-based paint in residential properties was banned in the United States in 1978 due to its toxicity and associated health risks, particularly to children. If you suspect your house might have lead-based paint, it’s crucial to identify and manage it properly to ensure the safety of your household. This guide will help you understand how to tell if your house has lead-based paint and what steps to take if it does.
It is important to note that there are many homes in the Potland area built before 1980’s that contain lead-bsed paint. If you are a homeowner in the Portland Metro Area with a house built pre-1980, contact our team and we can conduct ani inspection of your home.
Identifying Lead-Based Paint

1. Age of the House
The first step in determining if your home might have lead-based paint is to consider its age. If your house was built before 1978, there is a higher likelihood that lead-based paint was used.
2. Visual Inspection
Look for telltale signs of lead paint, which often deteriorates in a specific pattern. Lead paint tends to chip and peel in a distinctive way, often appearing as alligator-like cracks. This is sometimes referred to as “alligatoring.”
3. Lead Test Kits
You can purchase a lead test kit from a hardware store or online. These kits typically involve rubbing a chemical solution on a paint sample from your wall. If the solution changes color, it indicates the presence of lead. While these tests can be useful for a quick check, they may not be as accurate as professional testing.
4. Professional Inspection
Hiring a certified lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor is the most reliable way to determine the presence of lead paint. They use specialized equipment, such as an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, to detect lead without damaging your walls. Professionals can also take paint samples and analyze them in a laboratory.
Looking For A Lead Paint Certified Inspection Of Your Portland Area Home?
JK Paint and Contracting
is lead paint-certified company serving the Portland metro area. We provide professional lead paint testing and removal services. If you would like us to test your home, contact us today!
Health Risks of Lead Exposure
Understanding the health risks associated with lead exposure underscores the importance of managing lead-based paint. Lead poisoning can cause severe health problems, especially in young children, including developmental delays, learning difficulties, irritability, weight loss, and hearing loss. In adults, lead exposure can cause high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, difficulties with memory or concentration, and mood disorders.
Managing Lead-Based Paint

1. Do Not Disturb
If the lead-based paint is in good condition (not chipping or peeling), it is often best to leave it undisturbed. Disturbing the paint can release lead dust and particles into the air.
2. Regular Maintenance
Keep the painted areas well-maintained. Regularly check for any signs of deterioration and address them immediately. Cleaning surfaces with a damp cloth can help reduce dust.
3. Encapsulation
Encapsulation involves applying a special liquid coating that creates a watertight bond and seals the lead paint underneath. This is often a simpler method than removal. However, unlike having a professional company remove the lead paint, encapsulation is not a long-term solution.
4. Enclosure
This method involves covering the lead-painted surfaces with a new, lead-free material, such as drywall or paneling. While this can be effective, it requires precise installation to ensure that the lead paint is fully sealed off.
5. Paint Removal
For areas where lead paint is deteriorating or must be removed, hire professionals trained in lead-safe work practices. They use methods such as wet sanding and chemical stripping to minimize lead dust. Never attempt to remove lead paint by dry sanding or using a heat gun.
Having lead-based paint removed needs to be carefully done by a certified company. Do not hire just anyone to do this work. This can quickly cause safety hazards. Look for a company certified to work with lead-based paint, such as JK Paint & Contracting!
6. Replacement
In some cases, the best option might be to replace windows, doors, or trim that have lead paint. This is particularly common for items that are difficult to maintain or encapsulate. We would recommend talking with a company and inspecting your windows, doors and trim. We would be more than happy to send out a technician to take a look at your property.
When to Call a Professional

If you know your home has lead-based paint or if it was built before 1978, we would highly recommend you have your home inspected by a certified team. They will give you a rundown on the condition of the paint and siding as well as any possible health concerns. Again, if you are looking for a lead-based paint inspection, contact our team today!
Other times you should consider calling a professional to remove lead-based paint from your home.
1. Large Areas
If you have a large area of deteriorating lead-based paint, it’s best to hire a professional to deal with it.
2. Demolition or Renovation:
Any renovation or demolition work in an older home should involve a lead-safe certified contractor.
3. Health Concerns
If anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of lead exposure, seek medical advice and consider a professional assessment of your home.
“My Home Has Lead-Based Paint”

Detecting and managing lead-based paint in your home is crucial for maintaining a safe living environment. By understanding how to identify lead paint and taking the appropriate steps to manage it, you can protect your family from the harmful effects of lead exposure. Remember, while some tasks can be handled with DIY methods, significant issues with lead paint should always be addressed by certified professionals to ensure thorough and safe remediation.
For homeowners in the Portland Oregon area, JK Paint and Contracting is a certified lead paint removal professional company that can take care of any lead-based paint issues. With their expertise and commitment to safety, you can trust JK Paint and Contracting to handle lead paint removal efficiently and effectively, ensuring your home is a safe place for you and your family.

