[MassHistPres] Remediating lead-based paint

[annelusk at gmail.com]

Finding good quality clapboards is an issue because many of the lumber mills have gone out of business. The Ward Clapboard Mill in Moretown, VT still makes quartersawn clapboards of varying lengths that have a square edge.  You can ask to have them back primed or prime them yourself.  https://www.wardclapboard.com/about.html

 

The long clapboards that you buy at Home Depot have finger joints and a round bottom edge and are not quartersawn. With long clapboards, you also then don’t see the clapboard length variation with joints at different locations. 

 

To save money, I recently primed, including back priming, Ward’s clapboards with oil new wood primer.  This took three different set ups in the kitchen to paint the different length of clapboards, resulting in piano keys standing on end.

 

Anne

 

Anne Lusk, Ph.D. 

18 Hart Street, Brookline, MA 02445 

617-879-4887 h

617-872-9201 c

 <https://sites.bu.edu/anne-lusk/> https://sites.bu.edu/anne-lusk/

 

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of rcsmitharch--- via MassHistPres
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2026 11:30 AM
To: 'Susan Mareneck' <leveretthistoryinfo at gmail.com>; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Remediating lead-based paint

 

What is the condition of the siding? Is it salvageable?  Getting rid of the lead paint would be of long term benefit to the town, removing a potential liability.  The State has a list of approved encapsulant products, but this list notes that they are not for exterior use. I think it would put a vapor barrier in the wrong place and accelerate decay.

 

 <https://www.mass.gov/doc/list-of-encapsulant-products/download> https://www.mass.gov/doc/list-of-encapsulant-products/download

 

*	Lead paint removal and repainting could be a possibility- There are well established protocols for removal procedures, containment, worker protection and so forth which would be applicable.   If the wood is in good condition, this may be the best way to go, using high quality breathable paints to recoat.
*	Removal of the siding without paint removal would require disposal of lead containing debris at an approved landfills or other approved disposal methods.  It may also require containment and dust control during the removal process so the lead is not dispersed to the surrounding landscape.
*	Replacement of wood clapboards and trim does fall under normal maintenance for historic buildings, especially if the condition of the wood is poor enough to make replacement the best alternative for preservation of the historic resource and the material is affordable.  Lumber prices are a serious issue right now, and using poor quality siding means increased long term maintenance costs.

 

Richard Smith

Chair- Swampscott Historic District Commission

 

From: MassHistPres < <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of Susan Mareneck via MassHistPres
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 1:28 PM
To:  <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Remediating lead-based paint

 

The Town of Leverett is working with a group of interested citizens to bring its former library/museum into a useful future.  Since CPA funding would require any solution to meet Secretary of the Interior's Standards their question is -

 

Is removing siding with lead paint and installing (matching) new siding an acceptable method of lead abatement in terms of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards or is encapsulation the only allowed abatement method? 

 

 

Thanks for any experience or input -

 

Susan Mareneck

Leverett Historical Commission

(212-233-4664)

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