One quick search for painting contractors on the internet or in a phone book will quickly overwhelm you in a rushing tide of names and numbers. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for in a residential painter, and how to filter your choices down to the few best options. Some painting contractors have this Lead-Safe badge from the EPA – is this something you should be looking for?
How Do I Know if my Home Has Lead Paint?
Unfortunately, lead paint was the standard residential paint for a number of years in the United States. If your home was built prior to 1979, there is a good chance it has lead paint on the walls. Especially in homes built before 1960, the likelihood of lead paint is very high. Often, the lead paint is now buried beneath several newer layers of paint that have been added since.
What Are the Risks of Lead Paint?
Lead dust from old paint can be released if the old paint layer is disturbed. This could happen because of the scraping and sanding typically associated with remodeling or repainting. This lead dust settles on objects all over the house. The highest risk is to children under 6 years old, who are always touching everything and putting their hands in their mouths. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage of various kinds, and also produce high blood pressure, hearing problems, muscle and joint pain and other serious problems.
How Can a Lead-Safe Painting Contractor Help?
In order to earn Lead-Safe certification from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), a painting contractor must complete rigorous training. This training covers the risks and dangers of lead, as well as the protective equipment and safety procedures that are needed in order to deal with lead paint safely. A Lead-Safe painting contractor will ensure that all of your redecorating is completed in a way that keeps your family completely protected from lead exposure.
Los Angeles Area Lead-Safe Painting Contractor
Based in Valencia, California, ALLBRiGHT 1-800-PAINTING has earned and maintained Lead-Safe Certification. It is important to us to keep our staff and painters educated and prepared in all of the best painting practices, including chemical safety and other residential painting issues. If you have any questions about house painting, or about lead paint safety, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to serve our Los Angeles community in any way we can.