lead paint

**Doug T** · 10-30-2009, 01:46 PM

I'm bidding a commercial building with peeling paint. Can anyone refresh me on the lead paint "rules". IIRC any building before 1971 needs to be tested before working on, but I'm not sure. Anyone?

**plainpainter** · 10-30-2009, 01:57 PM

Are you going to paint it - or wash it? If you are knocking off paint - then there are mesh tarps which allow water to pass and be able to collect all the peeling chips. But for the most part the prior to '77 rule is way overblown. Century old homes have lead paint and not much else. And talking to a paint store owner - in his 30 plus years of ownership, he knows of only 3 cases where a fuss was made. Lead paint laws are not enforced, I routinely see most guys grinding away at lead homes all summer long. The only time it is enforced is if some nosy neighbor calls it in. Heck I've seen a crew grind the side of a century old home on the corner of two major routes right in the downtown - and there was literally a dust 'storm' of this lead dust that was blowing right through the intersection at high noon. And nobody ever made a fuss.

**Big Mike** · 10-30-2009, 04:18 PM

Doug,
Make the building owner have some of the paint chips tested for lead by a certified company, and get a copy of the report. We did a LARGE project last summer that the enviro-cops shut us down on because someone "thought" it was lead based paint. Have the report on-site while performing the work.

**Doug T** · 10-30-2009, 05:38 PM

Thanks for the help, I'm just going to P/W the place.

Dan those mesh tarps available at paint stores? or big box?

**plainpainter** · 10-30-2009, 06:17 PM

They are available somewhere online - when I come across them, I'll toss you the link.

**DesertZoe** · 02-14-2010, 11:47 PM

I am surprised there is not much talk of the EPA Lead RRP Rule taking effect April 22, 2010. There is a lot of controversy on other forums as to the rules applying to the pressurewashing of pre 1978 homes.
You will have to be certified to work on them.
Do you guys reclaim and filter the water?

**terryfish1968** · 05-09-2011, 08:28 AM

I dont do painted anything here in IL the fines start at $25000 & go up ... No one wants to pay the extra cost ...

**A-OK Pressure Wasing** · 05-16-2011, 05:22 PM

Doesn't matter if it's painted or not. If it is pre 1978 you have to treat it like it has lead paint. You don't know if there is lead paint under the siding.