Protecting Your Family During Renovation: Why Lead Paint Safety is Critical for Huntington’s Historic Homes
When you’re planning to renovate your beautiful Huntington home, there’s one hidden danger that demands immediate attention: lead paint. Approximately 80 percent of homes in the New York Metropolitan area were built before 1978, and the Huntington Village Historic District is renowned for its historic architecture, with many homes and buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. This rich architectural heritage comes with serious responsibilities for homeowners planning any renovation work.
Understanding the Lead Paint Risk in Huntington Homes
If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead-based paint; the older your home, the more likely it has lead-based paint. In fact, about 75% of homes built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. Given Huntington’s historic character, with examples like 90 Nassau Road, Huntington built in 1918 and numerous other vintage properties throughout the area, many local homeowners face this challenge.
The danger isn’t the paint itself when it’s intact, but what happens during renovation. Any renovation, repair, or painting (RRP) project in a pre-1978 home that has lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust. Lead poisoning is extremely dangerous, especially for young children. There is no safe level of lead. Once in the body, lead can cause lifelong brain damage, permanent injury, and disabilities.
Essential Safety Precautions Before Starting Your Project
Before beginning any renovation work in your older Huntington home, EPA recommends hiring a certified lead inspector or lead risk assessor to test your home and determine if the surfaces you are renovating have lead-based paint. Before starting any renovation work in an older home, have it tested for lead-based paint by a certified professional.
If testing confirms lead paint presence, EPA recommends homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor who is certified and trained in lead-safe work practices. This is where working with an experienced painter huntington residents can trust becomes crucial – they understand both the local housing stock and the strict safety protocols required.
What Lead-Safe Work Practices Include
Professional lead-safe renovation involves specific containment and cleanup procedures. When doing a DIY job that involves lead-based paint, you should contain your work area to prevent dust and debris from escaping into the rest of your home. Certified contractors must:
- Use signs to keep residents and pets out of the work area
- Cover the ground and plants with heavy plastic sheeting
- Close windows and doors near the work area
- Use water while working to reduce dust and fumes. For example, use a water spray bottle to wet any surface to be scraped or sanded
- Using a shroud with a HEPA vacuum attachment when using power tools and equipment
Critical “Don’ts” During Lead Paint Renovation
Certain renovation methods are particularly dangerous when lead paint is present. If paint removal is necessary, avoid sanding, burning, and grinding. Shop vacs should not be used for cleanup because they can spread lead dust. Unsafe remodeling and removal of old paint, such as pressure washing or sanding, may contaminate the home with lead dust.
The first thing you should do if you identify lead paint in your home is to try not to disturb it. Don’t try to pick at the paint to see what’s underneath and don’t try to sand it or flatten out any bumps or cracks. Lead paint only poses a serious health risk when it’s disturbed, so the best thing to do is leave it alone while you determine the next best steps.
Proper Cleanup and Post-Project Safety
After renovation work is complete, thorough cleanup is essential. Thoroughly vacuum all remaining surfaces and objects, including furniture and fixtures, with a HEPA vacuum; and then wipe down all surfaces with wet disposable cleaning cloths until the cloths are clean. Children and pregnant people should stay out of work areas until the work area is clean.
Professional contractors should provide clearance testing is performed once the project is complete. Get a copy of the results that show no hazardous lead dust was left behind.
Legal Requirements and Choosing the Right Contractor
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that projects that disturb lead paint in homes, child care facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors. When hiring a contractor for your Huntington home renovation, make sure to ask contractors if they are lead-safe certified or use EPA’s search tool to find lead-safe certified contractors in your area.
Ensure your contractor provides EPA’s lead Hazard information pamphlet, “Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools” and follow procedures to contain the work area, minimize dust, and clean up thoroughly.
Protecting Your Investment and Your Family
While lead paint safety requirements may seem daunting, they’re designed to protect what matters most – your family’s health and your home’s value. If an analysis reveals lead-based paint in your home prior to a remodel or home sale and you don’t pursue remediation, you may not just be violating regulatory standards. It can also significantly impact your home’s market value if you don’t take action. Having your home professionally tested and addressing any lead issues that are found prior to remodeling or selling your home is not only the right and lawful thing to do, but it’s also a sound financial decision.
For Huntington homeowners, preserving the character and beauty of our historic homes while ensuring family safety requires expertise, proper certification, and meticulous attention to lead-safe work practices. Don’t let the charm of your vintage home become a health hazard – invest in proper lead-safe renovation from the start.