Lead paint abatement and removal costs

1. Exemption from the RRP Rule - The training, certification and work practice
requirements do not apply where the firm obtains a signed statement from the
owner that all of the following conditions are met:
■ The renovation will occur in the owner’s residence;
■ No child under age 6 resides there;
■ No woman who is pregnant resides there;
■ The housing is not a child-occupied facility; and,
■ The owner acknowledges that the renovation firm will not be required to use
the work practices contained in the rule.
Look for Information About Lead.
Information about lead-based paint in your home may be readily available. Under a
federal disclosure law, when a pre-1978 home is sold or leased, the seller/landlord
must provide information to the buyer/ tenant about any known lead-based paint.
Homeowners should check their records to see if they have information about lead-
based paint and share this information with anyone performing work on the home.
Consider Lead Testing. If a home was built before 1978, you must either assume that lead-
based paint is present or have the work area tested for lead-based paint before
starting the job. There are two options for testing paint in a home under the
Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule: (1) Paint testing by a certified lead-based paint
inspector or lead-based paint risk assessor licensed professionals conduct a surface-
by-surface investigation for lead-based paint by collecting paint chips for laboratory
analysis or by testing painted surfaces with an machine called an X-Ray Fluorescence
Analyzer (XRF) which measures the amount of lead in the paint. (2) Paint testing by a
Certified Renovator— Certified Renovators, at the request of the homeowner, can use
EPA-recognized chemical spot test kits to test all painted surfaces affected by the
renovation.
Removing Lead-Based Paint Measures to permanently eliminate lead dust hazards include component
removal and replacement, paint removal, and covering surfaces. There is no completely safe method for do-it-
yourself removal of lead-based paint. Each paint removal method -- sandpaper, scrapers, chemicals, and heat
guns -- can produce lead fumes or dust in the air that can be inhaled. Dust can settle on floors, walls and
tables. It can be ingested through hand-to-mouth contact and re-enter the air through cleaning (such as
sweeping or vacuuming) or when people move throughout the house.
Except for the most elementary measures, dealing with lead removal is a complex task. Implementation may
be affected by local regulations. In most instances, lead-based paint should be removed by professionals who
follow detailed procedures to minimize, control and contain lead dust created by the removal process. Do not
attempt to remove more than a small amount of lead-based paint. However, address all chipping, peeling, or
flaking lead-based paint, as well as friction surfaces (for example windows and doors) in the home.
It often is much safer, and sometimes more economical, to replace painted items and cover painted surfaces.
You can replace a door, molding, or other item yourself if it can be easily removed without creating lead dust.
Cover walls and ceilings with gypsum wallboard, plaster, or paneling (encapsulation). If it is necessary to strip
lead-based paint to maintain historic integrity, remove the item (for example molding) from the home for
stripping. If the painted surface is not peeling or cracking, you can spray the surface with a sealant. Painting

2. over lead-based paint is not a permanent solution. Obtain a copy of the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) pamphlet Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home before you begin any lead removal
project.
http://www.leadoutpaintstripper.com
Lead Paint Abatement Cost
Banned since 1978, lead-based paint has been a major source of lead poisoning for children
and can also affect adults. More than 80 percent of US homes built before 1978, or about 64
million, contain lead paint, according to TheGreenGuide.com. Typical costs:
• Lead-based paint removal costs an estimated $8 -$15 a square foot, which means removing all lead
from a house of 1,200-2,000 square feet could run as much as $9,600 -$30,000, according to
RealtyTimes.com; the average removal project runs around $10,000 for a typical pre-1978 home.
• One option is encapsulation (applying a liquid coating that forms a watertight jacket over lead paint)
which on average costs less than 50 cents a square foot, or $600 -$1,000 for 1,200-2,000 square
feet, according to BobVilla.com.
• Before any removal is done, check to see what you have. Sending a paint sample to a laboratory for
professional testing costs about $20 -$50 per sample, according to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC). Do-it-yourself lead paint testing kits are available online or at most home
improvement stores for $5 -$30 each. However, the CPSC says these kits have not been evaluated and
may not be reliable. ConsumerReports.org found that three out of the five lead paint test kits evaluated
were useful but limited as screening tools.
• You can order a lead dust test kit for $29.95 from the National Safety Council.
What should be included:
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that if you suspect lead-based paint in
an area that is chipped or peeling, testing should be performed by a certified inspector or certified risk
assessor. The EPA provides detailed information about "Testing Your Home For Lead In Paint, Dust,
and Soil" and lists basic facts about lead.
• Chipped or peeling lead-based paint should be properly removed, but lead-based paint that is in good
condition is not a problem. Lead-based paint removal is not recommended as a do-it-yourself project,
and federal law requires the use of a certified professional if a child living in the house has a high blood
lead level or if you own the house and rent it to someone else. The National Park Service presents
"Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards.
Discounts:
• Many states offer assistance for lead paint removal in the form of grants or low-cost loans; some have
programs that arrange to have the work done for low-income families. Check for the lead paint
abatement resources in your state.
Shopping for lead paint abatement:
• By 2010, the EPA will require all lead-paint abatement contractors to be certified, but that program is
still being developed. In the meantime, check out the lead abatement rules and resources for each
state; get your questions answered at the National Lead Information Center; or contact the nearest

3. regional EPA office for details about inspector/contractor certification and licensing programs in
your state. The EPA also provides a pamphlet on "Finding a Qualified Lead Professional for Your
Home".
• Get cost estimates from several companies. Ask for (and check) references, and see if there are
complaints with the Better Business Bureau. The written contract should list details of the work and
cleanup, and any federal, state and local regulations that must be followed, including notification and
disposal procedures. When finished, the contractor should provide a written statement that all required
procedures were followed.