Garage roof saga

The garage roof is made of Lysaght steel and is 6m x 5.5m. The ceiling was painted white decades ago, although since then has flaked or chipped off (due to heat?). I bought a lead-paint test-kit from Bunnings and the ceiling paint tested positive for traces of lead >1%. I have to assume that the paint contains a high proportion of lead because it was painted in 1970's or 80's. This is a major concern because I have an infant.

After reading the advice from www.lead.org.au, I decided to seal off the ceiling area by using plastic drop sheets, except that failed because the material was too weak and impossible to form an effective seal underneath the ceiling by using tacks and tape.

Later on, I bought a product called "Soygel", which was recommended by the above web site, for removing lead paint. It works to a certain degree, although doesn't remove all layers. More so, it is difficult to remove paint in the grooves of the roof profile using a paint stripping tool.

At the moment, I have given up trying to strip the paint from the roof. I have come up with two options:

1. Create a false ceiling using fibre cement sheets
Relatively cheap option ($700)

Pros:
> Lead paint contained
> Cheapest option
> Relatively easy to install myself

Cons:
> Lead paint still present, although in a "contained" environment
> Existing roof structure may not be able to support additional weight (~250kg)

2. Replace roof
Great solution (~$1000)

Pros:
> Source of lead paint dust removed

Cons:
> Lack of knowledge/experience with construction work

To be continued...

Cin - did you wash the ceiling down with detergent before taking a paint sample? It is very common for test kits to give false readings where paint had been exposed to car exhuast fumes for periods of time.

scrape off any loose or flaking bits and give it a couple of coats of paint.
or put a ceiling in it

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Originally Posted by echnidna

scrape off any loose or flaking bits and give it a couple of coats of paint.

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That's way to simple a solution. :D

Peter.

LOL. The moral of this story is not to paint the carport ceiling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dirty Doogie

Cin - did you wash the ceiling down with detergent before taking a paint sample? It is very common for test kits to give false readings where paint had been exposed to car exhuast fumes for periods of time.

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Hi DD,

No, I didn't wash it down before taking a sample. You raise a valid point about a false positive, although the paint is not in good condition and must have been painted as early as the 1970's, which means that it contains >0.25% lead content and must be removed, especially since I have a child.

I'm not so sure of this.

The main goal is to prevent the child from ingesting the paint. There is no reason I can think of it absolutely must be removed.

If it were me, I like the idea of a wash and a fresh coat of paint. Something thick and flexible so that it will hold up in case of future breakdown of the old paint. Spray-on bitumenous coating might be a good option, it would give a sound-deadening advantage as well.

woodbe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by woodbe

The main goal is to prevent the child from ingesting the paint. There is no reason I can think of it absolutely must be removed.

woodbe.

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Neither can I.

I originally painted the garage ceilings with similar paint and I had children too. Although they got into lots of things, they never got the long extension stepladder out and climbed to the ceiling of the garage to lick the paint and so ingest possible lead from the paint.

I think a case of over reacting to the possible (and moot) danger and a wash and another coat of paint is more than ample to cover the lead paint.

Peter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

Neither can I.

I originally painted the garage ceilings with similar paint and I had children too. Although they got into lots of things, they never got the long extension stepladder out and climbed to the ceiling of the garage to lick the paint and so ingest possible lead from the paint.

I think a case of over reacting to the possible (and moot) danger and a wash and another coat of paint is more than ample to cover the lead paint.

Peter.

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I don't believe that your situation is identical to mine. In my case, the lead paint dust/flakes can be found 10m away near my doorstep, near the washing line, garden beds, courtyard, etc. Ingesting lead paint dust is easy once its on your fingers and you suck them occasionally, although an infant is unlikely to do that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by woodbe

I'm not so sure of this.

The main goal is to prevent the child from ingesting the paint. There is no reason I can think of it absolutely must be removed.

If it were me, I like the idea of a wash and a fresh coat of paint. Something thick and flexible so that it will hold up in case of future breakdown of the old paint. Spray-on bitumenous coating might be a good option, it would give a sound-deadening advantage as well.

woodbe.

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Hello woodbe,

I think if I were to wash the ceiling in its existing condition it would cause more damage than good. I will look into bituminous paint. Thanks for your suggestion.

Why not create a false ceiling with gyprock or 3mm ply.

If the rafters are timber just screw it up with a cordless drill and fill any gaps with silicone or foam filler.

If the shed is used for woodwork, you could add some insulation up there to make it cosier in winter and cooler in summer.

3mm ply nailed up under the purlins would be almost the lightest ceiling lining you coiuld put up.

Or put the tongue and grooved sheeds of blue coloured foam plastic insulation up and paint it. Very light and it insulates too. I think it comes in 600 x 2400 sheets in a couple of thicknesses

IMHO you should be relying on a test kit from Bunnings or anyone else - they are intended only to give an indication that further action might be required ie: if you get a positive result (after testing twice with different samples) then you should get some samples professionally tested before proceeding with might be expensive and possibly unnecessary remedial work.

The best guide is at:

http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosp.../leadpaint.pdf

and as it says if the test comes up positive then get a lab test done - at costs from $25-$100.

Then follow the steps to deal with it if you are told there is lead in dangerous amounts.

In any case as the site you refer to says and the brochure, the problem is primarily with houses painted before 1970 - not ones painted in the 70s & 80s as you suggest your garage roof was. By 1970 the issue was well-known and paints containing other than small quantities of lead were very uncommon.

So long as you can safely remove any loose paint the option of sealing using a new coating is one that is recommended as being low cost & effective.

So - test again and then follow the booklet instructions.

I dont no why you would fart around with whats there.
Replace it.
Get a skip. $140.00
Send wife and child to grandmas for the day.
Pull down old ceiling, de nail, put rubbish in skip and clean up. 4hrs going slow.
Get 5@ 6m x 1.2m 10mm ceiling gyprock delivered. $300.00 max.
Bribe 2 mates with beer to come round for an hour or 2 to give u a hand with a "little job". Install sheets with your trusty battery drill.
Get a plasterer for half a day to finish if u dont want to plaster yourself. Might be $200.00 (less for cash).
New ceiling for less than $800.00 and u have piece of mind for the family.
Trust me , if you try to fix whats already there it will just turn into one of those jobs that never goes away. Pm me if you have any questions.
cheers.