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Renovating a Home with Lead-Based Paint
Many houses and apartments
built before 1978 have paint that contains lead. Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health
hazards if not taken care of properly.
Federal law requires that contractors provide lead information to residents before renovating a pre-1978 housing:
Pre-Renovation Education Program (PRE)
Renovators have to give you a pamphlet titled Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home, before starting work.
-
Take
precautions before your contractor begins remodeling or
renovations that disturb painted surfaces (such as scraping off paint
or tearing out walls. Mail all tenants that this work is being done along with a lead paint phamphlet.
- Have the area tested for lead-based paint.
- Do not
use a belt-sander, propane torch, heat gun, dry scraper, or dry
sandpaper to remove lead-based paint. These actions create large
amounts of lead dust and fumes.
- Lead dust can remain in your home long after the work is done
- Temporarily
move your family (especially children and pregnant women) out of the
apartment or house until the work is done and the area is properly
cleaned. If you can't move your family, at least completely seal off
the work area.
- Follow
other safety measures to reduce lead hazards. You can find out about
other safety measures in the EPA brochure titled "Reducing Lead Hazards
When Remodeling Your Home". This brochure explains what to do
before, during, and after renovations.
- If you
have already completed renovations or remodeling that could have
released lead-based paint or dust, get your young children tested and
follow the steps outlined to protect your family.
Courtesy of the EPA
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