Get matched with top lead testing and removal specialists in La Crosse, IN

Lead toxicity comes from inhaling lead or consuming it. Before the 1980s, when the government banned lead from consumer use, it could be found in paint, plumbing, pipes, ceramics, and even gasoline. Lead paint is toxic for the same reason lead itself is toxic, which is why lead poisoning from paint presents the same as lead poisoning from water or food sources, with a slight increase in respiratory symptoms vs. digestive symptoms. Lead paint is most dangerous when it’s old and peeling, cracking, or otherwise disturbed. This increases the concentration in the air and, therefore, in breathable air. 

The average cost of a lead paint inspection is about $600, but it can cost as low as $150 or as much as $800, depending on the size of the area, geographic location, and the inspection methods. Some of the most common lead paint inspection methods include:

• Visual inspection: $150–$400

• Paint sampling: $200–$600

• X-ray fluorescence (XRF): $250–$700

• Risk assessment: $300–$800

“Testing” can start with your senses: Assessing your water’s appearance, taste, and smell can all be good first steps. The best way to know for sure what’s going on with your water is to use a well water testing kit, which can tell you about the specific levels of bacteria, dissolved solids, and hardness of your water with precision. Have a pro test your well water at least once per year.

You can paint over lead paint, or “encapsulate” it with a special paint that includes an ingredient called an encapsulant. The EPA approves encapsulation as a lead paint removal method as long as the paint remains undisturbed. Standard types of paint without an “encapsulant” from the big box stores or hardware stores do not meet EPA standards for remediation of lead-based paint.