New Lead based Paint Certification

The new certification for remodeling buildings that “might” contain lead based paint has been coming for a while. It appears as though it will get here in April 2010.

What is the new certification? Well, it states that contractors and subcontractors working on “targeted buildings” (I’ll tell you what a targeted building is in a second) must carry an EPA certification to work on the building.

Targeted buildings are generally any housing or commercial facility built before 1978. There are exemptions; minor repair or maintenance affecting an area of 6 Square feet or less (pretty small, I suppose you can patch a hole in sheetrock?) of interiar painted surface or 20 square feet outside of painted surface. You the homeowner can do the work yourself and it is ok. Or there needs to be a certification that the work area is a lead based paint free area. Some housing may also be exempt if it is shown that no child under age 6 or pregnant women visit there regularly.

This rule will only affect contractors right? Wrong, this rule will affect everyone. Beginning April 2010 certain contractors any contractor that has anything to do with construction on a painted surface, (this is pretty much all general contractors and all trade contractors) will have to be certified.

I don’t know the cost of being certified yet but you the customer will ultimately be the one footing the charges as higher remodeling costs. So, if you have a remodel planned you may want to get it underway before April 2010, it’s only 11 months away.

Most lead based paint was eliminated in the 1950’s, I have had houses tested and even a house built in the 1940’s was difficult to find any lead based paint in. Don’t get me wrong lead based paint is a hazard but no more than I have come into contact with it, I feel this boiles down to another tax for the American people. We needed one more didn’t we???