“Get the lead out” is sage advice if you live in a home built before 1978
Your historic home is beautiful. It has wavy window glass and original hardwood floors, but unfortunately, it may also have lead paint. A whopping 87% of homes built before 1940 have lead-based paint in them, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But do not start to sweat just yet. Use this guide to learn who to call to remove lead paint.
Before we begin, it is important to understand just how important it is to rid your home of lead paint. There are more than 24 million homes in the United States that have “significant lead-based paint hazards,” says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including lead paint somewhere on the walls.
Lead paint can cause serious health problems to any age group. In adults, lead poisoning can lead to many problems, including reproductive, blood, kidney, and nerve disorders. Children are particularly susceptible because they have a tendency to put things into their mouths, including lead-based paint chips. Lead paint also happens to have a sweet taste, so tots tend to think they are eating candy, not deadly paint. They can suffer irreversible brain and nervous system damage.
Pregnant women, with their lowered immune defenses, are also a high-risk group. Lead poisoning can lead to low birthweight, premature birth, and even miscarriage.
Lead is tricky because you do not have to ingest it (like a child chewing on a paint chip) to contract lead poisoning. You can suffer the negative effects of lead just from inhaling it and absorbing it through skin contact, so it is important to get every tiny bit removed from your home.
If you suspect that you have lead-based paint in your home, do not try to remove it yourself or paint over it. Professionals know how to remove lead paint safely without causing damage to the home. They use techniques like chemical stripping and abrasive blasting, along with HEPA vacuums, to get all of the paint and particles out. If a pro cannot remove all the lead paint, they know which professional compounds to use to cover it.
Professionals also know the legal way to dispose of lead, since there are usually local ordinances outlining what must be done with it. Removing lead paint yourself can lead to health problems, and there is no guarantee that you will get all of the dust and other small pieces out of your home. Seriously, do not try to tackle this on your own.
A local lead abatement contractor is your best bet for removing lead paint from your home. If you live in an area where a lot of the homes were built around the same time, ask your neighbors for referrals; odds are that someone has hired a lead paint removal company to do their work. Friends and family are also great sources of referrals. Be sure to check a company’s online reviews and ask for references.
Once you have narrowed down your research to a few companies, you are ready to start the process of picking your pro:
Conduct a background check: The EPA has very strict rules regarding lead paint removal and disposal, notably the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP), which requires anyone working on a facility built before 1978 to have EPA certification. Always confirm that the contractor you are interested in working with has the right certification.
Get a contract: Work with your chosen contractor to create a contract that outlines the lead paint removal cost, as well provides details on the process, waste disposal, repair methods, and timeline.
Keep track of progress: Have your contractor log the hours they work and provide you with daily reports regarding the removal's progress. Record any payments you make and get receipts. Find out where the contractor is disposing of the lead paint.
Review the work: Once the removal process is over, review the results and confirm that they are satisfactory before you make the final payment.
There are some key questions you can ask to make sure you get the right pro for your lead paint removal. When you are shopping around for a lead paint removal contractor to work with, be sure to ask the following questions before you get a quote or sign a contract:
What are your qualifications and experience with lead paint removal? EPA certification is one thing to look for, but it is also a good idea to find out how much experience the company has cleaning up lead paint.
How do you test for the presence of lead? Learn about the methods the contractor uses to test for lead paint and if they perform the testing themselves or outsource it.
What methods do you use for lead abatement? Find out what to expect during the actual removal process.
What do you plan to do with the hazardous waste once it is removed from the home? Safe disposal of lead-based paint and any materials used during the abatement project is critical.
Do you do replacement and painting work, or just removal? Find out if the company will paint your home afterward or if you will need to hire someone else for painting (or do it yourself).
