PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY
FROM LEAD-BASED PAINT
Many of Snowridge’s clients live in homes built before
1978. We love working on older homes because they
often have a lot of character and beauty.
But many older homes also have lead-based paint. This
paint is usually not a hazard if it’s in good condition, and
it is not on an impact or friction surface, like a window.
But during a remodel process, dust from lead-paint
surfaces is likely to spread in the air. This dust is a
health hazard, especially for young children and
pregnant women.
The Environmental Protection Agency has new laws to
deal with the safe containment of lead-based dust
during remodels. This February, Snowridge was certified
by the EPA as a renovator specially trained to work
around lead-based paint.
What does this mean? Snowridge has always followed
clean work site practices. The new regulations are
simply enhancements of what we’re already doing.
Before we start work on a pre-1978 home, we give the
homeowner an EPA pamphlet which shows the
procedures we’ll be following. We test the remodel area
to verify if there is, in fact, lead-based paint. If there is,
we seal off the remodel area with heavy plastic sheeting.
During the work, we keep the area dust-free with a
special HEPA-filtered vacuum. When the work is done,
we use EPA-certified test kits to insure that no lingering
lead-based paint dust is left behind on floors and walls.
If you have any questions about the new lead-based
paint regulations, please call us at (425)402-3824 or
visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov.
While paint, dust, and soil are the most common
sources of lead, other lead sources also exist, such as
drinking water, certain job sites, old painted toys and
furniture, lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery and
hobbies such as refinishing furniture. Here are some
simple steps you can take to reduce lead around your
home:
-Clean up paint chips immediately.
-Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other
surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water
and an all-purpose detergent (which, according to a
2005 Medical News report, is just as effective as more
expensive high phosphate detergents). Thoroughly
rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or
dusty areas.
-Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat
and before nap time and bed time.
-Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys,
and stuffed animals regularly.
-Keep children from chewing window sills or other
painted surfaces.
-Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to
avoid tracking in lead from soil.
-Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in
iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products.
Children with good diets absorb less lead.
FROM LEAD-BASED PAINT
Many of Snowridge’s clients live in homes built before
1978. We love working on older homes because they
often have a lot of character and beauty.
But many older homes also have lead-based paint. This
paint is usually not a hazard if it’s in good condition, and
it is not on an impact or friction surface, like a window.
But during a remodel process, dust from lead-paint
surfaces is likely to spread in the air. This dust is a
health hazard, especially for young children and
pregnant women.
The Environmental Protection Agency has new laws to
deal with the safe containment of lead-based dust
during remodels. This February, Snowridge was certified
by the EPA as a renovator specially trained to work
around lead-based paint.
What does this mean? Snowridge has always followed
clean work site practices. The new regulations are
simply enhancements of what we’re already doing.
Before we start work on a pre-1978 home, we give the
homeowner an EPA pamphlet which shows the
procedures we’ll be following. We test the remodel area
to verify if there is, in fact, lead-based paint. If there is,
we seal off the remodel area with heavy plastic sheeting.
During the work, we keep the area dust-free with a
special HEPA-filtered vacuum. When the work is done,
we use EPA-certified test kits to insure that no lingering
lead-based paint dust is left behind on floors and walls.
If you have any questions about the new lead-based
paint regulations, please call us at (425)402-3824 or
visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov.
While paint, dust, and soil are the most common
sources of lead, other lead sources also exist, such as
drinking water, certain job sites, old painted toys and
furniture, lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery and
hobbies such as refinishing furniture. Here are some
simple steps you can take to reduce lead around your
home:
-Clean up paint chips immediately.
-Clean floors, window frames, window sills, and other
surfaces weekly. Use a mop or sponge with warm water
and an all-purpose detergent (which, according to a
2005 Medical News report, is just as effective as more
expensive high phosphate detergents). Thoroughly
rinse sponges and mop heads after cleaning dirty or
dusty areas.
-Wash children’s hands often, especially before they eat
and before nap time and bed time.
-Keep play areas clean. Wash bottles, pacifiers, toys,
and stuffed animals regularly.
-Keep children from chewing window sills or other
painted surfaces.
-Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to
avoid tracking in lead from soil.
-Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in
iron and calcium, such as spinach and dairy products.
Children with good diets absorb less lead.
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