Dear Pat: I plan to remodel a 50-year-old house but retain as much of its original character as possible. Most of the woodwork needs refinishing. It might have some old lead paint. What should I do? — Nicole

Dear Nicole: If your house is 50 years old, there is a good chance the paint on the woodwork contains lead. In the late 1970s, laws were passed prohibiting lead as an ingredient in household paint. However, even if some of your woodwork was painted after that time, there still may be some coats of lead-containing paint beneath the top coat.

Interior paint with lead poses the greatest risk, but don't forget about the exterior paint on your home. When sanding or scraping off old, flaking house paint, it is possible to inhale the dust that contains lead. Also, the paint scrapings and chips can fall onto the ground and introduce lead into the soil.

Although the paint in your home might not contain lead, always proceed as if it does until you have paint samples tested. Your local health department or Environmental Protection Agency office can advise you about how to have the paint tested. The National Lead Information Center can also provide you with additional background information on this. Contact them by phone at 800-424-5323, or visit their website at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm.

If the old lead paint is not disturbed, it is not a serious hazard. For example, if the woodwork has four coats of paint and the bottom one contains lead, you are probably better off putting on a new coat of paint than trying to remove all the old coats. However, if you have a dog or child who might chew on the painted wood, you should consider having it all stripped off first.

If you have already done much of the work or you have done similar remodeling in a previous home and suspect you have already come in contact with lead, consider getting blood tests for yourself and your children. Lead poisoning can build up over time, so you might not experience any obvious symptoms at initial lower levels.

People often wonder why a dangerous additive such as lead was ever used in house paint in the first place. Lead was an inexpensive and effective way to increase the opacity of paint so a coat of paint would hide what was beneath it. It was also used in some clear varnishes as a drying agent.

If your paint test results show no lead, go ahead and start your remodeling project. It would still be wise to wear a breathing filter when you are creating much dust from sanding. Also, try to block off the work area as much as possible to minimize the dust your children inhale.

If lead was found in the paint when tested, do not attempt the remodeling yourself. Don't think a good breathing-mask filter and vacuum cleaner will keep you and your children safe from lead dust. There are remodeling contractors with the proper expertise and equipment to work safely with old lead paint.

Once the contractor's work is completed, you should consider altering the way you clean house in the future because it is likely that some lead paint remains in your home. Some things you should consider are using a wet mop when possible instead of using a broom and using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filter. Another solution is a central vacuum cleaner that is vented to the outdoors.

Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about Pat Logan and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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