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Lead paint abatement

If your home or rental was built before 1978, there is a good chance lead paint sits somewhere under the newer layers. Roundhouse is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm with licensed lead abatement workers, and we help homeowners and landlords across the Miami Valley deal with it safely and for good.

The risk

Why homes built before 1978 have lead paint

Lead was banned from residential paint in 1978, but homes painted before then often still have it under newer coats. Lead paint in good condition, sealed under other paint, is usually stable. It becomes a hazard when it chips, peels or chalks, when it is sanded, scraped or torn out during a renovation, or when painted surfaces rub together, like a window sash sliding in its track or a door rubbing its jamb.

That dust is the real problem. Young children are most at risk because they put their hands in their mouths, and the CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Pregnant women are at risk too. That is why the rules for working on older homes are strict, and why the crew you hire should be certified to follow them.

Two kinds of work

Lead abatement and lead-safe renovation are different jobs

Lead-safe renovation

Any renovation, repair or painting on a pre-1978 home that disturbs painted surfaces, done under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. The goal is to do the work without spreading lead dust, using containment, careful work practices and a thorough cleanup. It applies to work like siding, windows, trim and fascia.

Lead abatement

Work designed to permanently eliminate lead paint hazards. It is done by licensed abatement workers, follows stricter procedures, and ends with clearance testing that confirms the area is safe before anyone moves back in.

Roundhouse does both. Our EPA firm certification covers lead-safe renovation on every older home we work on, and our licensed abatement workers handle projects meant to remove the hazard for good.

Methods

Lead abatement methods we use

Enclosure

Covering lead painted surfaces with a durable, sealed barrier, such as new siding over old painted siding or new drywall over painted walls, so the paint underneath can no longer chip or create dust.

Encapsulation

Applying a specially made coating that bonds over lead paint and seals it in. It works on surfaces that are in good shape and do not take wear, and it has to be kept intact to keep working.

Paint removal

Taking lead paint off a surface using methods allowed under lead-safe rules. Open flame burning and dry sanding without dust collection are off limits, because they put lead into the air.

Component replacement

Removing and replacing lead painted parts of the house entirely, like windows, doors and trim. Old windows are a common target, because the sashes grind painted surfaces into dust every time they open and close.

Who we help

Lead paint help for homeowners and landlords

Homeowners

  • You have young children or a baby on the way in a home built before 1978.
  • Paint is chipping or peeling on windows, porches, trim or siding.
  • You are planning a renovation that will open walls or replace windows.
  • You just bought an older home and want it handled before you move in.

Landlords

  • Federal rules require landlords of pre-1978 housing to disclose known lead paint to tenants and provide the EPA lead pamphlet.
  • Renovation or repair work in a pre-1978 rental that disturbs paint must be done by a certified firm.
  • Tenant turnover is a good time to deal with peeling paint and worn windows while the unit is empty.

Step by step

How a lead abatement project works

Step 1

Look and plan

We look at the problem areas and any lead test results you already have. If the home has not been tested, a licensed lead inspector or risk assessor can test it first, and we will explain how that works.

Step 2

Contain and work

The work area is sealed off with plastic sheeting, warning signs go up, and nobody but the crew goes in. Then the work is done using the method that fits each surface.

Step 3

Clean up and clear

The area is cleaned with HEPA vacuums and wet wiping, then clearance testing confirms the area is safe before the space is used again.

Pricing

What determines lead abatement cost

Size of the area

One room, one wall of a house, or a whole property.

Surfaces and components

Windows, doors, trim, porches and siding each take different work.

Method

Encapsulation usually costs least up front, and replacement and removal cost more but last longer.

Containment and access

Exterior work at height and interior work in finished rooms both add setup time.

Occupancy

Whether people live in the home during the work changes how the project is staged.

Questions

Lead paint FAQs

How do I know if my house has lead paint?
If it was built before 1978, assume it might. The reliable answer comes from testing by a licensed lead inspector or risk assessor. EPA recognized home test kits exist for a quick check of a single surface, but they do not replace a professional inspection.
Can I just paint over lead paint?
Regular paint over lead paint that is chipping or peeling does not fix the hazard, because the old paint keeps failing underneath. Encapsulants are special coatings made for this job, and they only work on surfaces that are sound and do not take wear.
Do we have to move out during abatement?
It depends on the size of the project and where the work is. Exterior work and work in closed off rooms often lets the family stay. We plan the job with you so you know ahead of time what to expect.
Is encapsulation permanent?
It lasts as long as the coating stays intact, so it needs to be checked and maintained. Enclosure, removal and component replacement are the longer term options.
Do you work on rental properties?
Yes. We work with landlords on single family rentals and multi unit buildings, including lead-safe repairs between tenants.

Where we work

Lead paint abatement across the Miami Valley

A lot of the housing in Kettering, Fairborn, Xenia and the older neighborhoods of Dayton was built before 1978. We handle lead abatement and lead-safe renovation for homeowners and landlords throughout the Miami Valley, including Beavercreek, Bellbrook, Centerville and Springboro.

Talk to us about lead paint

Tell us what is going on and what town you are in. We will come out, take a look, and give you a real number.

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Rather talk now? Call (937) 245-1101.