leadpaint

Important Information about Lead-Based Paint

WHAT THE LAW STATES:
As of April 22, 2010, Federal law now requires contractors that disturb any painted surfaces in homes, child
care facilities and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent
lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification. We are a certified RRP Contractor
(Renovation, Repair and Paint) and are authorized by the EPA to test for lead paint and to safely renovate
and clean lead-paint environments.

Federal law requires that individuals such as tenants and homeowners receive certain information before
renovating more than 6 square feet of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than 20
square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing,
child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

Homeowners and tenants meeting this criteria: renovators must give you the "Renovate Right" pamphlet
before starting work.

Here is a chart indicating the likelihood that your home contains lead paint somewhere:

DANGERS OF LEAD, ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN

Like asbestos, the mere presence of these harmful materials in a home may pose no real danger at all, in all
the time you live in your house. It generally only becomes dangerous and harmful if it is disturbed and the
particles become airborne, such as when painted surfaces are scraped, stripped, sanded, cut, punctured,
demolished etc. Breathing lead paint dust sent into the air by disturbing painted surfaces is the most
common hazard. Children also have been known to chew on window sills and furniture that contains lead
paint because it is sweet to the taste. Lead is particularly harmful to children under 6 years of age because
their bodies are fooled into thinking it is a mineral, like iron or zinc, and it is absorbed into the bloodstream,
eventually settling permanently in the bones and marrow. Also, children's bodies are only capable of
urinating out about 50% of lead, where adults can urinate out over 80% of it. Lead exposure can cause
reduced IQ, learning disabilities, developmental delays and behavioral problems in young children, as well as
fatigue, depression, sexual dysfunction and other ailments in adults.

This packet of Sweet 'n Low contains 1 gram of sweetener. If that powder was lead dust, and it was spilled
on the floor, it would contaminate the air throughout that entire level of your home, as well as part of the
floors above and below it, such as the upstairs bedrooms and the basement! So you can see that lead is a
very serious hazard if disturbed and sent into the air. But not to worry, more so than asbestos, it can be
safely handled, treated and cleaned by properly trained and certified contractors.

It is not only vital that any contractor be certified by the EPA to manage, contain and properly clean lead in
renovations, and inform all tenants and homeowners of the hazards, since 2010 it is completely illegal for any
contractor to renovate, repair or paint in a home built prior to 1978 without being certified by the EPA as an
RRP contractor, and following all the associated regulations regarding disclosure to you, printed forms and
record-keeping, testing, proper containment procedures and cleanup. WE ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED!

THE EPA HAS JUST INCREASED THE FINE FOR VIOLATION OF THIS LAW TO $37,500 PER DAY!
Yes you read that right, $37,500 per day!

That is how serious the government takes the dangers of lead poisoning during renovations, so always ask
to see the RRP certification of any contractor you are considering, if you live in a house built before 1978.
IT'S THE LAW! Having an uncertified contractor work in your home is not just illegal, it is extremely unsafe
and dangerous to the health of you and your family! Always verify any contractor's credentials and look for
this symbol:

CLICK HERE
TO READ THE
"RENOVATE RIGHT"
BROCHURE ON THE EPA'S WEBSITE