Protect Against The Hazards Of Lead-Based Paint In Your Home Part 2 Of 3

Getting Your Home Inspected For Lead-Based Paint

Inspection of your home to determine if there is lead paint present, risk assessment and abatement of the lead paint are all considered by the EPA to be “lead-based paint activities” and as such are subject to federal regulations. The purpose of lead abatement is to permanently remove hazards in the home associated with lead-based paint. Often, a local or state government may order lead abatement. The work can involve specialized techniques that are different from those used in usual renovations.

As a homeowner you may need the following lead-based services:

• Inspection. This is an investigation of every surface of your home to find out if there is lead-based paint present and, if so, where it is. Inspections MUST be performed by certified inspectors only. The inspection will use precise testing to look for lead-based paint in soil, paint and dust. Before buying, renting or renovating an older home, it is a good idea to have an inspection for lead-based paint.
• Risk assessment. This is an investigation at your home to find out where the lead-based paint hazards are, what type they are and how severe the problem is, and then to provide suggestions as to how to control the risks. Risk assessments are especially useful in helping you figure out where current lead exposure is coming from and in coming up with solutions. You can get a combined inspection and risk assessment together.
• Abatement. This is the permanent removal of lead-based paint hazards from your home, including dust and soil. This may involve removing paint and surfaces that are painted, cleaning up dust in a specialized way and addressing the cause for the dust, enclosing the lead-based paint or removing (or permanently covering) soil. Trained and certified staff members from certified abatement firms MUST be used for abatement in order for the abatement to be legal. When the abatement is done, the lead and its hazards will be completely eliminated or the lead-based paint will be enclosed or encapsulated long-term.

Reasons To Have Your Home Inspected For Lead-Based Paint Hazards

• Your child has been diagnosed with lead poisoning. Lead exposure most commonly comes from home-based sources, mostly from lead-based paint that is deteriorating and the dust that comes from that.
• You have small children and are living in a home that was built before 1978.
• You are looking to rent or purchase a home. If you are buying a home, you have the right under federal law to conduct testing to find out if lead-based paint or hazards from lead-based paint are in the home. It is especially important to do this if you have small children or are planning on having a family while you live in that home.
• You are planning on remodeling or doing some work that could disturb lead-based paint or lead to chips or dust of the paint.
• You have concerns about potential lead exposure to yourself, your family, visitors and your pets.

Why You Need A Certified Contractor To Perform Lead-Based Paint Activities

Lead exposure is very serious, and the proper evaluation and abatement of lead-based paint hazards is very important. Federal regulations require that anyone who is to perform lead-based paint activities be rigorously trained and certified using specific work practices. If your lead-based paint contractor is competent, he will be familiar with these requirements and will gladly show you his proof of certification upon request. Do not risk the health of your family, especially your children, by having anyone other than a certified lead-based paint professional do the work. It is illegal for anyone other than a certified professional to perform lead-based paint activities, including inspection, risk assessment and abatement.

Finding A Certified Professional Or Firm To Perform Lead-Based Paint Activities In Your Home

The EPA operates lead-based paint programs in eleven states: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wyoming. The other 39 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the three tribal nations have been authorized by the EPA to operate their own programs. Find a local lead professional in our contractor directory.

To learn more about the hazards of lead-based paint and your rights as a homeowner and renter, read part one of this three part series here, Consumer Protection: Protect Against The Hazards Of Lead-Based Paint In Your Home Part 1 Of 3

To learn how to deal with home renovations and repairs around lead-based paint read part three of this series.