{"id":3176,"date":"2025-06-06T18:09:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T22:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/community\/questions-to-ask-your-prospective-painter-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T18:23:51","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T22:23:51","slug":"lead-paint-safety-how-to-protect-your-child-in-portland-homes","status":"publish","type":"community","link":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/community\/lead-paint-safety-how-to-protect-your-child-in-portland-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Lead Paint Safety: How to Protect Your Child in Portland Homes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>How to Protect Your Child from Lead Paint<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lead paint, commonly used in homes built before 1978, poses significant health risks, especially to children. Exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other serious health problems. As a residential painting company, we understand the importance of creating a safe, lead-free environment for your family. Here\u2019s how you can protect your child from lead paint hazards.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did You Know: 62.6% of homes in Portland were built before 1978.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Identify Potential Lead Paint Sources: <\/b>The first step in protecting your child is identifying where lead paint might be present in your home.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Homes Built Before 1978<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If your home was constructed before this year, there\u2019s a high likelihood it contains lead-based paint.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>High-Risk Areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Windows, doors, and trim are common areas where lead paint may have been used.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Peeling or Chipping Paint<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Lead paint is most dangerous when it deteriorates and creates dust or chips.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Consider hiring a certified lead inspector or risk assessor to determine whether your home has lead-based paint.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b> Prevent Access to Lead Paint: <\/b>If lead paint is present in your home, take steps to minimize your child\u2019s exposure.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Seal Off Areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Use furniture or other barriers to block access to peeling paint.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cover with Safe Materials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Apply contact paper, heavy-duty plastic, or duct tape over damaged areas until repairs can be made.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Close Supervision<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Monitor children closely to prevent them from touching or putting chipped paint or dust in their mouths.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b> Maintain Your Home\u2019s Surfaces: <\/b>Good maintenance practices can prevent lead paint hazards from worsening.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Keep Painted Surfaces Intact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Regularly check for cracks, chips, or peeling and address them promptly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Clean Frequently<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Wet-mop floors and wipe down surfaces with a damp cloth to remove lead dust.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Avoid Dry Scraping or Sanding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These activities can release dangerous lead dust into the air.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b> Hire Professionals for <a href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/residential-painting\/services\/lead-paint-remediation\/\">Lead Paint Remediation<\/a>: <\/b>If lead paint needs to be remediated, it\u2019s crucial to hire professionals who are trained and certified in lead-safe practices.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Certified Contractors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Look for companies certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Proper Containment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Professionals will seal off work areas and use specialized equipment to minimize contamination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Safe Disposal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Lead-contaminated materials must be disposed of according to local regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b> Repaint with Lead-Free, Child-Safe Paint: <\/b>Once the lead paint has been safely addressed, repaint surfaces using lead-free, eco-friendly paint.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Low-VOC Paints<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Opt for paints with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to ensure healthier indoor air quality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Durable Finishes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Use high-quality, washable finishes to withstand wear and tear and reduce the risk of future hazards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Professional Application<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A professional painter can ensure the job is done safely and efficiently.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><b> Test Your Child for Lead Exposure: <\/b>If you suspect your child has been exposed to lead, consult a pediatrician for a blood test.\n<ul>\n<li><b>Routine Testing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends lead testing for children at ages 1 and 2.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Follow-Up Care<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If lead levels are elevated, your doctor can provide guidance on managing exposure and mitigating risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><b> Educate Yourself About Lead Paint Regulations: <\/b>Stay informed about lead paint safety regulations and resources available to homeowners.\n<ul>\n<li><b>EPA Guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Familiarize yourself with the EPA\u2019s RRP Rule and lead-safe practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Local Resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Many communities offer free or low-cost lead testing and abatement programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Educational Materials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Access brochures and online tools from organizations like the EPA or HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protecting your child from lead paint is essential for their health and well-being. By identifying potential hazards, maintaining your home, and seeking professional help when necessary, you can create a safe and healthy environment. At CertaPro Painters of Portland we specialize in lead-safe painting practices to help you safeguard your family. Contact us today for a consultation and let\u2019s work together to make your home lead-free!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Protect Your Child from Lead Paint Lead paint, commonly used in homes built before 1978, poses significant health risks, especially to children. Exposure to lead can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other serious health problems. As a residential painting company, we understand the importance of creating a safe, lead-free environment for your<a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/community\/lead-paint-safety-how-to-protect-your-child-in-portland-homes\/\">Read the full article <em class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","categories":[20],"tags":[207,70,206],"class_list":["post-3176","community","type-community","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","tag-community","tag-residential-painters","tag-residential-painting"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community\/3176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/community"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/community\/3176\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/certapro.com\/portland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}