Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably has lead paint. Test the trim before you scrape, skip sanders and heat guns, and keep dust and children away from the work.
The first houses in Concord went up east of Keele Street in the 1950s, according to the City of Vaughan's history of Concord. If you own one of them, the original trim, window frames, porch and doors have likely been repainted many times, and the bottom layers may be lead paint. That does not mean you can't repaint. It means the prep matters more than the paint.
Which Concord houses are the concern
Health Canada's line is simple: your home probably contains lead-based paint if it was built before 1960. For homes built from 1960 to 1990, the exterior may contain it, and interior paint may carry smaller amounts that can still be harmful. Homes built after 1990 should not, because consumer paint was virtually lead-free by then.
So the original 1950s streets east of Keele are the ones to treat as lead-positive until a test says otherwise. A 1970s or 1980s Glen Shields house is a different case: the interior is likely fine, but the exterior trim, window frames and garage door frame are worth a test before you scrape.
Leaving it alone is often the safest choice
Lead paint is mostly a hazard when it is chipping, flaking, or within reach of children. Health Canada says leaving paint that isn't chipping alone can be safer than removing it, and HealthLinkBC adds that disturbing it creates hazardous dust even under new paint. Intact surfaces can be covered with a fresh coat of modern paint, vinyl wallpaper or wallboard.
The trouble comes when you scrape a flaking porch rail or strip a windowsill back to bare wood. That is the exact moment dust is made, and it is the moment worth planning.
How to find out if it is lead
Health Canada gives two routes: send paint chip samples to a lab, or hire a contractor with x-ray equipment that can detect lead on painted surfaces. HealthLinkBC also lists home test kits and contacting your local health authority. Take the chip through every layer, down to the wood, so the old coat is in the sample, and repeat for each different surface you plan to work on.
What not to use, and what to use instead
Health Canada says not to use sanders, heat guns or blowlamps on lead paint, because they create toxic dust and fumes. If you do the work yourself, its advice is a brush-on chemical stripper paste. HealthLinkBC says chemical stripping produces the least lead dust, sanding and grinding produces more, and keeping surfaces wet with a water and detergent spray helps contain what is made.
Ontario's Ministry of Labour sorts lead work for construction workers into three types. Removing coatings with a gel or paste and a cloth wrap is the lowest, Type 1. Scraping or sanding with non-powered hand tools is Type 2a, with a half-mask respirator required. Power tools without effective dust collection are Type 3a, with a higher-protection respirator. That guideline protects workers, not homeowners, but it shows how a professional treats a hand scraper: as respirator work.
Protect the house and the people in it
- Keep children and pregnant women out of the work area. Health Canada notes that unborn children are at risk if the mother-to-be takes in lead, and that there is no known safe level of lead exposure.
- Turn off forced-air heating and cooling, and cover vents with taped plastic.
- Seal the work doorway with plastic. Remove furniture, rugs and drapes, or cover them and seal the edges with tape.
- Outdoors, lay drop sheets, avoid windy days, and cover nearby windows and doors.
- Wear coveralls, goggles, gloves and a respirator rated for dust, mist and fumes.
- Don't eat, drink or smoke where you are working.
Cleanup and where the scrapings go
HealthLinkBC's cleanup routine is to wet the dust and wipe it up daily, vacuum with a HEPA vacuum, and wash work clothes separately or throw them out. For the final cleanup, wait at least one day for the dust to settle, then wet-wipe every surface and bag the plastic.
Health Canada says to put scrapings and chips in a sealed container labelled "Hazardous Waste" and dispose of it by your municipality's instructions. The City of Vaughan does not collect paint curbside. York Region's McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre at 130 McCleary Court takes household hazardous waste from residents, free, with proof of residency, up to 60 litres a day, in sealed, labelled containers. Its page does not mention lead paint or paint chips, so call York Region or check york.ca/HHW first, rather than assume.
Quick answers
Does my 1950s Concord house have lead paint?
Probably. Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint, and one built from 1960 to 1990 may have it on the exterior.
Can I just paint over old lead paint?
Yes, if it is intact. Health Canada says leaving unchipped lead paint alone can be safer, so the real risk is the scraping and sanding you do before painting.
Is it safe to sand or use a heat gun on old trim?
No. Health Canada says not to use sanders, heat guns or blowlamps on suspect paint, because they create toxic dust and fumes. A brush-on chemical stripper paste is its safer choice.
How do I find out if my paint has lead?
Send a paint chip to a lab, or hire a contractor with x-ray equipment that detects lead through the paint. Once you know, Rhodex can quote the prep and painting.
Where do paint scrapings go?
Into a sealed container marked hazardous waste, not the curbside bin. Vaughan does not collect paint curbside, so call York Region before you drive anywhere.
Test first, then pick the method
A lab result costs you a few days. A dry-scraped, sanded porch that turns out to be lead costs you a house full of dust to clean. If the test is negative, ordinary prep and paint apply. If it is positive and the paint is sound, a sealed, modern coat over it is a legitimate plan. If it is positive and flaking, hire someone who works lead-safe, or use a paste stripper and the full precautions above.
Related reading
- More home repair guides for Concord
- Exterior painting from Rhodex: get a fixed price
- Scraping a Popcorn Ceiling in a Glen Shields Home: Test for Asbestos First
- How Rhodex Vets a Craftsman Before They Reach Your Door
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