EPA Ruling Against Lead Paint

Lead Paint Rule Opt-Out Revoked

On April 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced release of an amendment to the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule that removes the opt-out provision for pre-1978 homes without pregnant women or children under age six in residence.
The amendment also instructs contractors to provide a copy of the records required under the rule to be shared with home owners within 30 days of completing the remodeling work.
The amendment goes into force 60 days from its publication in the Federal Register, which has not yet occurred. NAHB expects publication in the Federal Register sometime in the next few weeks, so the estimated effective date to remove the opt-out is the beginning of July. Once the exact date is determined, NAHB will update its members.
Nevertheless, all provisions of the Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule went into effect on April 22, which requires remodelers and other contractors disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes attend the required training and submit firm certification. The rule also dictates lead-safe work practices, pre-renovation consumer education, and record keeping practices.
The amendment to the rule goes into effect in July 2010 and:

• Removes the opt-out provision. Under the current rule, owner-occupied pre-1978 housing units (i.e., not inclusive of rental properties) where no pregnant women nor children under age six, nor a property qualifying as a "child occupied facility" (such as a day care facility) could sign a waiver. The remodelers must keep a record of the waiver for three years, which waives the implementation of the work practices dictated by the rule. The new amendment to the regulation that goes into effect in July revokes the opt-out completely. All work in pre-1978 must then follow all work practices dictated by the regulation as of the effective date in July.

• Requires remodelers to share rule compliance records with customers. Remodelers will have to share a copy of the compliance records required for remodelers under the regulation (such as the checklist of followed practices) with home owners within 30 days of completion of the work.

The EPA has also given advanced notice of additional plans to change the lead rule as a direct result of a voluntary legal settlement with several environmental groups that challenged the original regulation. Specifically, rule makings will be conducted to

• Require abatement-style dust wipe testing and share results with home occupants and owners. This rule change will apply to certain remodeling activities and require the contractor to achieve the EPA's strict numerical limits for lead dust levels on window sills, window troughs, and floors. The EPA's numerical lead dust standards are the same as those dictated to lead-based paint abatement firms for achieving "clearance" under EPA's abatement rules. Depending on the outcome of this upcoming amendment, remodelers and other contractors may also be subject to additional regulatory restrictions at the state and local level triggered by the knowledge of disturbing lead-based paint. After this proposal is published, it will be out for a 60 day comment period with the goal of completing and finalizing this rule change in July 2011.

• Apply the lead rule to public and commercial buildings. The EPA plans to amend the rule to expand its scope over both public and commercial buildings. NAHB will follow this development but expects the proposal to come out after the clearance testing amendment.

For more information, visit www.nahb.org/leadpaint

From: NAHB National Association of Home Builders

FAQ's - The Process

Completing your remodel project is a relatively simple process with Incredible Renovations. Most remodel plans begin with requesting bids from 2 - 3 different contractors - which requires a visit to your home. At the initial visit our structural engineer and project manager review your ideas for your space and take pictures and measurements at your home. We then create a few different design and budget options for you to review at our office, via a 3D virtual walk through. You then leave with the project estimate and proposal in hand for you to review. Here are a few questions you may ask before selecting your contractor:
Are you licensed and Insured?Yes. Incredible Renovations is licensed with the state of Texas and carries Liability insurance.
Does the remodeling contractor offer warranty on all workmanship? Yes. We offer 1 year warranty on all work, 2 year warranty on major equipment and systems and 10 years on structural.
Will the contractor provide a contract that clearly states what they will do, how much it will cost and a completion date? Yes, Incredible Renovations is one of only a handful of remodelers that guarantees in writing a scheduled completion date or we pay fines for everyday we are late in completing your project.
Do I need to pay any money in advance to begin my remodeling project? Yes. Depending on the size and nature of the project; we typically require 15-25% of the total project to be paid at the signing of the contract. Why? This money is used to mobilize, purchase materials and schedule the trade partners. The balance due is normally staged based on construction progress.
Are permits really necessary for my project? In most cases Yes. Normally permits means a third party is reviewing the plans and inspecting the work and that will provide you piece of mind that your project is being performed safely and up to proper codes.
Who pays for all permits required for a remodeling project? The cost of the permits in included in the contract price. Therefore Incredible Renovations pays for the permits related to the job.
What can cause delays in my project? Unfortunately, delays can happen. Delays are normally caused by special ordered items or items not in stock. Also, changes of the original design and change orders by the home owner can cause delays.
Does the remodeler require that changes be in writing to eliminate misunderstanding and unexpected cost? Yes, this would eliminate surprises at the end of your project and allow you to make sound financial decisions. For example, upgrades or major changes along the way.
Will I be able to select the actual products for my project? Yes. You will select all specialty products like doors, hardware, trim, windows, siding, plumbing and electrical fixtures, flooring and paint colors with our guidance. These are normally chosen to closely match the existing items in your home or specific design tastes.
Can we stay in our home during the remodeling process? Yes. Most of our customers stay at home during a remodeling process. We try not to disturb your family and your normal day to day activities.
Please email your questions to: Paulina@IncredibleRenovations.com

I Didn't Know!

How do you simplify a complicated process like a kitchen or bathroom renovation? It's simple. Use Incredible Renovations. We are a one stop shop, custom design, build, and remodeling company. "One stop shop" may mean different things to different firms, but to us, it means taking the stress away from the home owner. On a recent visit to a home, our project manager realized just how important that was. Mary is interested in re-doing her kitchen and has been all over the city getting quotes for blueprints, design plans, material, etcetera, etcetera etcetera. Little did she know, that one call to Incredible Renovations would have saved her a tank full of gas and a lot of headache. "We do everything in house," Chris told her. "That means helping you with your design plans, building the blueprints, making revisions, and even getting permits." Incredible Renovations is the only remodeling company in Texas with a board certified structural engineer, architectural designer, and interior decorator on staff. So that means all of your estimates and plans are done in house. We gather the information that is needed to make your renovation dreams a reality. At our initial meeting with sit down with you to figure out what your vision is for your home - kitchen, office, bathroom, addition - whatever you need. We take pictures and measurements and bring everything back to our office where we begin working on your design planss. Within a few days we invite you into our office where you are presented with the design and budget options. This includes going through a 3D walk through of your home and the finished product. You get to select materialss, backsplash and flooring choices - even paint colors - and this is all done to give you a free estimate. Mary realized that running all over Houston just wasn't necessary with Incredible Renovations. We've been in the remodel/build business for over 30 years and we can handle your project professionally and entirely.