Q&A: New Rules on Lead Paint

If your home was built before 1978, a new regulation could affect your remodeling or renovation project.

If your home was built before 1978, a new regulation could affect your remodeling or renovation project. A new federal law requires remodeling contractors who could possibly disturb lead paint during a renovation to be certified and use certain procedures to minimize your exposure.

Q: What types of home renovations are covered by the new lead paint law?

A: Any time more than one square foot of a lead-painted surface is disturbed, the contractor must be certified and follow the new procedures. The new law applies to even small jobs, like window replacements. “Even an electrician that would cut in as few as three electrical boxes would need to be certified,” says Garland Groom, of Quality Home Inspections LLC in Cedar Rapids. “It doesn’t take much to meet the requirement.”

Q: What kind of training do remodelers need?

A: An eight-hour class is required with a written test at the end. Then the contractor must apply to the state of Iowa for certification. Every three years they must take a refresher course. For most home renovation projects, the contractor and at least one worker must be certified.

See the complete Q&A in The Gazette by clicking here.

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