"Bertie Brink" wrote in message
...
If the house was built in the 60's ('62) in the US, would there be lead
paint in it? What year did they stop using lead paint in the US in new
home construction? What are the years for mercury in paints?

Posible, but much less likely than older than that. l It was banned in 1978,
IIRC, but it was not normal practice for some time before that. You can
buy a test kit at a harware or paint store.



Also if the baseboards and window casings have it, is it better to paint
over it or remove it and put new ones? Is the risk of unsettling lead
dust greater?

Painting over it just hides the problem. One of the scenarios is kids
chewing on window sills and ingesting lead. Covering it will not fix that
as it would be chewed through. Sanding is not good. Strippers and scraping
is best, or just replace the trim and be done with it. For adults, it is
not much of a problem living with it.

http://www.epa.gov/Region2/health/leadpoisoning.htm