Maintain Your Home

What Homeowners Need to Know About Lead Paint

In April 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted a rule for professional contractors to help keep small children safe from the dangers of lead dust exposure.

If you live in a home built before 1978 and you're contemplating any work that will disturb more than six square feet of painted surfaces inside the home or 20 square feet on the exterior of the home - for example, replacing a window, installing cabinets, or adding on to your home - the contractor you hire is required by law to be trained and certified by the EPA.

Keep your family safe from the dangers of lead exposure by hiring an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator. Click here to search for a MBA remodeler member or use the tool at leadfreekids.org to find a certified renovator near you.

Tips for Home Owners

Hire an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Renovator for your home remodeling project

Professional remodelers who have achieved EPA Lead-Safe Certification are trained and prepared to work in pre-1978 homes for minimizing dust and potential lead paint exposures. These workers also have certified their firms and will carry an EPA seal verifying their qualifications to follow lead-safe work practices. Certified Renovators have the knowledge and tools to contain dust and keep your family safe. Do not attempt remodeling work yourself or hire an uncertified remodeler as this puts you at risk of lead poisoning. Use the search tool at leadfreekids.org to find a Lead-Safe Certified Renovator near you or click here to search for a MBA remodeler member.

Read Renovate Right

Renovate Right is a brochure produced by the EPA that describes the dangers of lead poisoning and how the practices of the remodeler will be employed to contain dust, clean, and minimize the dangers of lead paint exposure.

Pay attention to warning signs and do not enter containment areas

The Certified Renovator will post warning signs and set up areas of containment using plastic to keep dust under control. Pay attention to these notices and stay away from these areas. The remodeler uses these techniques and lead-safe work practices to minimize lead dust exposure.

Consider testing for lead

You may ask the Certified Renovator to use LeadCheck or D-Lead test kits for testing certain surfaces for lead. If the test comes back negative, the remodeler will not need to use lead safe work practices because the component has tested lead-free. Alternatively, a home owner may choose to hire a certified risk assessor or lead inspector to conduct testing in the home for lead. Any pre-1978 home can be tested for lead and if the results are negative, the EPA lead rule does not apply.

Maintain records about your home remodel

After the remodeling job is complete, the EPA Certified Renovator will share records with you, such as a checklist describing the work practices used and any results from lead testing. Be sure to keep these records and share them with the next home owner if you should sell your home.