Even decades after its discontinuance, lead paint is still a serious danger that impacts the lives of millions of people a year. That’s why it is important for people like you to understand the differences between lead treatment and lead stripping product to provide commercial/industrial or residential projects with the lead paint protection that it deserves.
If you have lead paint, then you’re already aware of the potential hazard it poses. You’re also probably aware of the cost it takes to remove lead paint. If you’re considering the options you have available, you’re likely seeing lead paint treatment products, and lead paint stripping products. These are two very different things, and it’s important to know which one you want before you make a purchase.
Lead Treatment Does Not Remove Lead Paint
Lead treatment products such as the ECOBOND® – Lead Defender® family of products are interesting because they don’t remove lead from the paint, rather it converts it to a form that it is less leachable or mobile and therefore less hazardous to humans and the environment. This is very helpful on commercial projects where you need to protect workers from lead dust or have the lead paint affected materials prepped for disposal. As a result, the lead impacted waste treated with ECOBOND® does not have to be disposed of as hazardous. This saves time and money.
In residential projects, such as home remodeling in older homes, there is a possibility that children may have the potential of ingesting the lead-impacted paint chips and causing potentially serious health problems. ECOBOND® products help reduce lead bioavailability by up to 85% based on EPA 9200.1-86. This means that if ingested, the formula is designed to reduce the potential for relative lead bioavailability (lead absorbed into the bloodtream) by up to 85%.
In the new Lead Defender formula, Bitrex® creates an added safety barrier to further protect children from lead poisoning by reducing the amount of paint chips or dust a child may ingest. Bitrex® is the bitterest substance known and is added to ECOBOND® to reduce accidental ingestion of potentially harmful materials.
What’s the Difference?
A lead based treatment doesn’t remove the lead; but it provides a layer of protection that treats the underlying lead. For example, the lead paint sealant from Ecobond is a Paint-it-on Leave-it-on® application that is proven and patented to reduce lead hazards up to 95%. This proprietary formula provides maximum adherence to lead paint surfaces with an easily applied paint formula specially formulated softeners and penetrators. Just spray it on, brush it on, or roll it on.
For demolition projects, a commercial contractor faces extra considerations in dealing with the lead impacted waste. ECOBOND® Lead Defender® Pro provides the best professional grade quality latex paint to penetrate, bond, seal and treat existing lead paint applications and control the spread of airborne lead and renders lead non-hazardous for disposal.
Contrast that with lead paint stripping products. According to Paint Pro, a paint stripper is a product that’s meant to soften the bond between paint and the underlying surface, making it easier to remove, and less likely to flake or dust in the process. Some manual scraping may still be required, but once a paint stripper has been allowed to do its work, removing the paint is easier, and simpler. But, “strippers are among the most dangerous chemicals you encounter in your line of work. Although the trend is toward newer solvents that are safer than methylene chloride, you must treat all strippers with respect.”
Choosing Between the Two
Between the two products, lead treatment products like ECOBOND® – Lead Defender® are typically less expensive. The lead treatment option is the preferred method for ease of use and lower overall cost. Additionally, lead strippers involve a more comprehensive multi-step process which may require additional scraping and prepping of the walls.
LeadDefender® has been proven in the marketplace for over 10 years; recently a comprehensive scientific study following US EPA test methods was conducted by an independent laboratory to validate LeadDefender®’s proven ability to seal and treat lead paint hazards under a wide variety of uses including 1) All-in-One Primer and Topcoat, 2) Primer + Name Brand Latex Topcoat, 3) Primer + Standard Epoxy Encapsulant, 4) Sealant and Treatment Prior to Demolition and Disposal, 5) Prior to Disposal.
Always read the product carefully, and make sure it does what you want it to do before you begin applying it. Otherwise you may find your project just became significantly more complicated and expensive.
To learn more, view our lead paint treatment video or download our free Industry Report: http://www.LeadPaintRemovalReport.com
ECOBOND - Lead Defender 