You have a home built in 1956 that needs some updating. The house feels very closed-in, but you prefer an open floor plan. Your designer shows you several floorplans that you like, requiring demolishing some of the walls to open up the space. Before you get too excited about taking out your sledgehammer, you should know that since the house is from 1956, there is a possibility that there is lead paint.
Lead paint pauses many health risks, especially to children under 6; they can suffer from learning disabilities, central nervous system problems, and brain damage. Hypertension, fatigue, and impotence have also resulted from lead poisoning. In pregnant women, lead poisoning can lead to a damaged fetus.
Knowing if your house contains lead-based paint requires testing the material for its presence. You can probably do most of the work yourself; if it’s a minimal scope of work, cut samples of about 3 square inches and put them each in separate ziplock bags labeling them with the location and number. Still, if you’re going to do an extensive home remodel, you’ll probably need the help of a professional.
Lead testing near me
When you are going to do most of the work yourself, you can send your samples to be tested by a laboratory whit the capabilities to test for heavy metals. Doing some of the work yourself is a very cost-effective approach and can be helpful with a very small job. Still, there are drawbacks such as not getting the sample correctly, not using the proper safety, and not being able to interpret the lab report. You can find a lab by searching online for “lab testing near me” there should be some in your area that you can work with; make sure that the results are certified.
lead paint home inspection
If the scope of work you are doing involves demolition or is extensive, you will likely need a lead paint home inspection by an expert who can work with lead, such as a certified lead renovator. They will conduct a lead survey and get all the samples tested for you. The professional will also write a report that will be easier for you to understand and help the contractors do their job right, safely, and legally.
Lead paint inspector near me
There are probably many building inspectors in your area, but for an inspector to work with lead, they need to hold a lead certification. You can find these professionals from your local building department’s website, where they may have a list of certified inspectors, or by looking online, search for “lead paint inspector near me” to find someone. You can also contact the professionals at 5 Microns Inc. Our inspectors are Lead Renovator certified and have all the tools to do the job right. Our lab can get you the results the next day. You can either send us a sample to test or hire one of our consultants to perform the work at very competitive rates. Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
