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If your house was painted before 1970, there's a real chance there's lead paint somewhere in the layers — often buried under decades of newer coats. It's not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to check before anyone picks up a sander.
Which homes are most likely
- Anything built or repainted before 1970 (lead was phased down from 1965)
- Weatherboard cottages and Queenslanders with original trim still in place
- Window frames, door jambs, skirtings and eaves — the high-wear spots
Why the layers matter
Lead paint that's intact and sealed under sound coats is generally low risk. The danger comes from disturbing it: dry sanding, scraping, water blasting or heat-gunning turns it into dust and fumes that spread through the house and garden.
How to check
A hardware-store swab kit tells you whether lead is present at the surface, but not what's underneath. For a definitive answer you want a sample from all the layers, tested by a lab. Any painter working on a pre-1970 home should be raising this with you before quoting, not after starting.
What happens if it's there
It changes the method, not necessarily the price bracket. Wet sanding, chemical stripping, containment sheeting and proper waste disposal replace the usual prep. Some sections get encapsulated rather than stripped, which is often the better call.
The one thing worth avoiding is a weekend of DIY sanding on an old weatherboard. That's the scenario that causes actual harm.
