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Protecting your Home from Lead Exposure

Did you now that a new EPA law requires remodelers to be certified to work in pre-1978 homes? Or, that the “Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defined lead poisoning as the No. 1 environmental threat to the health of children in this country”–in 1991? KCMARCH

The March/April 2010 issue of Kansas City Homes & Gardens explores this serious topic and outlines what our Kansas City chapter of National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is doing about it in its “Green Living” section.

Says Jan Burchett, executive director of Kansas City’s NARI chapter in KCH&G: “We’re working hard to let consumers know that this pivotal law is going into effect. If someone who lives in one of the date-targeted homes is hiring a remodeler, they need to know that person has to have completed an eight-hour Certified Lead Renovator Training with an accredited trainer.”

So, what as homeowners, do you need to know? According to Burchett, “certified contractors/remodelers are obligated to prove their valid certification by displaying their official lead-based paint license, certificate or training certificate to a homeowner. Don’t be afraid to ask prospective remodelers to describe what they’ll do to practice lead safety, and if you’re having your home tested to determine the existence of lead, have them specify what the final lead inspection entails.”

Check out Protecting Your Family from Lead Exposure to learn more, or pick up a copy of the March/April issue.