When Big Painting Companies Outsource Too Much: Who Really Pays the Price?
19 May 2026
Paint Restoration and Repainting a Strata Building Staircase and Stairway
5 June 2026
Lead-base Paint in a Heritage Property
If you reside in an older house in Australia, especially in suburbs around Parramatta, Balmain, Newtown or the like - in other words, the older suburbs - there's a pretty good chance you've got some lead paint lurking around in your property.
Loads of homeowners don't even know about it until they start ripping out a wall, renovating the bathroom, or getting to work on those old windows they've been putting off - and suddenly everywhere is covered in dust and someone goes "You know, have you checked if it's lead paint?"
That's the moment to take very seriously - a lot more seriously than people might think.
Lead paint becomes a pretty big health risk when it starts flaking, cracking, getting sanded or just breaking down into dust. And if you're a family with little ones, or you're pregnant or one of those lucky few who've turned themselves into a handy tradie - then you're especially at risk. And the weird thing is the paint can look totally normal, even if it's 50 years old. A wall painted in the 1970s can still look as if it was done just yesterday.
In this guide we'll go through how to spot if you've got lead paint lurking in your home, what to keep an eye out for, how to test for it and exactly how to remove or manage it safely. We'll also cover off when it's just best to leave it to the pros - ie. the painting services that actually know what they're doing, or the licensed folks who specialise in lead paint removal.
What is Lead Paint?
Lead paint is basically paint that contains lead compounds - the sorts of compounds that were used to be added to paint in Australia right up until the 1970s to boost durability, keep the moisture out and make colours stay looking good for longer.
You can find evidence of old lead-based paint coatings in many older Australian homes in the following places:
- timber windows and doors - that's right, even the old wooden ones
- skirting boards
- weatherboards - out the back of the house or on the facade
- ceilings - How We Paint Heritage Building Ceilings
- metal railings - often on stairs
- and also in the bathrooms and kitchens
- then there are the verandahs and exterior trims
it's worth noting that Safe Work Australia and NSW Health reckon that homes built before 1970 are more likely to contain lead paint, although it's possible that some products still got sold after that date.
the thing is though, it's not the intact paint that usually causes the problem - it's what happens when the paint starts to break down and becomes dust or flakes.
How to Detect Lead Paint in Your Home
1. Check the Age of Your Home
The first clue is usually the construction date.
Homes built:
- Before 1970: High risk
- 1970 to 1997: Possible risk
- After 1997: Lower likelihood in Australia
Now, older homes especially in Sydney - think federation homes, weatherboard cottages, and those heritage-style properties - often have multiple layers of old paint piled on top of each other.
If you're not sure about your home's age, don't worry, a trip to the council records or looking at the property sale documents can often give you the lowdown.
2. Look for Common Signs of Lead Paint
Lead paint doesn't always look different, but there are some warning signs.
Common indicators include:
- Thick layers of old paint
- Cracking or “alligator” patterns
- Chalking surfaces
- Peeling around windows
- Paint that flakes into brittle chips
- Older glossy enamel coatings on timber
Timber sash windows are one of the biggest culprits. Friction between moving surfaces creates contaminated dust over time.
3. Use a Lead Paint Test Kit
One of the quickest ways to detect lead paint is with a lead testing kit.
Several lead test swab kits are available in Australia through:
- Hardware stores
- Paint suppliers, such as Dulux shops or Inspiration
- Industrial safety suppliers, like Mitro10
- Online marketplaces like Amazon
These kits usually involve:
Exposing the underlying paint layer
Activating a chemical swab
Rubbing it on the surface
Checking for a colour change
While DIY kits can be useful for screening, they aren't always perfect. Some darker paint colours or layered coatings can affect results.
If accuracy matters, laboratory testing is more reliable.
4. Professional Lead Paint Testing
Professional inspectors and some painters in Sydney use specialised tools like XRF analyzers (X-ray fluorescence devices) to detect lead without damaging surfaces. That said, some paints are so obviously does have lead and expert can detect it, due to Pink or greenish colours in undercoats.
Lab testing may also involve:
- Paint chip analysis
- Dust sampling
- Soil testing around old homes
- Air quality testing during renovations
Professional testing is strongly recommended when:
- Children live in the home
- You're planning major renovations
- The property is heritage-listed
- Large sanding or demolition work is planned
Where Lead Paint Is Commonly Found
Interior Areas may have lead paint
- Architraves
- Window frames
- Skirting boards
- Ceiling trims
- Bathrooms
- Stair railings
Exterior Areas may have lead paint
- Weatherboards
- Fascias
- Gutters
- Verandah posts
- Fences
- Metal balustrades
One interesting thing about older Australian homes is that many have layer upon layer of repainting over decades. Sometimes modern paint is covering very old lead-based coatings underneath.
That’s why simply seeing a "fresh paint job" doesn't guarantee safety.
Lead Paint in Heritage Homes
Many heritage homes across Sydney contain original coatings beneath newer paint layers.
This creates a balancing act:
- Preserving historical features
- Improving appearance
- Managing health risks
Specialist restoration painters often combine:
- Lead-safe preparation
- Heritage-approved coatings
- Timber restoration
- Careful encapsulation methods
Older homes can absolutely be restored beautifully and safely. It just requires the right process.
FAQs About Lead Paint
Result
People often don't realise just how common lead paint is in Australian homes but that is especially true in homes that were built before the 1970s.
The good news is that you don't have to freak out about lead paint just yet. A lot of homes can be handled safely with the right know how.
The main thing is to get a handle on:
- How to spot it - because you might not even know it's there
- When it becomes a real danger
- How to deal with it properly so you don't make things worse
If you're about to do any renovations or re-paint some old surfaces, getting a test in first is almost always the smart way to go.
And when things start getting bigger or more complicated, getting in experienced painters in Sydney who know their way around lead-safe work is a good way to cut down on risks.
A fresh paint job is supposed to improve your home, not leave a ticking time bomb of hidden health issues hanging around.
