Hello all,
Don’t see anything current on the topic, or I missed it.
I was a contractor in Oregon for ten years before moving to Hawaii. I was a licensed contractor with a Lead-based paint renovation license. So was think about becoming certified again.
Does anyone inspecting home offer to test for lead-based paint on there inspection ?
Pros Cons ?
Only asking because I have had a few requests.
Thank you
They should have taught you in the lead safe renovator course that the certificate that you obtain from it does not qualify you to test for lead-based paint. It teaches you how to protect and clean the area before and after renovation.
I really think this one is location dependent.
Where I inspect, nearly every home is built after 1992 and the vast majority of those were built after 2004. I have had just a few that were old enough to potentially have lead based paint. It would make no sense to me to offer that kind of service.
Where I used to live in NJ, every home was at least 50 years old with few exceptions. Were I to be an inspector there, I would want to offer the testing and I’m quite sure I would commonly run into it and call for further eval on a regular basis.
If you’re getting calls for it and the regulatory hurdle/cost isn’t that great, go for it. Cost vs Reward. If it’s going to cost you a lot of hours and a few thousand in costs, it may be a marketing tool rather than a pure dollar benefit, at least in the short term.
It is an additional liability pool and well beyond SOP.
It looks like you’re in Hawaii, so here is the link to your state lead paint program office: Indoor and Radiological Health Branch | Lead-Based Paint Program You would need to get a lead inspector certification from the state.
Like what Mark was saying, it is heavily location dependent. I love in Ohio and just recently got my Risk Assessor license, which allows me to do LBP inspections, risk assessments and lead clearances. The biggest factor for getting work is if there a grants available for people to take advantage of. Because if there aren’t grants, people aren’t able to afford the work to deal with a lead problem. If there are grants, at least in Ohio, there is a ton of work because there’s not enough inspectors and contractors available for the work. Also, specifically for LBP inspections, chip sampling is not the primary form of inspection unless there is a problem area, most inspections are completed with a XRF gun, and to buy, on the cheap end are like $20000. I rent mine when an inspection is needed, and that cost $300 a day to rent. But figuring if grant money is coming in is a big thing to determine if work is going to be available.
Most of the lead inspectors in MD are contractors. They need to assess and provide the proper abatement for remodeling jobs on older buildings. As an HI I would need a separate lead license and probably separate (or more) insurance. After taking the course and test I decided not to go there. Better give the local market a good evaluation before you jump through that hoop.
Same as Ohio. I have to hold insurance specifically for the lead work and also I hold a different license as well.ibwould think that is normal across the states.
Thank you so much for all of the great info.
Although the insurance would only increase by $70./yr , Think that I’m going to steer clear of assessment and testing here in Hawaii. Would have to start from ground zero with taking classes for RRP and then another risk assessment class.
Do you add a comment in your report regarding the possibility of lead based paint on home built before 1978 ? Further evaluation required ? Or just state that its a possibility and you may wish to further investigate ? Or ?
Thanks
Thanks Austin, great info.
Glad to help when I can. When doing just a normal GHI with no lead services are asked for. I add this disclaimer to every house built on or before 1978
Thanks again Austin, looks good thats what Im looking for.
