Lead paint in my 1940s Ottawa home, what should I tell the carpenter?

Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint, and that interior paint may contain lead in smaller amounts. The most important thing to tell the carpenter before any work starts is that the paint has not been tested, so no sanding, heat-gunning or blowtorching should happen until you know what you are dealing with.

Ask the carpenter to test before disturbing any painted surface. If the carpenter plans to cut, scrape or sand trim, baseboard, door casings, window frames or any other painted wood, testing comes first. You can arrange testing yourself or ask the carpenter to factor it into the scope of work. Either way, get the plan in writing before work begins.

Here is what to raise directly with the carpenter:

• Has lead paint been tested, or will testing be part of the job?
• How will the work area be contained to keep dust from spreading through the house?
• How will painted debris and dust be collected and disposed of?
• What personal protective equipment will the crew use?
• Who is responsible for arranging testing if it has not been done?

The carpenter has worker-safety duties under Ontario law regardless of what you arrange on your end. Your job is to make sure the carpenter knows the age of the house and that no testing has been done, so there are no assumptions going in. Put that disclosure in writing, even a short email, before the first day of work.

Health Canada also notes that older materials, including plaster, putty, caulking and spackling, may contain asbestos. If the carpentry work will disturb plaster walls or ceilings, raise asbestos testing at the same time as lead. A professional should test before anything is opened up.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 requires a direct agreement over $50 to be in writing, signed and delivered to you; you then have 10 days to cancel without any reason. Make sure the written contract spells out the testing plan, the containment method and how debris is handled, not just the carpentry scope.

When you sit down with two written quotes for this job, put the scope description, who designs and who pulls any permit, the materials list, and the patching and clean-up plan side by side line by line, and ask each carpenter to explain in plain language how they handle lead and asbestos risk on a pre-1960 house before you choose between them.