Should I worry about lead paint in my older Ottawa home?

Yes, you should definitely be concerned about lead paint if your Ottawa home was built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned in Canada. Homes built in the 1950s and earlier are particularly likely to contain lead paint, which poses serious health risks especially to children and pregnant women.

Lead paint becomes dangerous when it deteriorates, creating dust or chips that can be ingested or inhaled. The biggest risk occurs during renovation work - sanding, scraping, or demolishing surfaces with lead paint can create hazardous dust that spreads throughout your home. Even seemingly minor projects like window replacement or wall removal can disturb lead paint and create a health hazard.

Before starting any renovation in a pre-1978 Ottawa home, you should have the paint tested for lead. Professional testing costs around $300-500 and can save you thousands in remediation costs later. If lead is found, Ontario regulations require specific containment and removal procedures. DIY removal is strongly discouraged - disturbing lead paint improperly can make the problem much worse by spreading contaminated dust throughout your home.

Professional lead paint remediation in Ottawa typically costs $15-25 per square foot, depending on the surface type and accessibility. This includes proper containment (plastic sheeting, negative air pressure), specialized removal techniques, and thorough cleanup with HEPA filtration. The work must be done by certified professionals who understand Ontario's lead abatement regulations.

Ottawa's older neighborhoods like the Glebe, Centretown, and Sandy Hill have many homes from the 1920s-1940s where lead paint is common. If you're planning kitchen, bathroom, or basement renovations in these areas, factor lead testing and potential remediation into your budget and timeline. The City of Ottawa Building Code Services requires disclosure of lead hazards in some renovation permits.

For minor maintenance like painting over existing surfaces in good condition, encapsulation may be sufficient - this involves applying special primers and paints that seal the lead paint underneath. However, any project involving surface preparation, demolition, or areas where children might access (like windowsills or railings) requires professional assessment.

Don't let lead paint concerns stop you from renovating - just plan for it properly. For a comprehensive assessment of lead paint risks in your renovation project, contact Justyn Rook Contracting for a free consultation. We work with certified lead-safe contractors and can help you navigate the testing and remediation process safely.