Could My Home's Old Cabinets or Trim Contain Lead Paint That's Dangerous for My Child?

Paint is gradually peeling on the home's old trim, windows, or cabinets, a problem that seemed purely cosmetic until the home's age and the presence of a young child raise a more serious question: does this paint contain lead?

Why the home's age is the determining factor

Lead paint was widely used in homes until it was completely banned in Canada in 1990, meaning any surface painted before that date, never repainted since with a lead-free product, presents a potential risk. Original trim, window frames, and cabinets are particularly likely to still carry their original paint under more recent layers.

Why peeling paint is the real danger

Why young children are the most vulnerable

A young child who explores with their mouth, or who touches a peeling surface and then puts hands to mouth, easily ingests small amounts of lead-containing paint, a contaminant particularly damaging to neurological development at that age.

How to confirm the presence of lead paint

A home test kit, available at hardware stores, gives a quick preliminary indication, though a professional lab test offers more reliable confirmation, particularly for an important decision like a major renovation touching these surfaces.

What never to do with potentially lead-based paint

Never sand or scrape paint suspected of containing lead without specialized precautions — doing so releases highly dangerous fine dust that spreads through the ambient air well beyond the immediate work area.

Fixes depending on the situation

For an intact surface, covering it with a new sealing coat of paint rather than scraping the old layer removes the risk without disturbing the existing paint. For an actively peeling surface, a professional specialized in lead paint and abatement management should handle removal with appropriate protective and containment equipment.