Peeling paint on a 1940s Calgary bungalow, lead risk?

A home built in the 1940s probably contains lead-based paint. Health Canada states that a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint, so a 1940s Calgary bungalow falls squarely in that band.

Health Canada advises against sanding lead paint and against heat guns or blowlamps, because they create toxic dust and fumes. The safer options are a chemical paint stripper paste applied carefully, encapsulation by covering the surface with wallpaper, wallboard or panelling, or hiring a professional to remove it.

What testing and removal look like

Testing is done by lab analysis of paint chips or by a contractor using x-ray fluorescence equipment. For scrapings and debris, Health Canada says to use a sealed container marked hazardous waste and to follow your municipality's disposal instructions. The City has no specific published rule for lead paint waste that this site has found, so contact the City directly before disposing of anything. For removal, no usable published Calgary price range exists for lead paint work, so get written quotes from at least two contractors. Any prepaid contract of $200 or more must be in writing under Alberta consumer protection rules, and must include names and addresses, a detailed description of the work, itemized prices, a completion date and a statement of your cancellation rights.

When you speak to a contractor, ask:

• Whether they will do air and surface monitoring, since the Alberta OHS Code requires an exposure control plan for workers who may exceed the lead exposure limit of 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre for more than 30 days a year, and blood-lead testing made available at the employer's cost.
• Whether they carry liability insurance and have a WCB clearance letter showing their account is in good standing; you can request that letter yourself through WCB-Alberta's online system.
• Whether the quote includes post-work cleanup and how they plan to contain dust during the job.

If the paint has already been disturbed, stop the work right now, leave the area, keep others and pets out, close the door, and do not sweep or vacuum the debris. Have the paint tested before anyone goes back to work.

The form on this page reaches contractors in the Calgary Construction Network directory; put these three questions to each of them.