[MassHistPres] deleading of windows

[Matthew B. Bronski]

Hi Dennis-

The current monthly meeting notes of the Historic Resources Committee of
the Boston Society of Architects discuss some issues of stripping wood
and residual lead from some stripping techniques.   The meeting notes
are available on-line at:
http://committees.architects.org/hrc/hrcminutes.htm   Meeting notes from
other topics and past meetings are also available, and could be a good,
free resource for many on this listserve.  The meeting notes archive is
posted at:  http://committees.architects.org/hrc/hrc_archive.htm 

I've found that it is better to remove the sash (and the stops and
parting beads) and strip off-site, rather than in-place. That way, you
can eliminate all paint in the concealed friction surface, and all
build-up of stripped paint and stripping materials, in those concealed
friction surfaces (e.g, between the edge of the sash and the stops, or
the parting beads) in a way that you could not if the sash were stripped
in place, and those surfaces were concealed.   Although that paint is
least visible, it's reportedly the most problem as a health risk,
because the friction of the window moving up and down chafes it and
creates lead paint dust that becomes airborne.  Also, the off-site
stripping can be done by a pro in a shop that it is set-up to do that
safely (vacuum hoods and proper exhaust equipment, etc.)   You can get
sash stripped to bare wood for about $135/pair in the Boston area.
They'll need some reputtying when they get back from the stripper, and
refinishing or repainting.

-Matthew Bronski
Boston Society of Architects Historic resources Committee and
Winchester Historical Commission


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 2:18 PM
To: MHC listserve
Subject: [MassHistPres] deleading of windows

We have an owner who replaced windows without a permit as part of a  
deleading process.  The windows have been retained but he is now  
claiming that "there is no way to entirely the strip the lead out of  
the wood sash".  (Presumably the fact that it is sash vs any other  
type of wood should be irrelevant.)

As far as we know, he is not raising the putty argument previously  
mentioned.  He plans to bring in "experts" to re-enforce his case.

Encapsulation seems to be off the table as we have been told that in  
the context of a sash at least, it is only certifiably acceptable for  
a limited period of time -- I assume because of the risk of chipping.

Can anyone cite chapter and verse on the basic issue of residual lead  
in stripped wood?  This seems like hokum because wood trim is  
stripped all the time, but we need legal citations

Dennis De Witt
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