Safe Methods to Remove Lead Paint from Your Riverside Home

Lead paint doesn’t just sit on the wall. It breaks down, turns into dust, and gets everywhere. Floors, windowsills, even your kids’ hands. Most Riverside homes built before 1978 have it somewhere, usually hidden under newer paint. You can’t ignore it. The only way to keep your family safe is to get rid of it the right way, with no shortcuts and no guessing.

What Safety Gear Actually Protects You

Lead dust doesn’t give second chances. One careless move, and it’s everywhere. Real protection starts with the right gear. Here’s what works:

• HEPA-filtered respirators, no dust gets through
• Chemical-resistant gloves, no skin contact
• Disposable coveralls, no tracking dust outside the work zone
• Boot covers, no footprints of contamination
• Eye protection, no flakes in your eyes
• Plastic sheeting, walls, floors, doorways sealed tight
• HEPA vacuums, ordinary vacuums just blow dust around
• EPA-approved lead test kits, know what you’re dealing with

Skip any of these, and you’re gambling with your health. Our lead paint removal specialists suit up every time. No exceptions. Every piece of gear blocks a different way for lead to get in or out. That’s how we keep the work zone safe, and the rest of your home untouched.

Methods That Keep Lead Contained

Scraping dry paint sends dust everywhere. Wet methods stop that. Pros spray down surfaces before scraping. Paint softens. Dust stays put. Chemical strippers designed for lead paint break down layers without sending particles airborne. These aren’t hardware store solvents. They’re made for this job, and they don’t leave the mess behind.

Mechanical removal steps it up. Sanders and grinders with HEPA vacuums pull dust straight from the source. No cloud, no spread. But the room needs to be sealed. Thick plastic sheeting covers every opening. Negative air machines pull air in, not out. Dust can’t escape. Professional paint contractors set up these barriers before a single tool comes out. The rest of the house stays clean. No one tracks lead into the kitchen or bedrooms.

• Wet scraping, keeps dust down
• Chemical stripping, breaks down paint safely
• HEPA sanding, removes layers, traps dust
• Full containment, plastic, tape, negative air

Every method has its place. The right choice depends on the surface, the amount of paint, and the people living in the home. Guessing isn’t part of the process.

Testing. No Room for Assumptions

Lead paint doesn’t always look different. Sometimes it’s buried under five coats. Sometimes it’s just a thin layer on a window frame. Swab tests, chip samples, and XRF scanning tell the truth. Certified pros use these tools before, during, and after removal. Certified paint removal services don’t trust their eyes. They trust the data.

• Surface swabs, quick checks for lead
• Chip sampling, lab results for certainty
• XRF scanning, sees through layers

Testing doesn’t stop when the paint is gone. Every surface gets checked again. No one moves back in until the numbers say it’s safe. That’s how you know the job’s done right.

Cleanup That Leaves Nothing Behind

Lead dust hides in cracks, on window sills, and in carpet fibers. A quick sweep won’t cut it. Cleanup takes time and the right tools. HEPA vacuums pull dust from every corner. Wet wipes and EPA-approved detergents break down what’s left. Every surface gets cleaned, twice, sometimes three times. Our professional paint removal teams don’t leave until every test comes back clean. We know that a thorough cleanup is the only way to make your space safe again.

• HEPA vacuuming, floors, walls, vents
• Wet cleaning, no dry dust left behind
• Multiple rounds, one pass isn’t enough
• Final testing, no guessing, just results

Skip a step, and lead lingers. Kids crawl on the floor. Pets lick their paws. Only a full cleanup makes the space safe again.

Why DIY Shortcuts Don’t Work

Hardware store masks and tarps don’t stop lead. Dry scraping sends dust into the air. Ordinary vacuums blow it around. Paint chips end up in the yard, on the porch, in the neighbor’s driveway. The risk doesn’t stay in one room. It follows you. Real removal takes more than elbow grease. It takes the right tools, the right gear, and the right plan. Anything less leaves your home, and your family, at risk.

Schedule Lead Paint Removal Today

Watson Painting Corporation delivers safe, thorough lead paint removal across Riverside. Call us at 951-785-6765 or schedule an appointment to discuss your lead paint concerns.

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