Lead In The Home

Warning! This house could be hazardous to your health!

You'd be hard pressed to sell a home with such a label attached to it. And yet, many older homes in the United States might qualify. Prior to 1978, paints and other products containing lead were widely used in homes and offices. Chipping and pealing paint can expose occupants to this hazardous material.  In certain areas, high concentrations of lead can even be found in the ground soil. (often from paint chips)

Lead exposure causes a number of health-related problems. In children this can include growth and learning disabilities, headaches and even brain damage. Adults are not immune either. High levels of lead have been tied to problem pregnancies, high-blood pressure and digestive problems.

Before you buy or sell an older home, you need to know what hazards may exist. If selling, federal law stipulates that you must disclose any lead-based paint in the home. If you're buying, you want to know what hazards may be present  If you suspect that a house contains high levels of lead, contact a qualified professional to do an inspection. These tradesmen use a range of tools from the well-trained eye to complex, specialized equipment to detect lead levels and recommend appropriate solutions. The National Lead Information Center (http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm) can help you find a resource. Lead paint tests are beyond the scope of ASHI® inspections.  Click HERE for a link to the EPA list of Lead-Safe contractors.

Remedies exist for cleaning up lead concentrations. Depending upon your situation, you may find one of these an adequate solution. Removing lead-based paint, can be costly and difficult. First, just the act of stripping the paint from the walls is likely to create dust and debris which is more likely to be ingested. Given these hazards, you should consult a certified contractor to complete this kind of work. Short of removing the paint, you may be able to get by with covering the old, lead-based paint with a coat of sealant specifically designed for this purpose. Once again, a certified contractor will be able to recommend an appropriate solution.  Strict new rules imposed by the US EPA went into effect in April 2010 and while designed to reduce the potential for lead exposure, the rules are likely to significantly increase repair costs for any job where the lead painted surface area is greater than six square feet. (6 SF). For more information see the new EPA brochure Renovate Right.