There are plenty of paint jobs you can DIY, but when it comes to removing lead paint, you should leave it to the professionals.

According to veteran painter Stephen Cochrane, home renovation TV programs have been telling DIYers that painting is a fast and relatively cheap way to improve the value of a home.

“While painting does have a massive impact,” he says, “there are safety implications that those shows don't highlight; and you should always check for lead paint layers before you sand a wall.” 

Lead Paint and what to do if you discover it

Lead paint presents a genuine health risk and while its use ended in the 1970s, there are still risks in modern homes. You should enlist the professionals to handle this task for you, but if you insist on DIYing it, be sure to invest in a test kit. You can pick up a colour-changing test kit at the hardware store.

Test every layer - but particularly the oldest one - and use the test on the underside of the paint chip. If your paint tests positive for lead, you should immediately cease work and reach out to a professional service to handle the rest of the paint removal on your behalf.

If you do come across lead paint, the cheapest option is to do nothing. If it is intact, there's no need to disturb it. But that also means you can't redecorate - unless you opt to cover the lead paint. It's quick and inexpensive, but you can only paint over intact lead paint. You still have lead paint if you take either of these routes.

Alternatively, you can call the professionals to remove the paint and repaint it. It's fast, safe, and will remove the lead from your home. There are many options for removing lead paint safely, but whether you opt for wet sanding or scraping, chemical stripping, dry powder sanding or a low-temperature heating process, the correct personal protective equipment must be worn. A DIYer could potentially handle the wet sanding and chemical stripping, but a professional should be enlisted for dry powder sanding as it requires a HEPA attachment. 

Protect Yourself

No matter how careful you are, you will create lead dust. You should remain in your protective clothing while handling the clean-up. Before you lift anything into a plastic bag, wet it down with a spray bottle of water to keep the dust from spreading. You should also invest in a HEPA vacuum and vacuum the area.

To dispose of contaminated paint, follow the guidelines as set out by the Western Australian government. It is classified as hazardous waste, which must be disposed of correctly. Lead debris should be placed in deflated plastic bags. In small amounts, it can be placed in your household's general waste. But in larger amounts, you need to follow the local council's guidelines. Never pour it down the drain or dump it in your garden.