If your home was built prior to 1978, there is a good chance it contains some lead paint. Before you have any work that may disturb painted surfaces, your contractor is now required to provide you with this pamphlet available online at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
If you are doing any work yourself as a do it yourself project, there is some good information on lead paint hazards at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
Other details from the Environment Protection Agency:
Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
-Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet
before starting work.
-Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms,
and the families of children under the age of six that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child-care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.
Also, beginning April 2010, federal law will require contractors that disturb
lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978
to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Therefore beginning in April 2010, ask to see your contractor’s certification.
For more tips, please visit www.HouseFixer.Info
