Lead Paint Removal

Lead paint removal is the process of safely eliminating hazardous lead-based paint from homes, particularly those built before 1978. Whether you're renovating, preparing to sell, or protecting your family's health, proper removal requires specialized techniques and safety protocols. From encapsulation to full abatement, we'll help you understand your options and connect with certified pros who can handle the job safely.

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Common Lead Paint Removal Questions

Lead removal services typically cost between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the extent of lead presence, the property size, and the complexity of the abatement process.

Sanding paint that contains lead is never safe, and sanding modern paints can still be hazardous. However, you can protect yourself by wearing a high-quality respirator during the process or by using a wet-sanding technique. You can wet the wall and then sand or use a wet sanding tool to achieve this.

Lead exposure poses serious health risks, particularly for children, and can be present in paint, pipes, and soil.

Professional lead-paint abatement companies use a variety of methods to remove lead-based paint, depending on each particular situation. Some of the most common methods include:

  • Total removal: $8–$17 per square foot

  • Demolition and replacement: $1,000–$15,000 per project

  • Encapsulation: $4 per square foot

  • Enclosure: $10 per square foot

  • Chemical stripping: $10–$17 per square foot

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