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EPA regulates home renovations

If you are looking to renovate your home in the near future, either because you want to sell it, or you want to spruce things up, there are a variety of things to be aware of.

One new thing to keep in mind is a new regulation involving lead in homes that were built before a specific date.

An article by Sara Schaefer Munoz of The Wall Street Journal Online, “EPA proposes regulating home renovations,” discusses the new guidelines.

“In an effort to reduce lead poisoning in children, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a broad rule requiring contractors working on homes built before 1978 to use lead-safe work practices.”

“The proposal, published Jan. 10 in the Federal Register, would create the first nationwide requirements covering the way contractors perform routine renovations and clean up afterward. For any work that could disturb lead-based paint -- including removing paint, taking down wallpaper or replacing windows -- contractors would have to take various steps to minimize clients' exposure, including using special vacuums, sealing off work areas and posting warning signs.”

The reason why this issue is getting so much attention right now is because so many people have been doing renovations and additions these past few years. Just like there was a housing “boom” there has also been a home improvement “boom.”

“A wider swath of the population has become concerned about the health hazards of lead paint amid a recent renovation boom, with Americans fixing up hundred-year-old Victorian homes in gentrifying urban neighborhoods and expanding mid century split-levels in the suburbs. Lead poisoning is a potential hazard in any home built before 1978, the year when lead paint was banned. About 65% of current U.S. housing stock was built before 1978, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Renovations of older homes can stir up lead dust that can be ingested or inhaled. Children are particularly vulnerable, because they absorb lead more readily than adults and are more likely to put dusty hands in their mouths.”

Although this new regulation will obviously have beneficial effects on the health of everyone, it is going to cost consumers more money to renovate.

“The National Association of Home Builders says some members estimate the rule could boost the price of home renovations by 25% for consumers, because of expenses for insurance, training and equipment. The EPA estimates that the rule would cost the industry approximately $5 million a year.”

“If the rule is finalized in its current form, it could change the way many contractors work. At least one contractor on a work site would have to be EPA-certified in lead-safe work practices and would have to train workers on the site.”

Contractors are already implementing safe practices to keep their work environment free of lead.

Some of these things include sealing of the area that is being worked on, where chemicals could seep out and not using tools that create a lot of dust and fumes.

Other things include using vacuums and respirators that are equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

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