In case anyone misunderstood, the Renovation, Repair, and Paint law which was passed in April of 2010 will not have a dedicated inspection force, the regulating and enforcement body is essentially the EPA with fines in the tens of thousands of dollars for incompliance.
As a home owner you need to understand the teeth of the law before a snake oil contractor attempts to sell you short. When hiring a contractor to perform work in your home, it is very important to know the age of your home before he or she shows up!
If your home was built after 1978, there should not be a need to have any testing done for lead paint. If your home was built before 1978, there is a possibility lead paint exists. Home owner lead paint test kits are readily available through Home Depot, Lowe’s or your local hardware store.
If it is discovered that you have lead paint at the area of future renovation, ONLY that area needs to be addressed, not the entire house! Contractors are required to set up a barrier in accordance to the square footage guidelines spelled out by EPA-740-R-09-002, the official guide book for the EPA/HUD Model Renovator Training Course. Since April any contractor who works with lead paint is required to have completed this course and carry their certification card.
After an individual completes the required training course, they are advised to register their firm with the EPA for a cost of around 300 dollars. The EPA is in the process of establishing a database for home owners to find information about local licensed contractors and the status of a contractor’s certification.
To make a long story short, make sure your door guy is licensed!
Mike Donovan
President
miked@worcesterdoor.com
