Asbestos is a hazardous material that poses serious health risks when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Exposure to asbestos can lead to severe respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. For these reasons, it is essential to remove asbestos safely and in compliance with regulations to protect the health of occupants and ensure the property meets safety standards.
Lead Testing and Removal questions, answered by experts
Professionals use specialized equipment and techniques to detect asbestos, radon, and VOCs.
Unfortunately, lead dust does not look different from any other type of dust. You cannot detect it with the naked eye. To determine if you have lead dust in your home, you will need to hire a local company to take a sample from the paint and test it for you in a lab.
Yes, testing professionals typically provide reports with recommendations for safe lead removal.
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.
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.
The Navajo, NM homeowners’ guide to lead testing and removal services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Get expert insights on lead paint inspection costs, including key cost factors and ways to save. Learn what affects your estimate and how to budget effectively.
Can you paint over lead paint? You can use a process called encapsulation, which may require the help of a local professional paint service to do it safely.
Contractors play an essential role in lead paint safety, so homeowners should take the time to research and hire a pro with the proper certification. We outline how.