Home Renovation and Lead Paint – What You Should Know

Over the past several years, the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasstepped up regulations regarding the handlingand containment practices that must be takenwhen working in homes that may becontaminated with lead paint. These newregulations affect any house built before 1978and any amount of renovation beingcompleted on the home. Below are answers tothe three most commonly asked questionsregarding lead paint.

Does my home have lead paint?

Although lead based paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978, it began being phased out starting inthe early 1960s. More recently, the EPA has launched national advertising campaigns toeducate the public on the dangers of lead paint. The chance that your home may becontaminated with lead paint is based on the year it was built. Houses built between 1920 and1949 are the most likely to be contaminated with an 80% possibility it contains lead paint. Forhomes built between 1950 and 1959, those chances drop to 60%. Homes built between 1960and 1969 have only a 25% chance of containing lead paint while homes built from 1970 to 1978have a 10% risk of containing lead paint. If you are uncertain if your home contains lead paintand your home was built prior to 1978, it is strongly recommended you have the house tested.

Why is lead paint considered dangerous?

Lead paint attacks the nervous systems of children and adults and is especially hazardous tochildren under the age of 6, unborn children and pregnant women. It can greatly impair themental development of these children if they are exposed. One reason why there are suchstringent regulations for working in a home with lead paint is due to the dust generated by thepaint during renovation. When inhaled, these particles go to the brain causing damage to thenervous system as well as high blood pressure. Prolonged exposure to dust is thought to causeAttention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. The EPA reports thatthe smallest amount, one gram of dust, can contaminate a large area posing a risk to neighborsand workers in the area.

Why was lead ever added to paint if it poses such a health risk?

By adding lead to paint manufacturers hoped to add durability to the paint while also enhancingthe paint’s color. Throughout the 1920s, Dutch Boy Paint was the best-selling paint brand in theUS. Their popularity was fueled by an advertising campaign that touted, “The Most Lead forYour Money!” Despite numerous medical and scientific reports dating back as far as the late19th century that warned of the health hazards of lead, it was not until the early 1970s that theUS government finally acknowledged the danger and outlawed it in 1978.

If you are considering remodeling an older home that may potentially have lead paint, you canvisit http://epa.gov/lead for information on test kits certified contractors must use, along withother helpful information regarding lead paint. In addition, when renovating a home built prior to1978, federal law requires you to hire a remodeling contractor that is an EPA Lead paintcertified renovator.

Vacant Interiors of Denver has been providing a wide variety of professional services to itscustomers since 2004. Vacant Interiors offers cleaning, trash removal, painting, carpeting orvinyl flooring, tile work, repair services and are EPA-certified in lead remediation. For moreinformation on Vacant Interiors, please call 303-472-8026 or visitwww.VacantInteriorsDenver.com.