EPA rule lead based paint, RRP (West, Thornton: houses, to buy, construction)

[Paulg928]

Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. (disturbing more than 6 sq feet)

Are people shying away from pre 1978 homes? Is it affecting you in any way? I have not seen any posts on this fourm about it.

[FalconheadWest]

It's about removing it, and the vast majority of people just paint their walls, and don't tear them down, so I would say, no, there has been no effect that I've seen.

[sinking]

I just purchased a house built in 1976. I prefer the quality of construction over the newer houses. I wasn't too worried about lead paint.

[Exiled Texan]

I just bought a 1951 that had lead paint. Cost me an additional $5K above and beyond regular demo to have the lead paint demo certified guys called.

If you find lead paint in a house you want to buy, take $5-10K off b/c of it.

[Exiled Texan]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

It's about removing it, and the vast majority of people just paint their walls, and don't tear them down, so I would say, no, there has been no effect that I've seen.

In my house, I was renovating the kitchen and bathrooms. The lead wasn't on the walls, it was on all the trim and cabinets. PITA If you are renovating a bath or kitchen, WHAM!!!, open up your checkbook.

[lemonlime22]

Lead is toxic, no doubt.

But I'm always amazed that people will go out and get flu shots that include 25 mg. of mercury, which is even more damaging than lead, injected right into their bodies, bypassing the immune system.

[verybadgnome]

Lowes put new windows in my '63 house. They said they were required and did a lead test for $25 that turned out to be negative.

[LEADPAINTEPA]

Please keep in mind the reason for the fee is for the testing equipment as well as the mounds of paperwork that you must keep for inspection by the federal government if requested and the time involved to explain this to the customer!!!

[dallasdean]

The RRP is going to be revised in 2011.

It basically will require clearance testing after many home improvement projects done by a contractor. This clearance test will show you have lead based paint in your home (if it actually does).

The clearance report will need to be disclosed at the time of sale, so you will basically be forced in disclosing you have lead based paint.

[RosemaryT]

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

It's about removing it, and the vast majority of people just paint their walls, and don't tear them down, so I would say, no, there has been no effect that I've seen.

I'd say you're wrong on this. The language used in the EPA legislation is "disturbing" the work space. That includes washing, sanding, scraping, etc. And the work space is any area over six square feet.

Unsuspecting contractors - such as carpet installers, tile installers, roofers, wallpaper hangers, plumbers and electricians - are expected to be certified (and follow the new rules) or face heavy fines.

It really is insane.

One example: When painting the exterior, you're required to put down six-mil plastic 10' out from the exterior walls, plus four feet for each additional story. That means that the contractor is forced to set his 28' extension ladder atop the plastic. But wait, that's a violation of OSHA rules.

Hmmmm...Osha rules carry smaller penalties than EPA, so I'd guess you'd better violate OSHA rules so you can abide by EPA rules.

It's insanity.

The unintended consequence is that the value of old houses just went in the toilet. Cost to paint a pre-1978 house with all the abatement required - probably several *thousand* dollars more than before this law. It's not just all the equipment and testing and inspections, but the TIME to set up containment sections and vertical containment areas and cordon off areas with bright yellow tape, etc.

The extravagant use of six-mil plastic is a prominent feature of this new law. We're going to be using it by the ROLL and all that plastic will be bagged and double-bagged (EPA law) and then hauled off to the landfill.

Way to save the environment.

Rose Thornton