Schloegel Design Remodel now offers free seminars on lead-safe work practices. Contact us with your interest.

The Repair, Renovation and Repair Law

From now own, any renovation or remodel on a house that was built before December 31, 1977, that will involve disturbing more than 6 square feet of interior surface or 20 square feet of exterior surface, will require testing for lead.  Emergency repairs are exempt from this law. 

If lead is found to be present, certain safe lead work practices must be followed.  Many people are confused as to what will actually be required.  There is no need for alarm.  We are prepared to answer your questions and comply with the law.  We have several Certified Renovators on staff ready to serve you.

Our firm is certified to carry out any of the remodels that you may be considering.  This new law will help protect the safety and well being of those homeowners who want to improve their home and lifestyle.  Please contact us with any questions you might have about this law.

Jake Schloegel

What Homeowners Should Know About Lead

Lead is a hazardous substance.  Before it was understood how harmful lead could be, it was commonly used in paints, gasoline, and water pipes.  Lead was outlawed from paints in 1978, has been phased out of gasoline, and household plumbing is no longer made of leaded materials.  Houses built before 1978 could contain lead based painted surfaces, both inside and outside the home, on windows, doors, walls, and other building components. 

When intact, the paint does not pose a danger.  However, as it deteriorates over time, or when it is disturbed during common renovation and painting activities, it creates lead dust hazards that can contaminate a home.

Consequences of Lead

Inhalation or ingestion of lead can affect children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.  Lead is also harmful to adults, resulting in high blood pressure, kidney damage, or other ill effects.

Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead.  People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips.  Lead dust is often invisible.

Lead based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978.

Projects that disturb lead-based paint can create dust and endanger you and your family.

What the Homeowner Can Do

In addition to learning more about lead hazards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the following:

Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.

Wash children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.

Make sure children eat a healthy, nutritious diet consistent with the USDA’s dietary guidelines, which helps protect children from the effects of lead.

Wipe off shoes before entering house.

Lead Paint and Renovations

Federal law (40 CFR Part 745) becomes effective 22 April 2010 and requires that any work in homes where lead based paint is present and will be disturbed shall be carried out using EPA approved lead safe work practices and supervised by a  Certified Lead Renovator.  The EPA lead safe work practices are designed to contain the dust inside the work area, using dust-minimizing work methods, and conducting a careful cleanup as outlined by the EPA.  

Schloegel Design Remodel, Inc. has Certified Lead Renovators on staff, has fulfilled the requirements of the of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 402, and has received certification to conduct lead based paint renovation, repair, and painting activities pursuant to 40CRF Part 745.89.  This certification (NAT-20605-0) guarantees certified lead renovators will supervise lead safe work practices.

In houses built before December 31, 1977, Contractor must test the proposed work areas for the presence of lead paint prior to start of work.  Testing for the presence of lead paint is performed at additional cost.  The process of testing will disrupt the existing paint finish, and repair of tested areas is not included in the cost of the testing. 

When lead paint is known to be present prior to contract, the scope of work will include use of lead safe work practices as required by the EPA, as well as final cleaning and verification procedures.  Should lead paint be discovered during the course of the work, the work will stop and a change order will be submitted to include the additional EPA designated lead safe work practices and as required by law. 

These lead safe work practices include, but are not limited to:

Posting of signs at work areas prohibiting eating, smoking, or drinking

Isolation of work area from the rest of the house

Dust containment

Clean up and disposal of all debris.

Cleaning verification

Record keeping

During the course of the work, Homeowner entry into, or occupancy of, the work areas may be prohibited until lead dust has been cleaned and verified to EPA standards.

Lead Abatement

Note that these lead safe work practices will minimize and contain lead dust generated by the renovation, but they do not eliminate lead hazards.  Elimination becomes a lead abatement project which must be performed by EPA Certified Lead Abatement Professionals.  Homeowners may, at their expense, contract separately with independent EPA lead laboratories or qualified professionals to perform specific lead dust clearance or paint testing but it is important to differentiate between the EPA Lead Safe Work Practices required by this law, and lead abatement procedures which must be carried by licensed and certified Lead Abatement contractors.  Lead abatement generally requires removal of all interior surfaces and is not required by the EPA for typical household renovations. 

Disclaimer and Waiver

To minimize lead hazards in a home it is entirely up to the homeowner to properly manage and maintain the home. When lead based paint is present, Schloegel Design Remodel, Inc. will employ Lead Safe Work Practices in the work area to minimize, contain, clean, and document same, as required, supervised by a certified lead renovator.

The responsibility of a Contractor is limited to things that can be controlled during construction.  The Contractor cannot eliminate the possibility that lead hazards may exist in the work areas, or elsewhere in the home, after renovation is completed.  The EPA rules are designed to address the lead-based paint hazards created during the renovation while not requiring renovators to remediate or eliminate hazards that are beyond the scope of the work they were hired to do.