Please come to my aid, EAGLE SCOUT PROJE CT

“I have planed on repaint 2 hallways in my churches convent. These walls haven't been painted in over 30 years, is what a sister has told me at the convent. How can I tell if they are lead based paint or not. If these walls are lead I think this project will become undoable by a group of scouts. Please help with maybe a website that gives information, a company that I can go to with a sample of the paint and so on.

I ask for your help often, and each time I do it becaues I respect your opinions and ideas.”

“You might check with your community or state's environmental protection department or public health department and look for programs on preventing lead exposure.


Also, you can check the yellow pages for an analytical lab, see if they can test a paint chip for lead. Good luck!”

“all paint before 1970 was lead based, so if the building is older than that, there is going to be some lead based paint on it. I'd check with your town building inspector regarding all the regulations, it's his job to see that they're followed, so he has the latest ones.”

“Whoa there, dood. You could be opening up a can of worms for your church. That chit tends to scares people. Church over 30 years old, chances are you'll find Pb in the paint. If tests confirm the walls are indeed Pb-based, the church may have an abatement issue, most likely requireing an Environmental Consulting Company to oversee activities. Talk to your Priest first, imo.

If you want to pursue this project, look in the yellow pages for "Laboratories-Testing" the call and inquire about cost per sample and how much of a sample and how they would like the sample prepared to bring to them (in a zip-lock bag most likely. Should be under $10 per sample. Some old walls have many coats of paint, and you may have to bring in more than one sample of the same paint color.

Anywho, I'd talk to your Priest first before any testing is performed.”

“1. The Catholic Church is second only to the US Federal Government in wealth.

2. No Catholic Church in the USA has gone 30 years without an interior paint job.

3. Why am I even discussing this.”

“2. No Catholic Church in the USA has gone 30 years without an interior paint job.

You don't know that! Many small parishes run very close to the line.”

“Frankly...if the paint IS Pb-based, a good coat(s) of non-Pb paint qould be a good start wrt encapsulating and reducing/eliminating further possible Pb exposure. It's usually eating the paint chhips or inhaling the dust that'll get you.”

“Pathman is correct. I can not confirm that there is a Catholic Church in the USA that has not had an interior paint job in 30 years.”

“MMM...Paint chips..i miss my old crib that was made in the 60's...I'm proof that you can do lots with lead paint and still be an eagle scout!! Oh and another thing once you talk to the priest so you don't open this "can of worms" and get the building condemned...try to get labs to donate their time and work..talk to local universities...i bet they'd love free practice..and you'd get credit for it”

“Don't eat it it....:)”

“To avoid the problem, put on a coat of something like BIN, first. Expensive but covers up a host of sins.”

“thanks for your advise. Bacpac, a Nun at the convent told me that it hasn't been painted in 30 years.

The paint is chiping away.”

“~ slacpac

Good question!
(go away)



T-Bone --
Check with your County Extension Agent... if you have one.
Their peeps could prolly do the testing at zero expense to you or the church.”

“This is something that you absolutely have to do by the book. Any advise to the contrary is bad advise and not keeping in the spirit of scouting.

I sounds as if lead paint is pretty much guranteed to be present and if it is flaking needs to be removed. This may not be something you can do but you might be able to arrange to have it removed (donated time by someone?) as part of your project. If nothing else you have provided a service to the convent by informing them.

The scope of Eagle projects change all the time. Sometimes they shrink sometimes they grow just don't be discouraged about it and be sure to discuss it with you SM and district advancement chair.

If it is any help, my Eagle project grew to over 3000 man hours and it came out great.

Are there any professional painters or contractors that attend your church, troop or in your district that could offer you professional advise? These guys have to deal with code issues like this all the time and should be able to steer you in the right direction in regards to safety and building code issues.”

“Tea, we run into this issue often in performing maintenance work. Our contractors have been very efficient in making visual determinations as to lead based paint hazards. When it is suspected, they use a test kit for confirmation. Cost of this kit runs varies but is under $75. I would think that Fritz could be your best asset in this as he is a general contractor (I think).
In any event, I would certainly expect that you should test for lead based paint and then seek assistance for the cleanup process in order that you do not violate any EPA regs. We are sensitive to this issue as the fines can be both substantial and ongoing.”

“Ice Tea, you can purchase a test kit at Home Depot that's relatively inexpensive. After testing you'll have a better idea what you're dealing with. Who knows, maybe an Eagle Scout 15 years ago painted.

Speaking from my experience with the schools, if it's covered up (asbestos floor tile, lead paint) it's okay. If it's already chipping you've got trouble. What kind of wall is it? Cinder block, plaster, drywall?”

“Sassafras is correct-but I would suggest a professional paint store such as Porter/ICI/Sherwin Williams before I would go to one of the Big retailers-The problem would not be the test kit - but what to do as a solution. Find out from the church custodian where they have charge accounts for supplies. A lot of local places will have records or someone who has been trading with the church since time began.
You will probably find that it will be no problem to paint over the existing paint-DO NOT sand any surface until you decide what type of product it is.
I think you will find that this is probably not lead based--more likely it is oil based paint-
The time frame you have described would be right in the time the problems with lead based products began to surface--It may well have been painted for that very reason.”

