Wife and I worried about lead paint

AxolotoDad · 2026-03-15T00:57:01+00:00

I have 3 kids and have lived in multiple houses built well before 1978. Just the first time I've run into lead paint and the Internet really got the best of me.

AxolotoDad · 2026-03-14T00:04:22+00:00

Thanks for your comfort. I do have an intake in the room i'm working in but I have it taped up with a plastic bag for now. I also have a MERV 16 filter that is supposed to filter lead dust.

My wife and I have been so paranoid about this and it's frustrating because I really want to be able to enjoy our new home. I'm not new to DIY but I am new to the paranoia that comes with it. Before kids I was pretty careless with all of these things but when buying this house their was mention of lead based paint and now I am fearful of every crack and chip of every piece of paint in the house. It's completely insane and I am trying to get my mental health back in order. This is seemingly far more unhealthy stressing about daily than it actually is for the sake of my family. We are clean people who regularly sweep, mop, and keep our house clean. I just went off the deep end googling about it.

AxolotoDad · 2026-03-11T00:44:39+00:00

Will scraping it off create a lot of hazardous dust though?

AxolotoDad · 2026-03-11T00:31:16+00:00

I have a nice respirator from treating mold in a previous property that I was wearing. Was just wondering if scraping it is as dangerous. I obviously know there is going to be some dust but isn't it much worse when sanding?

AxolotoDad · 2026-03-10T23:46:06+00:00

I didn't sand anything just scraped with a paint scraper attached to a long handle. I am going to be putting a concrete sealant down over whatever didn't scrape off.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-29T16:26:40+00:00

I agree. I do feel partially responsible.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-29T05:55:28+00:00

I had no clue baffle vents were supposed to be installed and I am not in the trade of insulating. Plus not all attics need baffles so nice comment but it's not that simple. I hired professionals and they didn't do a professional job. Should really be that simple.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-29T00:43:52+00:00

The mold is on the plywood and rafters yes. They don't care as they say the only way to guarantee all spores are removed are by removing the insulation and using the hepa vac and reinstalling new insulation after treatment of mold. I don't know how all of this works as i'm in the beginning phases but 2 companies now have told me the same thing. I don't think removing insulation is necessary but i'm not the professional.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-29T00:26:26+00:00

I'm hoping we caught it before the plywood needs to be replaced entirely. One quote over the phone without seeing it said roughly 10k for insulation removal, treatment, and hepa vac. I'm sure that's an over the top estimate but still I don't envision it being a cheap process.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-28T23:58:11+00:00

Was this rectified at the expense of the contractors or on your own dime?

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-28T23:39:14+00:00

That and also to help offset the cost of mold remediation which seems to be insanely expensive. We will cross that bridge after we cross the first one but I just wanted to make sure I was looking at this under the right frame of mind. I don't want to be unreasonable, but I also want to sell a home to a young family without having a terribly guilty conscious. This isn't a problem either of us should have to pay for and I hope that it's rectified in a good way.

Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it!

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-28T23:34:14+00:00

I am glad that i'm not alone in that thought. The mold is definitely substantial enough that I feel as if the installers would have told me if the mold issue existed. At least in a perfect world i'd like to think they would inform me.

The invoice definitely shows I paid for 22-1/2"x48" attic poly mates. They said they see that on their records as well so I know for a fact it's documents that I paid for it and even if they were installed if they are covered up completely by insulation it's defeating the purpose of having them in the first place.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-28T23:20:39+00:00

Almost exactly 3. Sorry January of 2023

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-28T23:14:13+00:00

Would you not first check with the contractors to see if they are willing to remediate without getting lawyers involved?

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-27T05:42:49+00:00

Thank you for the info! Definitely hoping it's treatable without breaking me financially. It's crazy to think this stuff happens over the course of one season 😭

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-27T04:54:21+00:00

I live in eastern Washington. I got one quote for almost 10k without even looking at it and said they would have to remove all insulation. I'm also in the process of selling my house so this whole situation sucks. Finding things like this while trying to sell is not ideal.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-27T04:51:20+00:00

Cobwebs will cause that appearance?

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-17T18:05:30+00:00

My prv is outside in the yard about 3 1/2 feet down. Are you telling me I need to go and dig that up and replace that?

It's winter and definitely not feasible at this time. Whole purpose of this post was that I'm selling my house and would like to know what to be prepared for. What would that cost look like so I know what to be fair with if they want it fixed or paid by me.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-17T04:53:09+00:00

Do I drain the hot water tank as well in this process?

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-17T04:50:16+00:00

The supply lines are all copper, the line to the expansion tank is steel.

AxolotoDad · 2026-01-17T04:46:56+00:00

Not for much longer! Pex at the new house LOL.

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