(no subject)

[rivka]

I came home this evening to discover that our landlord decided to replace the entire study ceiling, not just the third closest to the damage. I don't disagree, from a safety standpoint. But it means that we'll be without our study and our desktops for more than a week. It also means that all the bookshelves had to be covered with plastic sheeting, including all the homeschooling stuff and all Alex's art supplies, and I didn't know it was going to happen so I didn't save anything out.

Also, I am obsessing about lead. The workers said to keep the kids away from the study. Was that because of tools and ladders and debris and dust? Or was it because there is lead in the plaster debris, and "keep the kids away from the study" is their half-assed risk reduction strategy? Because if so... NO. Every time they come in and out they track dust onto the landing and stairs, where we pick it up on our feet and carry it all over the house. Annoying enough if it's just dirt. Potentially brain-damaging for the kids, if it's lead.

So. Tomorrow I'll be home when they come and I can ask them to test for lead. Until we know, there's no point in borrowing trouble. Right? Because our landlord is a conscientious guy, and not likely to risk the problems that would come from not properly safeguarding children from lead on his property.

Surely. Right?

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

They don't want the kids in there because of tools and ladders and debris and dust. They're not even THINKING of lead.

It seems unlikely to me that lead paint would be used in a ceiling -- you don't need toughness and corrosion resistance, or high gloss, in a ceiling, and those are the characteristics that lead adds to paint. For the most part, you see lead paint around window frames and sills.

In any case, get the testing kit, and you'll know.