How to Choose Commercial Painters – 10 Important Factors for Commercial Painters Choosing
21 September 2025
How to Fix a Bad Paint Job: Every Surface, Wall, Ceiling, Door, etc
25 September 2025
Safe, Certified, and Professional Lead Paint Removal
Lead paint is more common in older Australian homes than many people realise. If your house or building was painted before the late 1970s, there’s a good chance it contains lead-based paint. While it might look harmless, lead paint can pose serious health risks if disturbed during renovations, sanding, or repainting. That’s where our professional lead paint removal services come in.
We provide homeowners, businesses, and strata managers across Sydney with safe, reliable, and fully compliant lead paint removal. Our trained team knows exactly how to test, contain, and remove hazardous paint without putting your family, tenants, or workers at risk.
All lead paint removal works carried out by Painters Link are planned and executed in line with AS 4361.2, Guide to Lead Paint Management. This Australian Standard sets out clear requirements for managing, removing, and controlling lead-based paint safely, particularly in residential, commercial, and heritage settings.
In practical terms, this means:
- Identifying lead risks before work begins
- Selecting the safest removal method for each surface
- Controlling dust, debris, and contamination
- Protecting occupants, neighbours, and workers
- Managing waste correctly from start to finish
AS 4361.2 places a strong emphasis on risk minimisation rather than speed, and that aligns closely with how we approach every lead paint removal project.
Why Lead Paint is Dangerous
- Health risks: Lead exposure can cause developmental problems in children, and serious health issues for adults.
- Hidden hazard: Lead isn’t always visible, layers of new paint might be covering older lead-based coats.
- Risk during renovations: Sanding or stripping old walls without proper precautions can release toxic dust into the air.
We’ve seen families unknowingly sand old weatherboards, only to spread fine lead dust throughout their homes. That’s why professional removal is so important.
Lead Paint Risk Assessment Before Removal
Before any removal starts, a structured lead paint risk assessment is carried out.
This assessment considers:
- Age of the building
- Location of lead-painted surfaces
- Condition of the paint (intact, flaking, friable)
- Proximity to living areas, ventilation, and access points
- Presence of children, elderly occupants, or vulnerable people
In our experience, many older Sydney homes appear "fine on the surface" but release dangerous lead dust once sanding or scraping begins.
This step allows us to choose the least disruptive and safest method, rather than defaulting to aggressive removal.
Containment and Isolation Zones
One of the key principles of AS 4361.2 is containment.
Before lead paint removal begins, the work area is fully isolated using:
- Heavy-duty plastic sheeting
- Sealed doorways and vents
- Floor and ground protection
- Clear warning signage
Where required, negative air pressure systems with HEPA filtration are installed to prevent lead dust from migrating to other areas of the property.
This is especially important in:
- Occupied homes
- Apartments and strata buildings
- Heritage properties
- Schools, childcare centres, and churches
Containment is not optional. It is what separates professional painting services from risky shortcuts.
Our Lead Paint Removal Process
Practical steps for safe removing lead paints and surface preparation
-
Scraping and sanding the ceiling to remove lead-based paint.
-
Applying a ceiling-binding primer
-
Patching the timber with a specialised timber filler
-
Caulking all gaps with a flexible gap filler
- Applying the second under coat (if required)
Where Lead Paint Is Commonly Found
Lead paint can turn up in:
- Weatherboard houses and timber trims
- Old window frames and doors
- Ceilings and walls in pre-1970s homes
- Fences, sheds, and garages
- Commercial or industrial buildings built decades ago
If you’re in suburbs with older housing stock, like Balmain, Newtown, Parramatta, or Blacktown, it's especially worth checking.
Why Choose Us for Lead Paint Removal?
Lead Paint Removal for Different Properties
Strata Buildings
We work with strata committees to safely manage lead paint in common areas and unit blocks.
Commercial & Industrial
From warehouses to old offices, we handle large-scale lead paint projects with minimal disruption.
Homes & Apartments
Make your home safe for your family by removing old lead hazards before renovations.
Eco-Friendly & Safe Repainting Options
After removing hazardous paint, we can apply low-VOC and low-toxicity paints that are safer for your home and the environment. This means no strong odours, no harmful chemicals, and a long-lasting finish that protects your property.
Areas We Service
We provide lead paint removal services right across Greater Sydney, including:
Sydney CBD | Inner West | Western Sydney | Northern Beaches | Eastern Suburbs | Sutherland Shire | Hills District | and more.
FAQ: Lead Paint Removal
Removing lead paint - case studies
Get a Free Quote Today
If you suspect your property has lead paint, don’t take risks. Contact us today for a free inspection and quote. Our Sydney-based team will provide clear advice and safe solutions so you can move forward with confidence.
Approved Lead Paint Removal Methods
AS 4361.2 does not promote a single removal method. Instead, it requires selecting the safest suitable technique based on the situation.
Methods we use include:
Not every lead paint situation needs full removal.
Under Australian guidelines, lead paint is managed using two main approaches: temporary control methods and permanent removal methods.
The right option depends on paint condition, location, building use, and who occupies the space.
Temporary Lead Paint Management Methods
Temporary methods are used when lead paint is stable, intact, and not actively creating dust.
