If your home was built prior to 1978, there is a good possibility that there are lead based substances in your home. When you sell your home, you are required to disclose any lead based hazards that you are aware of, and the buyer needs to acknowledge that disclosure. But what if you're not selling right now? Why would you care about that?
What a lot of homeowners don't know is that the EPA passed a regulation in 2008 that became effective in April of 2010. If you want somef urther details, See the EPA website for details.
There is a lead renoavtion pamphlet available as well. You can read the brochure here (Requires adobe .pdf reader) It is very important that you make sure your contractor is Lead-safe certified through the EPA. THIS IS A FEDERAL LAW AND NOT OPTIONAL for your contractor. It is a requirement!
There are a few reasons why you should be very cautious when remodeling, or even painting your home that was built prior to 1978.
When it comes time to sell your home, standard legal language that is incorporated into the sales contract includes the subject of home improvements, and whether permits were taken out on the work performed at the house. Some attorneys are already requiring that any work completed after 4/22/2010 was performed by a Certfied Lead Safe Contractor, if it falls within the regulation guidelines. A basic rule of thumb for the regulation guideline is that if more than 6 square feet of lead based material is removed or disturbed, that a Certified Lead Based Contractor must perform the work, and that contractor has to submit paperwork to that effect. So there will be a paper trail on your renovation. Let me put this into perspective for you. Six square feet! That's about the size of an average window in your home. This regulation applies to painters, too. I am not an attorney, nor a specialist in EPA regulations, and I cannot advise you legally. I can, and will suggest to you to look into this regulation as it pertains to you, and contact an attorney if you have questions.