Painted stairs have started chipping - lead paint underneath

headcrash27

We've spent the last few weeks updating our stairs. We couldn't afford a new carpet so we ripped out the old one and painted the stairs.

Originally we planned to sand the stairs prior to priming and painting but as we suspected the paint already on them was lead based this wasn't an option. After looking to the internet for advice we filled all the holes and sealed the gaps then applied two coats of Zinnser BIN. Then we applied two coats of Ronseal Diamond Hard Floor Paint.

The end result is that the stairs look great but unfortunately tiny bits of paint have started chipping off within days off painting. It's not just the new Ronseal paint that's chipping off but all the old layers of lead based paint are coming off with it and you can see dark wood underneath.

It is only in a few places and i'm not sure how much worse it's going to get. I'm at a loss as to what to do for the best now. I don't like the idea of lead paint chips in the house and I'm worried about the safety issue as we have children but my husband seems to think as it's only a tiny a bit it will be fine.

Re-carpeting is a last resort as we really cannot afford it and would need to take out a loan to do so. I have searched the internet and it seems some people varnish over the paint with yacht varnish which is supposed to be very hardwearing but i'm not sure how much this would help when it's chipping all the way down to the wood.

Does anyone have any advice? I can't find anyone else that has had this problem so i'm really at a loss as to what to do for the best.

elliot341

you need a solid base to start with when you paint, did you key the paint before u painted or were you worried this would release any potential lead paint into the atmosphere? unfortunately if the new paint is not securely attached to the old paint surface (and this surface is not 100% sound ie not flaking off) then it may continue to flake off.
SOmething which will make this worse is the fact that people going up and down the stairs will flex the wood and in turn the paint and will result in it cracking and coming loose as well.

headcrash27

elliot341 wrote: »

you need a solid base to start with when you paint, did you key the paint before u painted or were you worried this would release any potential lead paint into the atmosphere? unfortunately if the new paint is not securely attached to the old paint surface (and this surface is not 100% sound ie not flaking off) then it may continue to flake off.
SOmething which will make this worse is the fact that people going up and down the stairs will flex the wood and in turn the paint and will result in it cracking and coming loose as well.

No we didn't key it due to worries about the lead. Also the Zinnser primer we used is supposed to eliminate the need for any prior sanding. It's shellac based and adheres to any surface. I don't think that the problem is that the new paint is coming off the old, the paint that is coming off has the old paint on it too and you can see bare wood underneath.

Since my earlier post i wonder if part of the problem is our cat as earlier i spotted some claw marks in the paint and he does tend to hare up and down the stairs. Is there anything that's going to resist cat's claws though? The paint we used is supposed to be diamond tough!

abankerbutnotafatcat

We were in exactly the same position and used Zinsser on clean but unkeyed paint. It was even gloss paint but the Zinsser adhered to it. The only difference was that we used gloss paint over the Zinsser and then stair treads. This was about 18 months ago and the stairs still look fab. We also have a cat prone to turbo moments!

abankerbutnotafatcat

We used these, a complete set is c£100 and you fit them yourself. We bought extra double sided carpet tape to get a secure fix.
http://www.floormats.co.uk/stairtreads

stebiz

Another issue with older properties................like my asbestos thread.

I remember when I was younger using a flame gun to burn all the paint off. Bonfires with old windows. 4* petrol (leaded) and I'm still here to tell the tale. That isn't too long ago either - only the 80's.

What would I do? but not advising you to do - you must make your own decision. I'd get some paint remover. Mask up and roll back your carpets etc and do it properly.

Then I'd wet everything down - should be wet anyway - and gather up creating as little dust as possible. Then I'd vacum it up with a hepa filter (my dyson has one) and then either replace it or clean it.

I've renewed all of my woodwork in my house. It's just the stairs (like you) and that is what I'll be doing. The kids won't be at home.

headcrash27

Sorry for not updating the thread but i decided to email Ronseal and see what they said and was waiting for their response.

They asked me to send them some photos to look at and this is what they have come back with:

I think the most probable cause for the issue you have experienced is the length of time in between each coat. We recommend that the area is re coated in 4 hours and this instruction is to ensure the coatings adhere well to one another, if you leave too long in between coatings they will not adhere well and sit on top of one another resulting in weakening which will cause flaking and peeling.

Is this really likely to be the case? I've never heard of this before. We left two coats by the way and not the four hours they recommend.

stebiz

headcrash27 wrote: »

Sorry for not updating the thread but i decided to email Ronseal and see what they said and was waiting for their response.

They asked me to send them some photos to look at and this is what they have come back with:

I think the most probable cause for the issue you have experienced is the length of time in between each coat. We recommend that the area is re coated in 4 hours and this instruction is to ensure the coatings adhere well to one another, if you leave too long in between coatings they will not adhere well and sit on top of one another resulting in weakening which will cause flaking and peeling.

Is this really likely to be the case? I've never heard of this before. We left two coats by the way and not the four hours they recommend.

I find that very hard to believe. Is there no way you can take the carpet up and do the job properly. Then get somebody to put it back down. If you don't like the idea of lead paint in the house it will make life so much easier for you in future. Peace of mind is a valuable thing.

I had some old artex with 'traces' of asbestos. Feel so much happier now the men in 'white suits' took it away. I'm not worried too much about lead paint but obviously you are. Take the carpets up, wear protective clothing or get somebody to strip the stairs and go out for the day. Use a good vacum to clear up and everybody is safe and happy.

headcrash27

stebiz wrote: »

I find that very hard to believe. Is there no way you can take the carpet up and do the job properly. Then get somebody to put it back down. If you don't like the idea of lead paint in the house it will make life so much easier for you in future. Peace of mind is a valuable thing.

I had some old artex with 'traces' of asbestos. Feel so much happier now the men in 'white suits' took it away. I'm not worried too much about lead paint but obviously you are. Take the carpets up, wear protective clothing or get somebody to strip the stairs and go out for the day. Use a good vacum to clear up and everybody is safe and happy.

We don't have carpets on the stairs. If we had carpet over the paint i wouldn't be worried but because we just have paint it's chipping off and i am sweeping up little flakes of it!

We can't afford to pay someone to come in and do it so we would have to strip it ourselves if we went for that option. We have spent hours already painting these stairs so would be gutted to have to do that but maybe we have no option.

Ronseal have suggested i lightly sand the stairs and then recoat them again leaving 4 hours between coats this time. They seem to think that will fix it but i'm not so sure. I suppose it might be worth a try prior to stripping the lot though.