Lead Paint Removal

Health Canada's guidance is dated by construction year. "Your home probably contains lead-based paint if it was built before 1960." If it was built between 1960 and 1990, "the exterior may contain lead-based paint", and interior paint may contain lead in smaller amounts that could still be harmful, especially to young children. Houses built after 1990 should not contain lead, because consumer paints in Canada and the U.S. were virtually lead-free by then.

You can find out before you start. Health Canada says a certified inspector can measure paint lead levels in your home, or you can mail paint chip samples to a testing laboratory.

The risk comes from dust and chips, so the method matters: how the paint is removed or covered, how the room is closed off, and how the area is cleaned afterwards. Ontario publishes a guideline for lead on construction projects, and it says itself that it does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act and is not legal advice. Ask each contractor which method they will use, how they will contain the dust, and how they will clean up.

We found too few published Ottawa prices for lead paint work to quote a range. Get a written quote that names the surfaces, the method and the cleanup.