Lead paint in older homes

Which Auckland houses have lead paint?

Any house from the 1980s or earlier should be treated as if it has lead-based paint, as WorkSafe and Health NZ both advise. Health NZ adds that many paints sold before 1965 were high in lead, especially those from before 1945, and BRANZ notes that white lead was banned in 1979. A newer topcoat does not rule it out, because old layers sit underneath.

On the North Shore that covers a lot of houses: villas and bungalows in Devonport, Northcote Point and Birkenhead, state and Navy housing in Bayswater and Belmont, and the 1960s and 70s subdivisions in Beach Haven, Milford and the East Coast Bays.

How do you test paint for lead?

Two ways. A simple test kit from a paint or hardware store changes colour if lead is present in the layers you expose, which answers yes or no. A laboratory analysis of paint flakes gives the amount. For most repaints the yes or no is enough, because a lead-safe method is used either way on an older house.

To test properly, cut through the paint at an angle with a sharp blade so every layer is exposed, then apply the test to the cut edge. The top coat alone tells you little. Health NZ’s brochure on removing lead-based paint also suggests contacting your local National Public Health Service office for advice on testing.

Which removal methods are safer for lead paint?

Wet methods. Health NZ names wet sanding as the best way to keep dust down, and wet scraping as the other preferred option. Both keep the paint damp so it comes away as heavier flakes rather than fine dust. Dry sanding is not recommended because of the dust it makes, and burning paint off with an open flame is not recommended because it releases lead fumes.

Containment and clean-up on a lead-safe job

Lead-safe work is mostly about where the dust and flakes end up. Drop sheets go down wide enough to catch everything, windows and doors are kept shut, children and pets are kept away, and the area is cleaned with a HEPA-filter vacuum and a wet wipe at the end of each day. A household vacuum is not good enough for this.

1. Sheet the ground. Polythene laid well past the wall, with the edges turned up, and sheeting under any scaffold.
2. Close the house. Windows and doors shut on the side being worked, toys and pet bowls moved away.
3. Work wet. Paint misted before scraping or sanding, flakes kept damp so they do not blow.
4. Clean as you go. HEPA vacuum and wet wipe, sheets folded inward, debris bagged and sealed.
5. Dispose properly. Small amounts go out with household rubbish; larger amounts are checked with the council. Lead-painted debris and timber are never burned.

Gardens matter too. Health NZ suggests covering vegetable beds and soil while paint is being removed, and Auckland Council’s rules mean no chips or wash water may reach a stormwater drain.

What a lead-safe repaint quote covers

We explain and quote lead-safe preparation as part of a repaint. The quote lists the wet methods, the sheeting, the HEPA clean-up and the disposal, so you can see the time it adds. Laboratory testing and full strips back to bare timber are not offered here. Published Auckland figures put lead-safe prep at roughly $1,000 to $3,000 extra.

Treat those numbers as a published spread rather than a price for your house; they are drawn from the cost guide. Where paint is sound, overcoating is often the safer choice: the Ministry of Health guidelines note that removing lead paint can cause more exposure than leaving it in place.

Asked before a repaint

How do I know if my house has lead paint?

Start with the age of the house. WorkSafe and Health NZ both advise presuming lead-based paint in a building put up in the 1980s or earlier. A test kit from a paint or hardware store shows whether lead is present in the layers you test. A laboratory test of paint flakes tells you how much.

Is it illegal to dry sand lead paint in New Zealand?

No regulator source calls it illegal. Health NZ lists dry sanding as not recommended because of the dust it makes, and says sanders should be fitted with vacuum extraction where possible. Wet sanding and wet scraping are the preferred methods because they keep dust down.

Can lead paint just be painted over?

Often, yes. The Ministry of Health guidelines say lead-based paint in good condition is not necessarily a danger, and that removing it can cause more exposure than leaving it. Sound paint can be cleaned, lightly wet-sanded and overcoated. It is not a permanent fix: once the new coat wears, the old layers need care again.

Who is most at risk from lead paint dust?

Health NZ names the person removing the paint, young children who chew painted surfaces or swallow flakes, dust or contaminated soil, and pregnant women and their unborn children. Pets can be affected too. Health NZ’s guidance has the detail.

What if I accidentally sanded lead paint?

Stop, keep children and pets away, and clean up before the dust spreads. Health NZ advises wet wiping surfaces and then using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high-efficiency dust filter. Bag the debris and never burn it. Wash your hands and wash work clothes separately. If you are worried someone has been exposed, talk to your doctor.

Do you test for lead or strip lead paint?

No. We explain and quote lead-safe preparation for a repaint: wet methods, containment and clean-up. Laboratory testing and full strips back to bare timber are not part of what we offer here. A store-bought test kit or the National Public Health Service can help with testing.