Information for Home Renovation

Information for Contractors and Home Renovation:

Renovation, repair, or painting projects in older homes can create dangerous lead dust. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires any projects that disturb lead paint in homes, child care facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors. The rule also applies to all building owners and managers (landlords) who rent all or part of their home, individuals who operate a child care center in their home, or if you buy, renovate, and sell homes for profit (e.g., a house flipper).

REMEMBER: WORK SMART, WORK WET, and WORK CLEAN to reduce lead dust.

• Prepare the work area and remove furniture. Use plastic sheeting to cover floors and anything that can't be removed from the areas. Close windows and cover doorways to work areas with plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting isn’t expensive and must be thrown out after the job is done.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including a painter’s hat, coveralls, shoe covers, and use an N-95 respirator when working.
• Avoid removing old paint. Replace building components if possible.
• If paint removal is necessary, avoid sanding, burning, and grinding. Use water while working to reduce dust and fumes. For example, use a water spray bottle to wet any surface to be scraped or sanded.
• Clean up after the work is complete. Use a wet mop with a removable head and then throw out the mop head after cleaning is done. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter followed by mopping to ensure surfaces are dust free. “Shop vacs” should not be used for cleanup because they can spread lead dust.
• Children and pregnant people should stay out of work areas until the work area is clean.

The Livingston County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program sponsors the initial EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting course for FREE.  Check here for class dates.