Are you looking for a lead inspector in Baltimore? Are you a landlord looking to rent out your Baltimore home or office? Are you a contractor doing repair or renovation of a home or building and need professional assessment? Does your house have paint peeling or chipping off the walls? Is there a child living in the house with a blood test result indicating lead exposure? If you answer yes to any of these questions you should have a lead inspector do a certified lead paint inspection. Chances are if your home or business was built before 1978 it has lead paint contamination. Houses built in the 1950's and earlier are certain to have some type of lead paint contamination. The federal government banned the use of lead paint in 1978. Homes built before then potentially have lead paint not only on interior but also on exterior. Landlords and sellers are required by law to disclose any lead contamination issues and hiring a professional lead paint inspector is recommended.
What you can expect when hiring a Baltimore lead inspector First off, it is important to hire the right inspector. The Environmental Protection Agency has strict rules and guidelines that lead paint inspectors must follow. EPA certified lead inspectors have gone thru special training and classes and passed a certification in order to do inspections professionally. Uncertified inspectors can put you at risk for lead poisoning from incomplete or inaccurate testing. A professional lead paint inspection will give you the information you need to keep your family safe. If you have any doubts about whether someone is certified as a lead paint inspector, you should ask to see their credentials. Know the difference between a certified lead paint inspection and a risk assessment. A lead-based paint inspection is different than a risk assessment. During an inspection, a certified lead inspector will test the paint in the interior and on the exterior of the home. The inspector will let you know if and where there is lead paint. Lead paint that is in good condition and can go without being disturbed, by construction or renovation, is not necessarily a hazard. A lead paint risk assessment will let you know if there are hazards that need attention and your Baltimore lead inspector can help you come up with an action plan to mitigate those risks. With a combined lead paint inspection and risk assessment, a certified inspector with thoroughly inspect all painted surfaces of your home with an XRF device, and may also send paint, dust, and soil samples to a lab for more comprehensive testing.
What can you do to prevent Lead hazards? If you do have lead paint on surfaces around your home, there are a few things you can do to prevent lead paint exposure. Keep children away from peeling or chipping paint. Windows and doors are common sources of paint peeling and chips. Because they are handled often and have moving parts that rub or come in contact with each other, older dry paint can cause dust and flake off easily. Wash hands, toys and other often handled items regularly. Household dust and exposed soil around pre 78 homes can be a source of lead. Wet mopping floors and using wet wipes to wipe down the whole window including trim and molding can help pick up dust without spreading it or causing it to become airborne. Do not attempt to remove lead paint yourself. Repairing or renovating a home with lead paint requires special processes and procedures. Only a certified contractor should be hired for the abatement process after a certified lead inspector has inspected the potential contamination areas. If you work in an area that has lead paint you should change and wash your clothes separate from non-contaminated clothes as soon as you get home. Also, take your shoes off as you may spread dust around the home. Here are some other tips for other potential sources of lead in your home. Lead paint and lead dust are two main sources of lead contamination in older homes, but other sources such as water pipes and fixtures in many homes can contain lead. This does not necessarily mean there is lead in the water you drink, but if you have concerns you can test the water or consult your Baltimore lead inspector on the issue. If you do have high levels in your water, running the water for a minute or two to flush the system can help deplete the levels before you use it. Lead in water is odorless and tasteless. Use cold water for cooking, hot water is more likely to contain higher lead levels. Purchase a filter that is specificly designed to filter lead, modern filters can be attached directly to your faucet. Baltimore Lead Paint Inspection can assist with any questions you have regarding lead in your home. Call now to talk to your Baltimore lead inspector if you think you may have lead in your home.