Lead Paint
in The Home
Warning!
This house could be hazardous to your health!
You’d be hard
pressed to sell a
home with such a label attached to it. And yet, many older homes in the
United States actually qualify. You see, prior to 1978, paints and
other
products containing lead were widely used in homes and offices.
Chipping and peeling paint can expose occupants to this hazardous
material. In addition, many older plumbing systems utilized lead-based
solder to join pipes. This lead can leach into the water, especially
when running hot water. In certain areas, high concentrations of lead
can even be found in the ground soil.
Unknown in
years past,
it is now
clear that lead causes a number of health-related problems. In children
this can include growth and learning disabilities, headaches, and even
brain damage. Adults are not immune either. High levels of lead have
been tied to problem pregnancies, high-blood pressure and digestive
problems.
Before you buy or sell
an older home (pre-1980),
you need to know what hazards may still exist in that home. If
selling, federal law
(and Idaho law)
stipulates that you must disclose any lead-based paint in the home. If
you are buying, you need to know what hazards may be lurking in the
walls, as well as in the pipes, before you put up your earnest money.
If you suspect that a house contains high levels of lead, you should
contact a qualified professional to do an inspection. These tradesmen
use a range of tools from the well-trained eye to complex, specialized
equipment to detect lead levels and recommend appropriate solutions.
The National Lead Information Center http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/nlic.htm
can help you find a resource. OxBow
Home Inspections is trained, and has the proper equipment to
find and identify lead-based hazards, and I do so, without extra fees,
on all homes built prior to 1980.
Many
solutions exist for cleaning up lead
concentrations. Depending upon your situation, you may find one of
these to be an adequate solution. Removing lead-based paint, for
example, may be as much trouble as it is worth. First, just the act of
stripping the paint from the walls is likely to create dust and debris
which is more likely to be ingested. Given these hazards, you should
consult a certified contractor to complete this kind of work. Short of
removing the paint, you
may be able to get by with covering the old,
lead-based paint with a coat of sealant specifically designed for this
purpose. Once again, a certified contractor will be able
to recommend
an appropriate solution. Financial assistance is even available in
certain circumstances.
So, even though a house may not carry a
warning label from the EPA,
a little common sense and a sharp eye should keep your family safe.
Proudly
Serving the Following Counties:
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Gem, Payette,
Valley, Washington and Malheur
Oxbow Home Inspections • PO Box 2144 Eagle, ID 83616• 208.573.5300
Troy Farmer: Owner/Inspector • E-Mail: info@troyfarmer.com
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Inspections and Radon Testing, LLC |
