Five Tips to Keep in Mind When Dealing With Leadlight Windows
Posted on: 11 July 2016
Leadlights are decorative windows that feature colored glass framed by bits of lead. If you are buying a home with leadlights, you may love the beauty they add, but you may also be wondering if you need to worry about the lead. In most cases, the lead in leadlights does not pose a health risk, but to be on the safe side, you should consider these tips, especially if your window breaks and you need to have the glass repaired:
1. Check the paint below the windows for lead.
If the leadlight windows are old, the window frame around them may be old as well, and it's important to check the paint on the frame to see if it has lead. You can buy lead testing strips at most hardware stores. Simply rub the strip along the paint, and wait for the indicator to show if it has lead or not.
If the paint has lead, you should get it removed by a professional lead mitigator. If you have chipped lead paint, in particular, it could be ingested by a child, potentially causing long-term damage. Lead particles may also get into the air and be inhaled.
2. Wet clean your sills.
If your sills are free of lead paint, monitor them for lead dust. Leadlight glass can shed small amounts of lead dust. To clean it up, simply use a wet cloth to clean your window sills on a regular basis. Ideally, use a disposable paper towel and throw it out after use.
3. Take extra precautions with children.
In most cases, adults don't have to worry about lead exposure from glass with leadlights, but special precautions should be taken with children. The biggest risk is among toddlers who may lick the window sills. Remember to keep the sill clean, and deter children from licking it.
4. Cover the leadlight windows with glass.
If you are worried about the lead in the windows, you can hire a window installer or glass repair expert to put a piece of glass over them. That traps any lead from getting into the air and ensures that there are no risks. However, it doesn't disrupt the beauty of the leadlights.
5. Have a professional help with broken glass.
If your leadlights ever break, you risk the lead dust escaping into the air. In this case, you may want to consult with a glass expert or a lead mitigator to help you remove the remaining shreds of glass so that you don't risk coming into contact with the lead.
Leadlight windows are considered to be safe. However, if you have any questions about the condition of your old leadlight windows or if you prefer to replace them with new windows, you should contact a glass expert.
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