lead paint

[DustinC]

I know that lead paint was banned in 78 so Is it reasonable to assume that a house built in 72 has lead paint on it.Its flaking badly.I've been to several paint stores looking for a test kit,and spoke with the epa which was little help (as usual). Should I just treat it as lead and bill accordingly.The Job looks like PITA.so it wont hurt my feelings if this one gets away.I miss vinyl siding and shingle roofs!

[PressurePros]

Its lead and if its flaking its a hazard. Be careful around it as you can take home lead dust and poison very young children. If you aren't licensed to perform that type of abatement it may be best to walk away. What's your plan of attack ?

[EnviroClean]

You can collect a small sample and take it to a lab you can also rent a X-Ray Fluorescence detector to give you an indication of lead levels. What are you doing? Washing and removing? You better pass on this job as this paint needs to be removed or encapsulated in accordance with EPA and local agency guidelines. If the flakes are flying as a result of your washing, you are the responsible party .

[DustinC]

Ken,I'm still trying to figure that out.I understand all the precautions involved with lead paint and my wife would get mad if I poisoned our 10 month old son this keeps my bid climbing. I plan on using tsp and 12%.I'll throw away my clothes and wash myself and equipment away from home.I read someones post who suggested laying down a old pool cover to catch all the chips.Its a rental property and the owner lives 3 hours away.I'm going to email him my bid tomorrow which will also include cleaning debri from the roof and flatwork.Bid will be high.

[DustinC]

I guess the best thing to do would be to find out for sure if it is lead or not,instead of wasting everyones time. where can I rent one of those machines or find a lab.thanks guys

[CarolinaProWash]

Dustin,

Lead paint can get you in far more trouble that you might imagine. I'll see if I can find the letter to the editor that was printed in The Cleaner Times last year.....we had a job to bid so I had to get a crash course in how to deal with it. Just washing MIGHT not be as bad, but a kit is about $5.00 at Lowe's - find out for certain before you do anything else.

Celeste

[DustinC]

It is a paint prep. it's peeling so badly a garden hose would take alot of it off. I postponed the bid pending a lead test. Ive targed vinyl houses and roof cleaning with heavy mailing the last two weeks and I get a building restoration and paint prep.go figure

[CarolinaProWash]

Run Forrest Run!!!!!! Send me your email address....I can't find the letter that was published but I have other research I can send you. You are looking at an EPA nightmare!

Celeste

[WEW]

Be careful, like asbestos, lead puts you in a whole new relm. Your going to need permits, there's going to be inspectors, inspecting inspectors. You'll have to recover everything and it will have to be dumped appropriately.

If you decide to do it anyway and hope you get away with it, be prepared if you get caught. Your business will be history. Your fines will be astronomical, and your court time, huge.

If you want to start doing that for a living you'll need good credit, lots of cash. Lots of new resourses, judical, governmental, alot of balls and lawyers.
ISYHTRAH

[PressurePros]

TSP and 12% on flaking lead paint is going to get you in trouble..real quick. You never know whom is watching. A disgruntled neighbor, a certified lead removal guy that services the area, a neighbor that happens to work for the EPA. You are proposing presenting an absolute danger to soil and water supply. If you get caught, you aren't just going to pay a fine which could range to tens of thousands of dollars you risk going to prison. What $$ could possibly make that worthwhile?

[Jeff]

Get it tested, if lead I'd stay away since its all flaking. I was lead abatement certified for several years up north and the precations by law you are suppose to take are many. One wrong move or procedure can cost you darely. In South Carolina you can get away with a lot more than other areas, but why take the chance.

I know a company I used to work for who's insurance company paid MILLIONS . They sand blasted a small bridge overpass and did'nt contain it. They did it at night time and one neighbor knew the rules for lead. They had to replace lawns, paint interiors of houses dig up other areas, it was all over the papers. Must really didnt need to be done, because the lead paint had been flaking off that overpass for years but, the lawsuit would of cost even many millions more so insurance did the clean up instead of the law suit

You don't need this job that bad

Good luck

JL

[DustinC]

Thanks everyone,I just purchased a test kit from ace. very easy.break the stick shake it and rub the cotton end on the paint.If it turns pink or red there is lead present. It turned bright pink.I took a picture of the test to email the guy and turn down the job.thanks again.

[DustinC]

Here's the pic.

[plainpainter]

You know I have been wondering for a long time how to screw my competition - because I hate them - painters at least. And maybe I should get with the system and look into lead abatement certification - and then see if there is a way to report illegal abatements{i.e. tradition scraping paint jobs} and take everyone's business away. Because in New England - nobody does lead abatement - all these homes are filled with lead exterior paint.

-Dan