Why painting over meth doesn't work

Sealed ≠ safe

A fresh coat of paint hides the history — not the chemistry. Residue migrates and etches back through the paint, wipe tests still fail, and the liability stays exactly where it was.

Paint it & hope

Cosmetic · temporary · risky

XResidue bleeds back throughMeth is chemically active — it migrates back through a fresh coat instead of being sealed under it.

XManufacturing chemicals are corrosiveWhere meth was cooked, the corrosive acids and solvents etch through paint — odours and residue linger long after a repaint.

XWipe tests still failPainted walls above the guideline keep testing above it.

XCarpets, ducts & furnishings untouchedPaint does nothing for the surfaces holding most residue.

XHealth risk remainsOccupants are still living with contamination.

XLiability remainsKnown contamination doesn't disappear because it's hidden.

CHECK

Decontaminate to the guideline

Measured · verified · certified

SEARCHAssess & map the readingsLab-verified sampling shows exactly what's where.

CONTAINProtect unaffected areasStop residue moving while work happens.

SOFARemove what can't be cleanedHeavily contaminated soft furnishings and porous materials.

BUCKETSpecialised multi-pass cleaningDetergent decontamination of every affected surface.

CERTRe-test & certify below 0.5Clearance verified by numbers, not by looks.

Decontamination done right

1SEARCH

Assess & map

Lab-verified readings

CHEV

2CONTAIN

Contain

Isolate affected rooms

CHEV

3SOFA

Remove

Unsalvageable materials out

CHEV

4BUCKET

Clean

Multi-pass decontamination

CHEV

5VIAL

Re-test

Below 0.5 µg/100cm²

CHEV

6CERT

Certify

Clearance documentation

Why do it right?

HEALTHProtects occupantsEspecially children

HOMEProtects the assetVerified clean, on paper

DOLLARNo re-workOne clean, one clearance

SHIELDCHKDefensibleNumbers beat assurances

ALERT

You can't paint away contamination. Assess · contain · remove · clean · re-test · certify — that's what returns a property below the guideline.