The attached picture shows an example of a lead test swab in action. The test swab is cracked, mixed and squeezed, then rubbed on to the proposed area. If the liquid or swab turns red, then lead has been detected.
Clean and presentable, you as an inspector should be. Be sure to look the part as a professional. Make sure you have a clean vehicle, clean tools and clean clothes. Homeowners that are allowing you into their homes want to feel comfortable.
It looks like there is some lead paint flaking off of this window frame. It’s important to have the paint tested for lead content, and then have it removed if lead is present. Lead paint is especially dangerous to children.
15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own
The tool that I found to be most interesting on the list was a plunger. That seems like a really useful tip. I purchased a home back in 2008 - 90-percent of the properties we visited were foreclosure properties - and a plunger would have been so useful in many of these places.
This house was built in 1969 and may possibly contain lead paint. However, the surface is fully encapsulated. I 1999, a connecting room was constructed which ties into the existing wall. The second wall was built AFTER lead paint was banned in 1978. Paint from one wall is not as much as a concern as paint from the connecting wall.
I learned the detailed affects that lead paint has on children and adults. Also included in the video was a description of the federal standards, testing methods and remediation procedures. I developed a new respect for the dangers and precautions.
The building is approximately 89 years old with mostly original wood windows present. Because the building is pre-1978 construction, all precautions should be in place for any renovation work following the EPA RRP Rule which may be found at https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program for further reference. The window and surrounding areas should be treated as if lead paint is present due to the age of the building.
The article entitled “15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own” is useful for first time owners and veterans alike. The tools included on the list are the basic items needed to maintain a home, but is not an extensive. Included on the list are items such as a plunger, combination wrench set, slip joint pliers, an adjustable wrench, caulk gun, flashlight, tape measure, hack saw, torpedo level, safety glasses, claw hammer, screwdriver set, wire cutters, a respirator, and duct tape. This minimum list should be enough to assist a homeowner with making minor repairs in the home.
In this photo, there was an attempt to paint over an old water leak. The roof was a 3 Tab shingle style roof. The life expectancy of the roof is about 20 years. This particular roof just turned 21 years old. I informed the client that the roof can maybe last an extra year, but repair/replacement was needed.
Polybutylene for Inspectors
by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard
PB piping was used between 1978 to mid 1990s. They were originally because of the low cost, flexibility, and resistance to freezing. After a while the pipes start rupturing, and causing property damage. Disinfectants were causing the piping material to deteriorate. Production was ceased in mid 1996. “Home inspectors are not required to note the presence of polybutylene, and no tests for weaknesses should be performed.” BUT it is recommended to inform the client that it is cheaper to replace the piping according to plumbers and InterNachi.
In completing home inspections in older homes the inspector should always be aware of the possible presence of lead based paints. Any peeling or flaking paint areas should be listed on the inspection report and recommended to be examined by a professional in the field.
In completing home inspections in older homes the inspector should always be aware of the possible presence of lead based paints. Any peeling or flaking paint areas should be listed on the inspection report and recommended to be examined by a professional in the field.
The coarse was very informative and well done by the presenter. It keep my interest and presented problems that I would not have expected. The understanding of the area to be protected was well pointed out as the interior and exterior at different.
This was a well presented informational presentation. I now understanding why lead is a concern to all. The affects that it has on adults and children and the out come of the of the results. Why there should be a concern to control the renovation process.
Lead can be found in both painted surfaces and even on ceramic tile. Recommend hiring a lead paint tester if desired to confirm the presence of lead based paints. Lead paint testing is beyond the scope of a home inspection.
Lead plumbing pipes were used for both supply and drainage lines in homes. Lead supply pipes were used up to about 1940 and drain pipes can still be found in many homes today. Lead supply pipes should be replaced by a qualified plumber if found.
The above home was constructed in 2003. Since lead paint was no longer sold after 1978, there should not be any chance of lead paint being present in this home. I would not recommend any further testing or concerns for this property.
he above home was constructed in 2003. Since lead paint was no longer sold after 1978, there should not be any chance of lead paint being present in this home. I would not recommend any further testing or concerns for this property.
This is an image of a window sill. A window sill painted with lead paint can be a crucial point at which a child can be exposed and contaminated by lead paint. It is here where children often use this ledge to pull themselves up and subsequently touch a surface that either has lead dust, cracking or peeling paint on it and that child at some point afterward puts their hands or fingers in their mouths. Window sills as well as other painted surfaces need to be tested to insure weather or not the existence of lead is present.
Lead is a poisonous metal that was once commonly used in the manufacture of paint for color, gasoline, and plumbing. Even though the consumer protection agency has banned the use of lead based paint in new home construction after 1978, homes built before this time may still have existing lead-based paint and plumbing in them which poses a significant health hazard, especially for children.
Those exposed to lead poisoning are often misdiagnosed especially since their symptoms tend to be similar to those of other conditions. Some symptoms of lead poisoning include irritability; poor muscle coordination; nerve damage; cognitive impairment; reproductive damage; coma; and death.