DIY guideAsbestos and lead

Test old paint for lead

Use a store test kit on old paint before you sand or scrape it. A positive result means a lead-safe pro.

6 steps

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Paint in an older home may have lead in it. Test any old paint before you sand, scrape or strip it.
Keep children and anyone pregnant away from old paint chips and dust.
Lay a damp paper towel under the spot, then cut a small notch through every layer of paint, down to the wood.
Wear disposable gloves, and cut away from your hand.
Crush the swab to mix it, then rub its tip on the notch for as long as the kit says.
Compare the swab with the kit's card. A colour change means lead; no change means none found in that spot.
Wipe the spot and the knife with a damp paper towel, and bag it with your gloves for the trash.
A positive test means a lead-safe certified pro does the work. Don't sand or scrape it. Ask Handyman to find one.

Handyman says: Positive? Don't sand it. I'll find a pro.

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.