Owning a home built before the 1980’s comes with a unique set of responsibilities, one of which is the potential presence of lead-based paint. The use of lead-based paint in residential properties was banned in the United States in 1978 due to its toxicity and associated health risks, particularly to children. If you suspect your house might have lead-based paint, it’s crucial to identify and manage it properly to ensure the safety of your household. This guide will help you understand how to tell if your house has lead-based paint and what steps to take if it does.
It is important to note that there are many homes in the Potland area built before 1980’s that contain lead-bsed paint. If you are a homeowner in the Portland Metro Area with a house built pre-1980, contact our team and we can conduct ani inspection of your home.
Identifying Lead-Based Paint

1. Age of the House
The first step in determining if your home might have lead-based paint is to consider its age. If your house was built before 1978, there is a higher likelihood that lead-based paint was used.
2. Visual Inspection
Look for telltale signs of lead paint, which often deteriorates in a specific pattern. Lead paint tends to chip and peel in a distinctive way, often appearing as alligator-like cracks. This is sometimes referred to as “alligatoring.”
3. Lead Test Kits
You can purchase a lead test kit from a hardware store or online. These kits typically involve rubbing a chemical solution on a paint sample from your wall. If the solution changes color, it indicates the presence of lead. While these tests can be useful for a quick check, they may not be as accurate as professional testing.
4. Professional Inspection
Hiring a certified lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor is the most reliable way to determine the presence of lead paint. They use specialized equipment, such as an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, to detect lead without damaging your walls. Professionals can also take paint samples and analyze them in a laboratory.
Looking For A Lead Paint Certified Inspection Of Your Portland Area Home?
JK Paint and Contracting
is lead paint-certified company serving the Portland metro area. We provide professional lead paint testing and removal services. If you would like us to test your home, contact us today!
Health Risks of Lead Exposure
Understanding the health risks associated with lead exposure underscores the importance of managing lead-based paint. Lead poisoning can cause severe health problems, especially in young children, including developmental delays, learning difficulties, irritability, weight loss, and hearing loss. In adults, lead exposure can cause high blood pressure, joint and muscle pain, difficulties with memory or concentration, and mood disorders.
Managing Lead-Based Paint

1. Do Not Disturb
If the lead-based paint is in good condition (not chipping or peeling), it is often best to leave it undisturbed. Disturbing the paint can release lead dust and particles into the air.
2. Regular Maintenance
Keep the painted areas well-maintained. Regularly check for any signs of deterioration and address them immediately. Cleaning surfaces with a damp cloth can help reduce dust.
3. Encapsulation
Encapsulation involves applying a special liquid coating that creates a watertight bond and seals the lead paint underneath. This is often a simpler method than removal. However, unlike having a professional company remove the lead paint, encapsulation is not a long-term solution.
4. Enclosure
This method involves covering the lead-painted surfaces with a new, lead-free material, such as drywall or paneling. While this can be effective, it requires precise installation to ensure that the lead paint is fully sealed off.
5. Paint Removal
For areas where lead paint is deteriorating or must be removed, hire professionals trained in lead-safe work practices. They use methods such as wet sanding and chemical stripping to minimize lead dust. Never attempt to remove lead paint by dry sanding or using a heat gun.
Having lead-based paint removed needs to be carefully done by a certified company. Do not hire just anyone to do this work. This can quickly cause safety hazards. Look for a company certified to work with lead-based paint, such as JK Paint & Contracting!
6. Replacement
In some cases, the best option might be to replace windows, doors, or trim that have lead paint. This is particularly common for items that are difficult to maintain or encapsulate. We would recommend talking with a company and inspecting your windows, doors and trim. We would be more than happy to send out a technician to take a look at your property.
When to Call a Professional

If you know your home has lead-based paint or if it was built before 1978, we would highly recommend you have your home inspected by a certified team. They will give you a rundown on the condition of the paint and siding as well as any possible health concerns. Again, if you are looking for a lead-based paint inspection, contact our team today!
Other times you should consider calling a professional to remove lead-based paint from your home.
1. Large Areas
If you have a large area of deteriorating lead-based paint, it’s best to hire a professional to deal with it.
2. Demolition or Renovation:
Any renovation or demolition work in an older home should involve a lead-safe certified contractor.
3. Health Concerns
If anyone in your household is experiencing symptoms of lead exposure, seek medical advice and consider a professional assessment of your home.
“My Home Has Lead-Based Paint”

Detecting and managing lead-based paint in your home is crucial for maintaining a safe living environment. By understanding how to identify lead paint and taking the appropriate steps to manage it, you can protect your family from the harmful effects of lead exposure. Remember, while some tasks can be handled with DIY methods, significant issues with lead paint should always be addressed by certified professionals to ensure thorough and safe remediation.
For homeowners in the Portland Oregon area, JK Paint and Contracting is a certified lead paint removal professional company that can take care of any lead-based paint issues. With their expertise and commitment to safety, you can trust JK Paint and Contracting to handle lead paint removal efficiently and effectively, ensuring your home is a safe place for you and your family.
Need Lead-Based Paint Removal In The Portland Area?
Then you have come to the right place! As we mentioned, we are certified and well-equipped to take on lead-based paint jobs of all sizes. Contact our team to get a free quote today!
Citations
US EPA, OCSPP. “Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead.” US EPA, 12 Feb. 2013, www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-sources-lead.
CDC. “About Lead in Paint.” Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, 28 May 2024, www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/prevention/paint.html#:~:text=Lead%2Dbased%20paints%20were%20banned. Accessed 2 July 2024.
“Welcome to Lakeport, CA.” Www.cityoflakeport.com, www.cityoflakeport.com/community_development/building/lead_based_paint_information.php. Accessed 2 July 2024.