call a couple of sheet rock contractors and have them give you an estimate.

as to the worry over lead based paint, it is ONLY a problem if they eat it. just keep their direct contact limited and they will be fine.

you can save some money by tearing out the sheet rock yourself, just by a cheap mask and go at it with a hammer.

Thanks for the response - I believe lead paint is also bad if you breathe, that's why you shouldn't sand it, etc.

I planned on renting a large dumpster and doing the tearout myself along with redoing some electrical as well as putting in the insulation....

Before you do anything, get the correct information about lead paint and how to handle it. Lead dust is a health hazard!!

Here is a link that might be useful: How to handle it!

basically areas where they have strong environmental laws will tell you that lead paint is bad, but most areas only recommend that you limit your exposure.

that is why i said to wear a mask and keep the kids out of the room. if the room has a window, you may want to set a fan in it, with the fan blowing toward the outside. this is strictly for YOUR comfort. i personally breathe lead fumes on a daily basis, as my work in electronics requires me to use lead based solder. Been doing it well over 15 years now with no side effects, and many of my coworkers have done so for better than 30 years.

as i said, just keep the kids from eating the paint and they will be fine.

you DO want to put up plastic in the doorway and seal it good when working, but this is mainly just to cut down on the sheetrock dust migration thru the house!

davidandkasie-
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but regular lead exposure does have effects. I've worked in environmental health for many years and have been involved with people who had relatively minor lead exposure and resulting health impacts. Such impacts may not be noticeable to you, and they may be subtle at low exposure levels, but I wouldn't work with lead solder on a daily basis without a ventilation system and/or respiratory protection, and neither should you. How do you know you haven't been affected? For example, kidney failure is relatively asymptomatic until well into the later stages of the disease. How can you gauge subtle neurological impairment, or loss of a few IQ points? Maybe you actually don't get that much exposure, and you are as healthy as you might otherwise be, but have you ever had your blood lead level checked? I'm not trying to scare you or act like I know-it-all. It's just that I've run into a number of people in my line of work who were healthy for many years in hazardous work environments, and then ended up with preventable medical conditions. You may want to take a look at this link which describes the variety of health effects that can be caused in adults by lead exposure:
CDC - lead

Lead poisoning is pernicious. Because children are involved I would be careful how the debris is created and disposed. I would not recommend running a fan, as this could broadcast paint particles. I'm not saying it should be handled like plutonium, but reasonable precautions should be taken. davidandkasie, you should consult your doctor to see if a blood test is in order.

Save money...sheetrock yourself...than get estimates for tapping. This is the way to do it. Sheetrocking is easy.

lead poisoning is bad, but it requires more exposure than what you would get tearing out the old sheetrock.

it truly amazes me that ANYONE is still alive today, since EVERYTHING we did and were exposed to when growing up kills people.

yes, people should be careful when dealing with harmful substances, but there is no need to frighten someone out of their mind.

kudzu, the level of exposure from tearing out the sheetrock would surely be less than what they would be exposed to if it stayed and they lived in that room for next few years. a single small exposure will not cause lasting damage, it is prolonged repeated exposure even at low levels that causes damage. i may well have some damage later in life, but there is nothing i can do about it. i certainly can't sue my employer, since my family owns the business!

to the OP, if you feel comfortable doing this job yourself, then do it. If you have the money to burn, then hire someone who specializes in lead based paint removal.

david-
I didn't raise a concern about the tearout. (In fact, I think it's a good idea to remove it provided reasonable precautions are taken: screen with poly and tape, minimize dust, ventilate to the outside, wear an appropriate respirator, and do a wet mop cleanup afterwards.)

My concern was your longterm exposure at work. I don't know your exact circumstances, but there are some fairly easy workplace fixes for things like this. Just because you've had longterm exposure to date doesn't mean there's no benefit in changing the exposure situation from now on.

I've said my piece and I'll shut up now...

david-
I forget to include the following, which has some useful tips on lead paint abatement:

Lead Paint Abatement

All-

Thanks for the responses - I was thinking about doing the sheetrock myself and hiring out to tape.

Interesting discussion regarding the lead abatement. If it was only my wife and I, we'd use masks and go to work. As its now getting cold, I'll probably end up doing the job in the spring when I can send the kids outside for the day and I can open up windows and isolate the living/dining rooms.

David -
incorrect - there would be minimal exposure if the sheetrock remained intact. Unless the paint is in poor condition (peeling/flaking) there is really no issue. Tearing out sheetrock will send years of lead paint/dust flying everywhere. Unless done under strict adherence to lead abatement guidelines (AIr scrubber, wet wiping, Hepa vacuuming etc) you will be unecessarily exposing you and your family to a known hazard. FOr what saving a little dough and having a room look nicer. Lead is heavy so it will fall on surfaces ... think about how the demolition will be disposed of - the sheetrock will be carried through traffic areas of the home, thereby dropping lead paint/dust onto many surfaces in the home - additionally the dust can be inhaled... and children do not typically "eat" lead paint rather they touch a surface that has the demo dust on it and randomly put their hands in their mouths as do adults.

Please rethink the priorities - plastic sheeting the room will NOT protect from exposure neither will a mask, unless it is specific for protection from lead - I believe only comes as a purple rebreather -
This site may provide some insight into why our government has worked so hard over many years to protect people especially young children from lead - THere is NO SAFE LEVEL!
http://www.harveykruse.com/lead.htm

As far as costs, a ballpark is $45 per 4x8 sheet installed on bare studs. The $45 includes taping and mudding for 'paint ready'. Tear out and insulation installation will be more.

Perhaps in NJ you can find a good taper (the trade term is finisher, and you will win greater favor with a tradesman by refering to him/her by the proper term) but the idea of saving money by hanging it yourself could backfire. When I did little side jobs I would charge three to four times more for a self hung job, as you most likely would do a piss poor job, and cause the finisher alot of extra work and headahces. Most of the guys I know that do small jobs such as yours will be both hangers and finishers or know someone to refer for you.
As a side note, rather than tear out the existing sheetrock, have you considered removing the trim and just adding a 1/4" layer of gypsum over the top? This way you don't have to worry about removal and handling of lead paint.

Deiter - would think about it except I want to add insulation in the walls.

Drill holes.... blow in insulation and then do the 1.4 inch over it.

easy

maddiemom