lead paint

Are you aware of the new EPA requirements on lead paint? Well they are not so new; it’s just that the EPA is now enforcing the rules.

In a nutshell, any home built prior to 1978, or as I understand it a home that has a building permit date prior to 1978, now comes under new guidelines set forth by the EPA. Those guidelines are in reference to any remodeling that exceeds 6 square feet interior, or 20 square feet exterior, that disturbs any surface that is painted.

Before the work is started, your certified contractor needs to do a test for the existence of lead paint, and if found to be positive, there are  a set of rules and guidelines that must be strictly followed to remove that lead painted surface. ...
Contractors of any kind that will disturb those areas need to be trained and certified by the EPA and carry a certification number with them to be in compliance with the law. Most cities building and permitting departments now require that certification number to be presented by the contractor prior to any permit being issued.

There were some exceptions to the law early on that made it possible for a homeowner to waive themselves from having their contractor comply. That waiver no longer exists. As of now there are no exceptions.

Make sure your contractor is compliant in these laws. The fines are high if they get caught. $32,000.00 per day per infraction. Yes that is Thirty Two Thousand Dollars!

Applewood Builders are certified to have this testing and work done. Right now we do it ourselves, but we are currently contacting other companies that we would use as one of our sub-contractors to take care of those details for us. Either way you can be assured everything that we do will be done following all of the rules that are in place.

~ The Carpenter