“Not all paint produced before 1978 had lead. It was generally used in more expensive paints.

Probably the least expensive test would be for you to lick the walls and/or eat some of the paint chips and see if you have trouble with routine tasks the next day. For instance, if you have trouble spelling familiar words, that would indicate a problem.”

“Tea, in reflecting on Violin's post, I suggest you immediately test the paint on your bedroom walls.”

“This brochure from the NJ Dept. of Community affairs has a lot of good information and contact numbers.

This one from the NJ Div. of Environmental and Occupational Health Services is good too.

I would also try calling your county health department. They have people who can answer your questions or tell you where to find help.

Sounds like a good project. When you're done, my living room could use repainting.”

“I'm an environmental engineer IRL I don't know the laws where you are but IMHO its OK to paint over it and therefore seal it off. There are residential lead test kits available at Home Depot, etc. A lab will charge a loooow fee to test it. I think I'm paying $12 per test. The main thing is to not sand it (airborn dust -bad)and to be darned careful about scraping it, need to mist it with water and use a half face respirator with the right cartrige. Can you get by without scraping? if so do. Lead is good stuff and really made paint better, as long as you don't eat or breath it.
Luck”

“I would have to scrape it. If photo point wasn't so cheap I would post a pick of what we are dealing with.

wall are defnatly not cement”

“*points to the post and giggles* Chili he's still licking the paint chips!!”

“Licking them, are you kidding? He's pouring milk on them and eating them for breakfast! (jk Tea)”

“As a license contractor with a hazmat cert in enviromently correct california, the current word is to seal do not remove unless it is in an area or on an item that can be "eaten" The costs of removeal may not be anywhere as costly as just getting rid of it after wards.”

“It does seem like disposal would be a problem. After all once it's removed it's toxic waste, right?”

“Folks, folks,folks. He lives in Jersey. He can just put it out in the trash or "short-dump" it.”

“LOL!”

“I did one of those @ home tests.............................................NO LEAD. Yippie. Thanks for all your good advise”

“Fantastic.”

“You still don't want to breath any of the "scraping dust". Make sure you have plenty of paper masks for your helpers. Try to contain the dust by sealing off the area with curtains. Don't let your helpers track the stuff throughout the bldg.
A good paint job is a neat paint job!!!

Way to go Tea! Take lots of pix. Remember the project is not just you doing the work. You'll know you've done it right if you don't use a roller or a brush. Delegate, baby!!!”

“Yeah remember Tea, your share of the work is the planning, coordinating, organizing and directing. You won't be able to supervise and direct everyone if you're focused on painting, yourself.”

“Take a painting lesson from Tom Sawyer, then you can kick back and supervise. Glad its not Pb, Do use masks, etc may still be some in one of the mulit layers there.”

“wow...i hear the voices of boy scouts past...delegation is so important..but also lead by example or you'll find yourself the only one willing to sling the ol horsehairs. Also the write up has to be very detailed, elaborate, and basically perfect...mine got sent back twice!”

“Thanks again for all the help that you have provided for me.”

“ok, I just need signatures now on it”

“Wow, congratulations on all the work you've done so far and good luck on the work you have left before you. Take lots of pictures of the Eagle Court of Honor and post them for us!”

“good luck to you tea I never made it to eagle(long story)”

“hehe..poopin's post reminds me about the 3 guys going down on a plane..then they hear a voice saying that if they jump out the first thing they say they will be turned into. so the first jumps and says HAWK..*poof* and he flies away...the second jumps and says EAGLE..*poof* and he flies away! The third jumps and yells OH SH!T!! *poop* and he lands here in TT”

“thx OPIE”

“Gee Tea, who are you gonna believe: BacPac's and his "common sense" or a Nun and her direct knowledge and personal experience?”

“Pedxing, My comments of cynicism and doubt were not directed at Ice Tea, but rather to the simpletons who believe, Ice Tea is actually a 15 year old Boy Scout.”

“I don't believe backpack because he made a generlization about chatolizim that is unfair. He has no facts to suport his beliefes that both my specific church is wealth, and that the Chathlic church is the second richest organizations in the world.

I trust the Nun, my lead test kit and the mataince guy at the church.

Hey bacpac how is america the richest organization in the world with a 13 trillion $$ det??????

If any thing we are the wolrds poorest organization.”

“Thank you Tea.”

“wow...even i shuddered at that post and my typing and spelling are horrible!! I used to be a Chatlic...lmao..but i stopped licking the pple i chat with”

“bacpac, keep up with the times. I'm 16 and driving”

“I've been aproved by every one to start. Now I have to find suplies”

“wow this thread got a great responce. NOT”

“What do you mean? Did you want everyone to send money with their advice?

I would say you got great advice you thankless--scout?”

“Here's advice, I would prime the walls with KILZ or some other high quality primer so they are sealed prior to your new paint color. I would also use oil based paint not from K-mart, etc. Go to a professional paint store (Porter, Glidden, etc)and tell them what you're doing, I guarantee they'll give you contractor pricing and may even throw you some freebies.
Get some ventilation to the area if using primer/oil base, a fan, etc should help keep you from killing brain cells. Use that scouting initiative. Go forth and conquer.”