[Zammo]

We had a family member (who has done lots of painting before) do some painting for us the other day, we expected the skirting to be painted over, but to be thorough they decided to strip the old paint off first. I think they used some kind of powered device as the entire house is now covered in a thin but very noticeable layer of white dust. I have no idea if the older paint was lead or not, the outer layer wouldn't have been as that was painted in 2005, but the older layers might have been.

Even in rooms that weren't painted have a layer of paint dust over them, such as my clothes, books, TV, mirrors, remote controls, microwave, tables, floor and so on. If I had known in advance I would have tried to cover things. He did lay down sheets but only in selected places, such as close to the stripping. I have been told by people not to worry as it has settled now and as long as a mask is worn when vacuuming and cleaning it should be fine. Is this true ? if it isn't lead paint I guess the threat is much less ? I am not around paint and wood dust normally so I am guessing this is considered short term exposure.

I suffer from asthma so I have to be a bit more careful than most. I do get a weird taste in my mouth sometimes when walking about the house but I could be being hypersensitive perhaps given my concern. I am going to do the clean up this Sunday.

Also should I be worried about TVs and stereos ? They all have a layer of paint dust on the top of them (they have air holes), should I worry much about it ?

He did a great job on the work, so can't fault that, purely concerned over the families lungs until cleaned up and during clean up. There are no kids in the house.

Thanks all for any advice.

 

[chrisn]

Wear a dust mask and clean it up. Not much more you can do at this point. The "painter" should have taken more precautions and not allowed that to happen in the first place.

 

[ToolSeeker]

Sounds like it might be drywall dust being that much of it. Either way it was a bad decision. Old paint did not need to be stripped.

 

[Jmayspaint]

What is the age of the home?
If it's an older home and parts of the trim (skirting?) were stripped all the way down then the dust your seeing could very well have high concentrations of lead.

I would recommend getting a dust mask rated for lead dust such as this one;

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Sperian-Ho...irator-for-Lead-Abatement-RWS-54020/202814902

I also wouldn't use a household vacuum to clean up. Ideally a HEPA vac should be used, or at least a shop vac with a HEPA filter and a bag. Remove as much dust as possible by damp mopping or wiping rather than vacuuming to reduce the amount of airborne dust created.




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[Zammo]

Thanks all, sorry for delay. I believe I have found out the reason for all the dust, they used a power shaving machine inside the house on the door first (removing old paint) before realising how much dust it was creating, they then took the doors off and did them outside, but the "damage" was already done by then. I cleaned up as best I could but I am still finding walls with white dust on as I wipe it with my finger. The whole of the bungalow seems to have been struck. I don't think the old paint would have been lead though as the doors are too new.

I seem to have some trouble getting a full breath over the last 2 days but I have a feeling that is just anxiety and me being hypersensitive, no one else in the house is having problems and we all helped clean up. If it isn't lead paint is a layer of paint dust fairly safe given it has settled ? I know some was on my tooth brush and mug before I realised, but that would only have been once. I get anxious and paranoid easy. If my lungs are effected, given this is only a few days being around paint dust should it clear in my body soon enough ?

Thanks all. Sorry for the paranoia, I would never have coped in my grandads era

 

[paintamania]

We had a family member (who has done lots of painting before) do some painting for us the other day, we expected the skirting to be painted over, but to be thorough they decided to strip the old paint off first. I think they used some kind of powered device as the entire house is now covered in a thin but very noticeable layer of white dust. I have no idea if the older paint was lead or not, the outer layer wouldn't have been as that was painted in 2005, but the older layers might have been.

Even in rooms that weren't painted have a layer of paint dust over them, such as my clothes, books, TV, mirrors, remote controls, microwave, tables, floor and so on. If I had known in advance I would have tried to cover things. He did lay down sheets but only in selected places, such as close to the stripping. I have been told by people not to worry as it has settled now and as long as a mask is worn when vacuuming and cleaning it should be fine. Is this true ? if it isn't lead paint I guess the threat is much less ? I am not around paint and wood dust normally so I am guessing this is considered short term exposure.

I suffer from asthma so I have to be a bit more careful than most. I do get a weird taste in my mouth sometimes when walking about the house but I could be being hypersensitive perhaps given my concern. I am going to do the clean up this Sunday.

Also should I be worried about TVs and stereos ? They all have a layer of paint dust on the top of them (they have air holes), should I worry much about it ?

He did a great job on the work, so can't fault that, purely concerned over the families lungs until cleaned up and during clean up. There are no kids in the house.

Thanks all for any advice.

I always wear a high quality painting respirator when doing sanding and stripping, I spent 70 bucks on mine, Well worth the money becuase my lungs are priceless.

 

[Gymschu]

This won't make you feel better, but, for what it's worth.......breathing the outside air that we sometimes think is so clean and fresh contains many more contaminants than that small amount of dust inside your home at the moment. There's always some coal burning power plant, a nuclear facility, even a farm spraying chemicals upwind of your location and all of that finds its way into the air...........don't sweat it!