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If your home was built before 1978 and you're planning a remodel that will disturb painted surfaces, any professionals you hire must follow the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule. Promulgated last year, the rule requires workers to follow lead-related safety precautions, such as containing work areas with plastic to prevent harmful dust and debris from entering the home.
The EPA was considering taking the rule one step further by requiring contractors to hire third-party testers to collect several dust samples after each project and send them to a certified lab for lead testing. But late last week the agency decided against the extra regulation, much to the relief of building industry officials. "We're pleased that the EPA listened to the concerns of remodelers about the extreme costs the proposed clearance testing would have imposed," said Bob Peterson, NAHB Remodelers chair, in a press release. "Homeowners are saved from spending a great deal of money on lead testing. If remodeling is more affordable, home owners will be able to hire an EPA-certified renovator to keep them safe from lead dust hazards during renovation."
Contractors will still be required to wipe down disturbed surfaces after the work is complete and match the result to an EPA-approved card to determine whether lead paint dust is present. If you're concerned about air quality in your home, you should ask to see the results of the test. And at the front end of the project, be sure to choose a paint that's low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been linked to respiratory illnesses. Consumer Reports ratings of interior and exterior paints contain many products that meet the toughest VOC regulations while also delivering top performance.
—Daniel DiClerico
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