Jeremy Kriebel

Hey Guys,

I have a customer who just got a lead test in there house done.they asked if that is something i do...Never got asked that before..I guess there trim and doors and somethings outside tested positve for unsafe levels of lead.Can anyone help with advice on what to do to remove, and if there are any guidelines or cetificastions that are needed.I dont really know anything about it.Of course any advice will help and be appreciated.

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" Hard Work Willy"

WarnerConstInc.

are you pulling trim and doors down and replacing? or sanding and refinishing?

XanadooLTD

I live in Ohio and i attend the same refresher classes that Lead Abatement Contractors from PA attend. So i know that there is a State issued license. It is expensive and it is something that takes several months to complete all required steps. If the home was tested by a Lead Based Paint risk accessor the test results will be filed with the State. The house will then have to have either an abatement which is removal of lead hazards or you can stabilize, which is basically painting and cleaning. But this must be completed by a licensed contractor. Once the work is completed a dust wipe sample will be taken. The dust wipes will be tested. You are allowed 40micrograms on the floor, 250 micrograms on sill, and 400micrograms of lead on the well/sill If they pass congratulations the government will leave you alone. If they fail, the property will need to be cleaned again and retested. The tests in Ohio can run you as much as $500 every test. Again though this must be done by a Licensed Lead Abatement Contractor. Tests must be completed by a licensed inspector. Be careful and call in a licensed person.

XanadooLTD

In PA visit http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/he...a=179&q=201197

plazaman

personally, if its something you never done, i would leave it. If its something you want to get into, then get certified. There big $$ in this business. Also a high risk and high insurance. Everything comes with a price.

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www.perfectocorp.com

Jeremy Kriebel

Hey guys,

See the thing is, this particular customer i gave a kitchen and bathroom remodel estimate to.We have been going back and forth now for a cvouple of weeks.Today he emails me with this lead result from his house.There are un safe levels of lead.I never really thought about it when i do remodels, the trim and etc. just comes out, or painted.I can easily come in and remove all trim and doors and replace with new, but i didnt know if nthere were speciall requirements. I might just say we dont get into lead removal, but i want the knitchen and bathroom job....

While im on some subjects:

i have another question..
I am also bidding a basement finishing.This guy wants everything,Bathroom, Wet bar with two tier bare and sink, Home theatre with stained arched columns, Zodiaq countertops, Bilco entrance, So my thing is coming up with a square footage price for the basic basement layout, and then figuring all the perks or extras...This is my second year out on my own, things are well, sending out lots of estimates...but i am still caught up on the estimating side..Afraid to cover my butt...One wrong calculation and im done. Anything for me guys..You all have been so helpful

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" Hard Work Willy"

WarnerConstInc.

I sanded all my trim in my house with my festool hepa dust extractor and rotex sander wide flat ash with 12 degree bevel not one ounce of dust went into the air I could really care less if I breathe it in cause how are you supposed to wear a dust mask and smoke a cig at the same time BUT I have a 2 year old daughter and I thought I might be smart and use the vac and sander just for her sake You know what kind of $$$ you need to make so charge for it make what you need to make for the level and quality work you can produce

XanadooLTD

As far as the lead thing. If the state has been involved you have a problem. If this was some kind of home test. You can HEPA vac the lead hazards. You need to get a P-100 Hepa filter half mask for yourself so that you don't breathe the dust into your lungs. There are reports of lung cancer from lead dust inhilation. You should also spray all affected areas with water so that the dust is not light and blowing all throughout house, etc. Keep it clean. As far as bidding. If you are just starting out you need to bid high enough to cover anything that could go wrong and it will go wrong. Most of us go belly up within our first few years of business by bidding to low on that one job and paying for it. Make sure that you are making a profit. You are in business and the point of being in business is to make money. Ill see if i can find a post from a past thread and send it to you. It is a great piece.

XanadooLTD

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...brian+phillips

Read this post about estimating and making a profit. It is one of the best i have seen.

regal

....run....to much liability...use lead safe practices when you remodel, plastic on the floor, zip wall the area, etc. Its not the lead chips the kids are ingesting its the invisible dust left on surfaces that kids touch and then put there hands in their mouths. Dont vac up with a shop vac, you can contaminate the whole house.

mjay

This is one to steer clear of if you are not qualified. Not only your health, but the customers. Lead will make them ill very quickly, and you will be sued for your Grandma's teeth.
Either pass it along or get certified.

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www.blueskiesrestorations.com


There's some top class people on this forum,........and then there's me...Touching cloth.

Paragon

I am certified in work safe practices in North Dakota and once you become certified it is a real eye opener the miniscule amount of lead that can do a great deal of harm not only to your client but to your company.

To put the 40 Micrograms floor threshold into prospective for you and what they do when they perform a wipe test. This is the eye opening part and if you do not know how to acheive this threshold sub it out to someone who does.

When they come in to do a wipe test they will tape off a one foot area in the affected area. It can be anywhere in the affected area so that is why it is always best to contain your work that contains the lead. Then they wipe ( there are a couple different wipe patterns they perform depending upon the state and the testing company) The testing company can also contaminate the wipe sample if you do not know what to watch for with the testing company so again this is where knowledge is power. So when they test the wipe sample if it is over 40 micrograms you fail the test. OKAY so now you ask, "how much is 40 mg?" Take a granule of sugar and split it 8 times and one eigth is approximatly 40 micrograms not a lot of leeway over a square foot area. There are other details but I will leave the "lesson" at that.

They will test not only the affected area but will also test your path of egress. They will test rugs carpets or anything else to ensure the clearance test is accurate and you have properly cleaned the area. They aren't there to fail you they are there to ensure you are not putting the general public in harms way.

I could go on and on and on about how to get er done but I think in your case it would be best to simply sub it out. That way you get the best of both worlds you get the work you want and you get the lead contained or removed in the proper manner.

I would steer clear of the areas that are affected with lead and pass it off to someone who is certified in lead worksafe practices.