[MassHistPres] Deleading

[Alison Hardy]

Please note that there are alternatives to dip stripping. We use steam, 
infrared heat and hand stripping and our windows have tested way below 
what is possible with dip stripping. We have worked on windows that were 
dipped in a deleading effort about ten years ago and all of the joints 
were rotting and the surfaces would not hold paint. Basically the 
windows were ruined after having lasted over 100 years.
As to turn around time, please remember that replacement windows have to 
be ordered and often delivery time takes longer than what it would have 
taken to completely restore the windows. Cost wise it's important to 
compare not only the cost of the replacement window but the installation 
labor cost.

Always a good idea to get estimates for various de leading methods and 
then decide which is appropriate for the given circumstances.

Alison Hardy
Window Woman of New England

Jeff Levine wrote:
> I would caution anyone who cares about the long-term viability of historic
> neighborhoods from taking a flip attitude towards deleading as a public
> health issue. Lead poisoning is a documented public health hazard that
> affects children at their most sensitive developmental ages. The possible
> impacts are significant. The merits of how the regulations require it be
> done aside, the fact is that some kids get lead poisoning much more easily
> than others. Once blood lead levels reach a certain point the state
> requires that an owner test the house and have lead abatement done. Since
> a historic house will hopefully last for hundreds of years and have many
> future families in it, its in all of our interests to encourage
> appropriate lead abatement of these homes.
>
> I once asked a public health specialist at the state who works for the DPH
> child lead poisoning program whether she thought the currently required
> methods made any sense, given that the research showed that many children
> did not eat the paint but rather just got a lot of dust on their hands,
> etc., and accidently ingested it - or even just had one strong exposure to
> it. Her reply was along the lines of "well, all I know is that we do lead
> abatement of houses and the kids lead levels go down, so we must be doing
> something right." I tend to agree with her on a macro level - the less
> lead in the house, the less likely kids will get lead poisoning.
>
> As to the merits of how to lead abate:
>
> 1. Lead abatement does not mean fully "deleaded." It means that mouthable
> surfaces be stripped of lead-based paint and the house cleaned thoroughly
> using certain standards. Dust wipes are then taken that much be below some
> very low standards to allow reoccupancy. 
>
> 2. Windows, doors, and even casing can be removed and dipped. The wood
> will still have lead in it but its considered acceptable to abate that
> way. The problem is time- dipping and reinstalling takes much longer than
> putting in new windows. If a family is forced to get out of their house to
> delead- especially in the unfortunate cases where the lead levels are high
> enough that the state is forcing them to delead right away- they are very
> interested in getting back in the house ASAP.  That is why, even for
> preservation-minded folk, window replacement is very tempting at this
> stressful time. Plus, the cost of dipping, reinstalling,
> reweatherstripping, and repainting is often significantly higher than just
> replacement. Since deleading is very expensive, people are more sensitive
> to this issue that they may be at other times.
>
> 3. Walls and some wood can be left with lead paint on it. There is no need
> to worry that horsehair plaster, etc., will be ripped out as part of a
> deleading. The paint has to be intact, but does not have to be stripped.
>
> 4. The unfortunate truth is that lead abatement contractors often do not
> do high quality finish work. That is why houses often look lousy when the
> deleading is done. If you get the right contractors, they will be
> sensitive to the historic nature of the house and either replace in kind
> or save existing materials as much as possible. Costs may be higher, but
> many people will be willing to pay a bit more to save more of the home's
> historic character. That willingness to pay does have its limits, though.
> Remember, when a parent is doing lead abatement they are likely very
> stressed out about the health of their kids and should be treated even
> more sensitively than any other homeowner doing work on a historic home.
> This is a perfect situation to consider a Certificate of Hardship if the
> property is in an LHD and the cost differential is significant.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jeff Levine
> Director
> Department of Planning and Community Development
> Town of Brookline
> 333 Washington Street Third Floor
> Brookline, MA
>
> 617-730-2130 (v)
> 617-730-2442 (f)
>
> Email:    Jeff_Levine at town.brookline.ma.us
> www:  http://www.brooklinema.gov/Planning/
>
> Please remember the Secretary of State considers email a public record.
>
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