These approaches focus on controlling exposure, not removing the lead itself.
AS 4361.2 allows temporary methods only when the lead paint is intact, stable, and unlikely to be disturbed.
These methods control exposure but do not remove the lead hazard.
1- Encapsulation (Sealing the Lead Paint)
Encapsulation involves applying a specialised coating over existing lead-based paint to seal it in place. According to AS 4361.2, encapsulation may be used when:
- The paint is well bonded
- The surface is not subject to abrasion or impact
- Ongoing inspection is possible
- Full removal would cause unnecessary disturbance
Encapsulation is often used on walls, ceilings, and decorative elements in older homes and heritage buildings.
It is important to note that encapsulation requires ongoing monitoring.
If the coating fails in the future, the lead hazard returns.
Common encapsulating products used in Australia include:
- INSL-X / Zinsser / XIM: Various, including primers designed to lock down old paint
- Lead Stop® Professional Lead Encapsulant: An elastomeric barrier coating designed for both interior and exterior use that seals in lead paint, often containing a bitter agent to deter ingestion by children.
- Rust Grip®: A tough, aluminum-based moisture-cured polyurethane coating designed to adhere to and seal lead paint, asbestos, and rust, suitable for various substrates.
- Fiberlock Technologies (LBC): A recognized brand for specialized lead encapsulation coatings.
- Dulux Enviroprime or similar sealing primers
- Taubmans 3 in 1 or high-adhesion sealers
- Approved acrylic or elastomeric coatings with strong film build
Encapsulation is often used on ceilings, high walls, and decorative elements, particularly in heritage homes.
Important note from AS 4361.2:
If the encapsulating layer fails, the lead hazard returns. Monitoring is essential.
2- Enclosure (Covering the Surface)
Enclosure involves covering the lead-painted surface with another material, such as plasterboard or panelling.
This approach may be appropriate where:
- The surface is difficult to remove safely
- The area is low-impact
- Structural changes are already planned
Enclosure does not remove lead paint. It isolates it.
In our experience, enclosure works best as part of a larger renovation rather than a standalone fix.
3- Paint Stabilisation and Localised Repair
Where lead paint is mostly intact but showing small areas of failure, stabilisation may be used.
This includes:
- Wet scraping of loose paint
- Feathering edges
- Sealing exposed areas
AS 4361.2 treats stabilisation as a short-term risk control, not a permanent fix.
These solutions address the popcorn ceilings that contain lead or asbestos.
Permanent Lead Paint Removal Methods
Permanent methods aim to remove the lead hazard completely. These are recommended when paint is deteriorated, frequently disturbed, or poses a high exposure risk.
1- Wet Scraping and Wet Sanding
This is one of the most commonly accepted permanent methods under AS 4361.2.
Key requirements include:
• Continuous wetting to suppress dust
• Manual tools only
• Full containment of the work area
• Immediate debris collection
Dry sanding and high-speed mechanical tools are discouraged because they create airborne lead dust.
2- Chemical Paint Stripping (Controlled Removal)
Chemical strippers are used where mechanical methods would generate excessive dust or damage the substrate. AS 4361.2 supports chemical stripping when:
- Dust generation must be minimised
- Surfaces are detailed or fragile
- Residue can be fully contained and removed
Common lead paint stripping products available in Australia include:
- Dumond Peel Away systems
- Polycell paint removal solutions
- Solvent-based or alkaline strippers approved for architectural use
All residues, wash-down water, and removed paint must be treated as lead-contaminated waste under the Standard.
3- Component Removal and Replacement
AS 4361.2 recognises that in some cases, full removal of the painted component is the safest option.
This may include:
- Window frames
- Doors
- Architraves
- External cladding
Components are removed under containment, sealed, and disposed of correctly. This method is often the lowest long-term risk option, particularly in homes with children.
Choosing Between Temporary and Permanent Methods
The decision comes down to risk, usage, and future plans.
Temporary methods may suit:
- Low-contact surfaces
- Short-term occupancy
- Heritage preservation needs
Permanent methods are recommended when:
- Paint is flaking or chalking
- Surfaces are frequently touched or disturbed
- Children or vulnerable occupants are present
- Renovation or repainting is planned
For painters in Sydney, especially in older suburbs, a proper assessment avoids over-treatment while still protecting health.
Our Practical Recommendation
In real-world projects, we often use a combination of both approaches.
For example:
- Encapsulation on high ceilings
- Full removal on windows, doors, and trims
This balanced approach keeps projects safe, cost-effective, and compliant. Professional painting services should never default to "just painting over it" or "ripping everything out" without understanding the risk profile.
Cleaning, Clearance, and Decontamination
Once lead paint removal is complete, the site goes through a staged cleaning process.
This includes:
- HEPA vacuuming of all surfaces
- Wet wiping of walls, floors, and fixtures
- Safe removal and sealing of containment materials
- Controlled waste handling and disposal
Only once the area is visually clean and safe do we allow re-entry. Rushing this stage is one of the most common compliance failures we see in the industry. Proper clearance protects both the client and the tradespeople who follow.
Get a Free Quote Today
