Lead window replacement- how risky?

[Anonymous]

We moved into a new house six months ago with old windows with lead paint. We had wanted to postpone getting new windows for a couple years but it's chipping worse than we thought and we need to replace them now. We have a two year-old and a six month old so we are obviously concerned about lead. I know the seal off the window when removing it and clean up it but it still seems risky to have so much leas dust circulating. How safe are these contractors? How can we minimize risk to our children?

And any recommendations for contractors?

[Anonymous]

We went with Pella. They have lead certification and they have employees rather than contractors. They sealed off the windows and pulled them out of the house to prevent lead contamination. I had an independent lead inspection after the replacement and everything was safe/ no lead. We did full window replacement including the frames. That got rid of all the lead.

[Anonymous]

Newsflash - lead has been used as a whitener in paint for decades. It's still used in white paint, but at the minimum allowable levels.
You probably grew up in a house surrounded with lots of lead in the paint. But you probably didn't go around licking the walls so you're OK.
I think your kids will be OK unless they develop a thing for licking the window paint.
Like the above poster said, don't go with a BS contractor, go with the installer recommended by your window supplier. Pella is good. Marvin is good. Woodstone and Reilly are beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newsflash - lead has been used as a whitener in paint for decades. It's still used in white paint, but at the minimum allowable levels.
You probably grew up in a house surrounded with lots of lead in the paint. But you probably didn't go around licking the walls so you're OK.
I think your kids will be OK unless they develop a thing for licking the window paint.
Like the above poster said, don't go with a BS contractor, go with the installer recommended by your window supplier. Pella is good. Marvin is good. Woodstone and Reilly are beautiful.

This is a dumb post. Replacing windows is an easy way to generate very small particles (like dust or smaller) of lead which can be ingested and increase lead levels in the blood. It’s true people who grew up in the 70s were exposed to more lead but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to expose your kids to more lead.

Anyway, if you go with lead certified contractors I would think you’re fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went with Pella. They have lead certification and they have employees rather than contractors. They sealed off the windows and pulled them out of the house to prevent lead contamination. I had an independent lead inspection after the replacement and everything was safe/ no lead. We did full window replacement including the frames. That got rid of all the lead.

Thanks PP! Who did you get to do your lead certification afterward?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went with Pella. They have lead certification and they have employees rather than contractors. They sealed off the windows and pulled them out of the house to prevent lead contamination. I had an independent lead inspection after the replacement and everything was safe/ no lead. We did full window replacement including the frames. That got rid of all the lead.

Thanks PP! Who did you get to do your lead certification afterward?

I meant to say, who did your lead inspection afterward?

[Anonymous]

When you replace lead-painted windows, do NOT use the “insert-type” replacement windows, as that leaves part of the old window and the associated lead paint behind.

Instead, insist on using what contractors call “new construction” windows as the replacement windows. This removes ALL of the old window.

Btw, you probably also will want to replace the interior wooden window trim, as that also will have the lead paint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you replace lead-painted windows, do NOT use the “insert-type” replacement windows, as that leaves part of the old window and the associated lead paint behind.

Instead, insist on using what contractors call “new construction” windows as the replacement windows. This removes ALL of the old window.

Btw, you probably also will want to replace the interior wooden window trim, as that also will have the lead paint.

Thanks! Very helpful.

Appreciate recommendations for contractors who are reputable. Pella is expensive for us. Any good contractors that aren't super expensive?

[Anonymous]

Tamara Rubin"s blog (Lead Safe Mama) and Facebook page are good resources for this. Educate yourself on what the contractors should be doing for safety so you can make sure they are actually doing it (even if they are certified it is no guarantee that they will execute it properly at your house.)

[Anonymous]

Lead certified contractor

[Anonymous]

We had elevated lead levels in our infant after a renovation. It turned out to be a false positive but I called the county to ask for next steps and they were very helpful. They gave me a ton of information and I believe they also had info on their website.

[Anonymous]

The only people I know whose children had elevated lead levels had done renovations. We have lead windows and trim and just keep it painted over. We also don’t open the windows. Zero elevated lead ever (kid is 11 now).

As long as the paint is intact it’s fine to put it off.

[Anonymous]

OP there is a lot of fear mongering on this thread. I had the windows replaced in my 1934 colonial when my son was 6 months old. Interior trim left intact. They did not do anything special for lead abatement although I’m very sure there was lead paint (the windows were original to the house). My son and I went to my parents house for a week while the work was done even though it only took 48 hours. We ran air purifiers in the house afterwards. He did not test positive for lead at his one year appointment. Get a reputable contractor and it will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP there is a lot of fear mongering on this thread. I had the windows replaced in my 1934 colonial when my son was 6 months old. Interior trim left intact. They did not do anything special for lead abatement although I’m very sure there was lead paint (the windows were original to the house). My son and I went to my parents house for a week while the work was done even though it only took 48 hours. We ran air purifiers in the house afterwards. He did not test positive for lead at his one year appointment. Get a reputable contractor and it will be fine.

PP here. American Windows and Siding in Kensington is who we used. We got higher-end vinyl windows and I’m very happy with them.

[Anonymous]

We live in a 100 year old house. And renovated some windows. Used Pella and included lead abatement and lead safe practices. I have 2 kids 4 and 8. We tested both twice and did not have elevated lead levels.