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| | | Banned since 1978, lead-based paint has been a major source of lead poisoning for children and can also affect adults. More than 80 percent of US homes built before 1978, or about 64 million, contain lead paint, according to TheGreenGuide.com. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Lead-based paint removal costs an estimated $8 -$15 a square foot, which means removing all lead from a house of 1,200-2,000 square feet could run as much as $9,600 -$30,000, according to RealtyTimes.com; the average removal project runs around $10,000 for a typical pre-1978 home.
- One option is encapsulation (applying a liquid coating that forms a watertight jacket over lead paint) which on average costs less than 50 cents a square foot, or $600 -$1,000 for 1,200-2,000 square feet, according to BobVilla.com.
- Before any removal is done, check to see what you have. Sending a paint sample to a laboratory for professional testing costs about $20 -$50 per sample, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Do-it-yourself lead paint testing kits are available online or at most home improvement stores for $5 -$30 each. However, the CPSC says these kits have not been evaluated and may not be reliable. ConsumerReports.org found that three out of the five lead paint test kits evaluated were useful but limited as screening tools.
- You can order a lead dust test kit for $29.95 from the National Safety Council.
What should be included: | - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that if you suspect lead-based paint in an area that is chipped or peeling, testing should be performed by a certified inspector or certified risk assessor. The EPA provides detailed information about "Testing Your Home For Lead In Paint, Dust, and Soil" and lists basic facts about lead.
- Chipped or peeling lead-based paint should be properly removed, but lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a problem. Lead-based paint removal is not recommended as a do-it-yourself project, and federal law requires the use of a certified professional if a child living in the house has a high blood lead level or if you own the house and rent it to someone else. The National Park Service presents "Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards.
Discounts: | - Many states offer assistance for lead paint removal in the form of grants or low-cost loans; some have programs that arrange to have the work done for low-income families. Check for the lead paint abatement resources in your state.
Shopping for lead paint abatement: | |
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Article updated June 2008 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $200.00 total |
lead paint abatement
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| Posted by: average joe in Buffalo, NY. | Purchased: April, 2009 |
| Type of Abatement:: windows and door frames | Which Room(s):: bedrooms |
| I bought two gallons of lead out paint stripper and removed the lead paint myself. It was very easy and cost much less than hiring an abatement company. I prefer doing projects like this myself. Maybe that's not for everyone, but I'd feel like a sucker paying that much for what was easy for me with minimal costs. |
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| Amount: $0.00 total |
loans
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| Posted by: a user in st. paul, MN. | Purchased: August, 2001 |
| Type of Abatement:: lead | Which Room(s):: walls windows porch |
| I was interested in a government "home improvement" deferred loan which in actuality is not about basic home improvements but is instead an assessment for lead contamination in the house. Now they want me to remove lead in my home and put on a very good show for me and fear mongering. I have no children and do have peeling paint upstairs. I feel duped. Lead paint is a serious issue but I wish they would simply call the loan program a lead abatement and assessment loan instead of luring people into thinking they can get some major projects accomplished on their aging home. I have no money live on disability and don't know what to do. There are so many things that need to be done and all they want to do is remove paint. I cannot imagine what this will cost. Is this a scam? |
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