LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper will remove more paint per dollar than competing lead paint strippers

By the numbers, LEAD-OUT® is the best paint stripper, but these other products have pros as well as cons.

PEEL-AWAY® Paint Remover

Pros: Removes the most layers of paint.

Cons:  Smallest coverage area, which makes it the most expensive lead paint stripper.  Also, it does not actually render the lead non-hazardous.  Peel-Away uses an alkaline solution that temporarily shows up on EPA tests as non-hazardous.  It does not react with lead at a molecular level; therefore, any lead paint residue left in your house is still hazardous and can cause lead poisoning.  The paint waste that you dispose of in your trash will pollute the environment as lead can leach into living things and water supplies.  Due to the high pH of Peel-Away, it is more likely than other lead paint strippers to burn your skin if you touch it. Peel-Away may be difficult to use on non-flat surfaces such as furniture or window sills. 

STRIP-TOX Paint Stripper

Pros: Larger coverage area and more effective than Peel-Away in removing and neutralizing lead based paint.  It is non-toxic and less likely to harm you than Peel-Away.

Cons: Smaller coverage area and less effective than LEAD-OUT® in removing and neutralizing lead based paint.  Strip-Tox will render lead non-hazardous for a time, but has not passed the EPA 1000 year Multiple Extraction Procedure.  This EPA procedure tests the stability of a substance.  Therefore, the lead will become hazardous again and pollute the environment.  Also, Strip-Tox cannot neutralize high concentrations of lead in one application.

LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper

Pros: Largest coverage area, most effective technology for permanently neutralizing lead paint, safe non-toxic ingredients, neutral pH, lowest price per square foot - you get the most for your money, and the only paint stripper that renders all other heavy metals non-hazardous such as chromium, cadmium, and zinc that are often found in paint. Easy to use on any surface.

Cons: May not remove as many layers of paint as Peel-Away. Up to five layers per 80-120 square feet of coverage area.

The largest coverage area will be on flat surfaces for any paint stripper.  Rough and porous surfaces decrease the square footage coverage of any coating or paint stripper.  Also, applying a paint stripper thicker will reduce coverage area but likely increase the number of coats of paint removed.  Poor intercoat adhesion often causes premature lifting of the paint.  This reduces the number of layers of paint the stripper will remove.  High absorption into the underlying surface, usually wood, will make it difficult for any paint stripper to remove the bottom layer of paint.

For LEAD-OUT® Paint Stripper:

100-120 square feet: Flat surfaces, metal surfaces found in industrial paint removal, marine and boat paint removal, and some residential applications.

80-100 square feet: Most residential paint removal: renovation, preservation, etc.

60-80 square feet: Porous, rough surfaces, many layers of paint, intricate wood-work: historic preservation, antique restoration, brick or sheet rock surfaces.