Lead Paint Removal & Remediation
Is Lead Paint Putting You (or Others) at Risk?
Lead-based paints were commonly used in the UK up until the early 1990s, meaning thousands of homes, schools and public buildings still contain them today.
While intact lead paint may not pose an immediate risk, once it begins to crack, flake or is disturbed during DIY or renovations, microscopic particles and dust can spread throughout your property.
Exposure to lead is especially harmful for children, pregnant women, and pets. Even low levels of exposure can cause long-term health issues.
Our Lead Paint Removal & Remediation Services
Fibre Safe provide specialist lead paint removal, containment and full decontamination services for homes, commercial properties, landlords and schools. With over 20 years of experience in hazardous materials, we always make sure your property is made completely safe using fully compliant methods.
- Lead paint testing & risk assessments
- Safe removal or encapsulation of hazardous coatings
- Full-house dust control & decontamination
- Certified hazardous waste disposal
We are increasingly called to homes where lead-painted surfaces have been sanded or stripped, leaving entire properties contaminated with hazardous dust.
If you think you’ve disturbed lead paint, don’t try to clean it yourself. Call our team ]now on 0800 458 4136 for urgent advice and professional remediation.
Contact Us Today
How to Tell if You Have Lead Paint
Lead paint doesn’t give off any smell and often hides beneath newer layers, which makes it easy to miss but highly dangerous if disturbed.
- Your property was built before 1992.
- Painted woodwork such as doors, skirting boards, window frames or metalwork like radiators and pipework
- Paint that looks cracked, flaky or with an ‘alligator skin’ pattern.
- Multiple layers of old paint beneath recent decoration
Even if it looks sealed now, the risk comes when it’s sanded, drilled, or damaged, releasing invisible lead dust into your home or workplace.
What to Do if You’ve Already Disturbed Lead Paint
If sanding, drilling or stripping has taken place:
- Stop work immediately - continuing only spreads contamination.
- Ventilate carefully but never sweep or vacuum, as this drives dust into the air.
- Keep children and pets out of the area straight away.
- Call Fibre Safe for urgent testing and professional decontamination.
Contact Fibre Safe Today For Lead Paint Removal & Remediation
Why Choose Fibre Safe for Lead Remediation?
Lead paint isn’t just an eyesore, it’s a serious health hazard. Handling it wrongly can contaminate an entire property in minutes. That’s why you need more than a painter with a scraper, you need a specialist hazardous materials contractor.
- Hazardous material experts: trusted nationwide for asbestos, lead, and other dangerous substances.
- 20+ years experience protecting homeowners, landlords and businesses.
- Fully trained, insured and compliant with HSE & Control of Lead at Work Regulations.
- Proven track record in full-property decontamination when lead dust has spread.
- Access to UKAS-accredited laboratory testing and certification for complete reassurance.
With Fibre Safe, you get the same level of precision, compliance, and protection we’re known for in asbestos, applied directly to lead paint remediation.
The Safest Ways We Deal with Lead Paint
When it comes to lead paint, there isn’t a single “one size fits all” solution. The right approach depends on the age of the building, how badly the paint is deteriorating, and who is at risk inside.
At Fibre Safe, we use four proven methods to make your property safe, choosing the one that keeps you compliant, protected, and disruption-free.
- 1. Removal: lead-based coatings are carefully stripped away using specialist equipment and strict dust control measures.
- 2. Encapsulation: a protective coating is applied to seal the lead paint and stop particles escaping.
- 3. Enclosure: hazardous surfaces are covered with safe materials (such as plasterboard or cladding) so they can’t be disturbed.
- 4. Replacement: contaminated items such as doors, windows or skirting boards are safely removed and replaced with new materials.
Our Lead Paint Remediation Process
Every property is different, but when it comes to lead paint there is zero margin for error. That’s why our lead remediation process follows strict safety standards and HSE regulations at every stage, ensuring your property is left safe, compliant, and ready for use again.
- 1. Inspection & Risk Assessment: we carry out a detailed site visit to locate and assess all lead-painted surfaces, identifying both immediate and hidden risks.
- 2. Testing & Verification: where needed, samples are taken and analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory, giving you clear evidence of the hazard.
- 3. Control Plan: we design a tailored remediation strategy, from dust containment to full removal, that keeps disruption to a minimum while ensuring total safety.
- 4. Specialist Removal or Encapsulation: using industry-approved methods, our team either strip away hazardous paint with specialist equipment or encapsulate it with protective coatings.
- 5. Dust Suppression & Decontamination: we implement advanced dust control measures and thoroughly clean the area, safeguarding the air quality for everyone in the building.
- 6. Hazardous Waste Disposal & Certification: all contaminated waste is transported under strict regulations, with clearance certificates provided where required for complete peace of mind.
Who We Work With
Fibre Safe provides lead paint testing, removal and remediation services to a wide range of clients across the North West and nationwide.
- Homeowners: protecting families from hidden hazards during DIY, renovations or everyday living.
- Landlords & Housing Associations: ensuring properties meet legal obligations and remain safe for tenants.
- Schools & Nurseries: safeguarding children and staff by removing risks from older buildings.
- Listed & Heritage Buildings: offering sensitive remediation methods that preserve original features while eliminating danger.
- Contractors & Refurbishment Companies: providing specialist support so projects remain compliant and on schedule.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
Lead Paint Testing & Removal FAQ's
Yes. Lead-based paints for use in homes were banned in the UK in 1992 due to the severe health risks they pose.
However, many older properties — especially those built before the 1990s — may still contain layers of lead paint beneath newer coatings. If you live in or manage an older building, professional testing is the only way to confirm whether lead is present.
The only reliable method is professional testing. Fibre Safe can take paint samples and have them analysed in a UKAS-accredited laboratory, giving you clear results and guidance on the next steps.
Yes — even if sealed beneath newer layers, lead paint becomes hazardous once disturbed by sanding, drilling, or damage. Encapsulation can be safe in some cases, but removal is recommended if surfaces are deteriorating or at risk of disturbance.
DIY removal is highly dangerous and not recommended. Sanding or burning paint can release toxic dust and fumes throughout your property. Only trained contractors with specialist equipment can remove and dispose of lead paint safely and legally.
Not every case of lead paint requires complete removal. In some situations, the safest and most cost-effective option is encapsulation: applying a specialist coating that seals the hazardous paint beneath a protective barrier. This prevents dust release and keeps occupants safe without disturbing the underlying layers.
However, full removal is usually the best solution if the paint is flaking or deteriorating, if planned renovation will disturb the surface, or if the property is occupied by children, tenants, schools, or other high-risk groups.
At Fibre Safe, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We assess each property carefully and provide the most appropriate, risk-based solution, ensuring you stay safe, compliant, and protected for the long term.
Both lead and asbestos are highly dangerous but in different ways. Asbestos fibres cause long-term illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis when inhaled, often many years after exposure. Lead, on the other hand, is absorbed into the body more quickly, especially through dust, and can cause immediate and long-term health problems, particularly in children and pregnant women.
Neither material is “safe” at any level of exposure, and both require professional management. Fibre Safe are specialists in handling asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials, ensuring risks are properly controlled and properties made safe.