While today most paints, stains and pigments are relatively non-toxic, many substances used in the past were not safe to apply or to be in contact with. The most prevalent of these substances is lead. It is not uncommon for Ponsford to encounter furniture and architectural metals that are coated with lead based paints. The good news is that Ponsford offers state-of-the-art methods of mechanical and chemical stripping to safely remove lead based paints from woods and metals. Our system also allows us to safely dispose of solvents, strippers and particle solids. Ponsford then employs stabilization and disposal technologies to safely and ecologically dispose of lead and other toxic products. Our system exceeds Federal Environmental Protection Agency waste standards.

Rest assured that Ponsford's art conservation goes hand in hand with the concerns of environmental conservation.