We have lead paint everywhere in our old house. We're taking it off room by room with SmartStrip, an environmentally friendly stripper that's part of the PeelAway family. If the paint wasn't peeling, I'd probably ensure a good, thick, smooth paint job and leave it alone (except for the windows).
The vector for lead is twofold, but basically centered on lead dust being where little ones can get it on their hands, which then go into their mouths. So,
-windows going up and down and getting lead dust on the sills and floors where kids can touch it.
-soil, both as kids get dirt on their hands outside and anyone who lives in the house gets dirt on their shoes or clothes and tracks it into the house, where it's on the floor where kids can get it on their hands and thence to their mouths.
ETA: Carpets are notorious for holding lead dust.
Last edited by ThreeofUs; 09-04-2009 at 11:55 AM.
-Ivy
Parenting two active, wonderful boys
This is your world. Shape it or someone else will. -Gary Lew