Epoxy And Lead Based Paint

Epoxy And Lead Based Paint

By: Humberto  Ferro Neto

Hi folks, and welcome back to another refinishers blog! In this blog we will be talking about a popular question we’ve been getting lately. Which is “May I use Ekopel in my old tub with a lead based paint?? Is lead paint bad? And how Ekopel works to solve this issue. Let's jump right in!

If your tub dates back to 1978 or earlier and you plan to get it recasted for the first time, you need to understand why repainting in old tubs is not as easy as it sounds. Especially if you are at risk of dealing with lead-based paint. Did you know that millions of homes built before 1978 are suspected of having used lead paint? It is believed that around 35% of homes in the entire country have this type present. You may think that paint that contains lead is just a trivial matter. But it is not. These types of paint may cause lead poisoning in both adults and children. Because of the fine dust invisible to the naked eye, no one knows that they are being exposed to it, until they experience symptoms. This is what happens with old tubs. And if you are unaware, its poisoning causes serious health issues and can be fatal. 

But not to worry! You can still get your tub recasted!! You will need to take one additional step to ensure that the hazards involved are minimized or removed. One of the fastest ways is by doing lead paint encapsulation, which traps it underneath it. You might think that just pouring over it using ordinary stuff is the perfect shortcut, but it does not work that way. Before doing anything else, you should first confirm if lead paint is present. You can use the popular test swabs since they are easy to use and have instantaneous results. Once you confirm the presence, you need to check its condition. If you do not see any signs of damage, you can safely pour over it.

Simply applying any conventional paint on top of it is not recommended. Ordinary stuff is susceptible to wear and tear. Once it gets damaged, there is a chance that the layer underneath will also be damaged and release toxic dust. You must use encapsulants that act as the barrier or seal that keeps the paint in place to prevent this. Encapsulants come in three different types. The first type is: Cement-like Materials that Contain Polymers – these membranes have a curing period and will form a thick coating once set. It is applied just like ordinary cement, which makes use of trowels easy. The second type is: Chemical Compounds or Polymers – applied via airless spray guns, rollers, or brushes and the resulting membrane is known to be robust but flexible. The last type is: Polyurethane or Epoxy – the membrane it creates is also flexible but tougher. They are also applied using a brush, airless spray gun, or roller. 

Ok, ok...but If you want a more permanent solution for dealing with the issue, a complete removal is your only option. But compared to encapsulation, removal is a much more dangerous task. It’s because the chances of being exposed to dangerous particles are higher. It’s why we don’t recommend you remove lead paint yourself. Encapsulation is not the only way to cover up lead paint, but is a safe and fast solution. We hope you found this blog helpful!