NEW LEAD PAINT REGULATIONS ON HOMES BUILT PRIOR TO 1978

Contractors Scramble To Get Training Mandated By New Lead Paint Rules

By ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer   Published: 4/20/2010 6:39 PM

Owners of older homes planning renovations might have a hard time finding workers because many contractors are scrambling to comply with a new EPA rule on lead paint. The problem is that not enough trainers are available to certify all the contractors for the new Environmental Protection Agency regulations, said Ken Saltink, president of the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa and head of All American Remodel. The new rules go into effect Thursday.

The new regulations stipulate that every home, child-care facility and school built before 1978 be tested for lead paint by a certified contractor before renovations are performed, including painting, plumbing, and window and electrical work. If a building tests positive for lead, contractors must seal off the area and clean it with vacuum equipment while wearing safety suits.

Scott Burnett, president of Burnett Windows and Siding, said all 10 of his installers have been trained and are ready to tackle any older home, but preparations have cost the company $4,000 in training and an additional $4,000 for equipment. “We’ve invested a lot of money in the training and the equipment,” he said. “But the benefit of that is customer confidence in us.” Burnett said he doesn’t charge for the testing, which involves scraping the paint with a knife and swabbing a chemical that reacts to lead. The process takes 30 minutes for an average house. But removing the lead could be costly to customers. Burnett said his company hasn’t set a price yet, though other window companies nationwide are charging $50 to $125 per window.

Saltink said the National Association of Home Builders has estimated that lead removal can add $800 to $1,500 to the cost of a renovation.

In addition to the fines and the work necessary for certification, Saltink said potential legal liability could further discourage contractors from working on older homes.  “If we do something in a person’s home and their children test positive for lead, we could be held liable for doctors and lawyers fees,” he said.

Studies indicate lead poisoning can cause a drop in IQ, learning problems and aggressiveness in children, as well as memory loss and mood shifts in adults.  Although the new regulations cover all pre-1978 homes, Burnett said lead paint might be found in only a few of them. “Not very many of these homes seem to have lead paint,” he said. “In Tulsa, it seems to be less than what you’d think. We’ve only found one so far.”

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