The harmful effects of lead exposure have become widespread knowledge in recent years. Exposure to lead can be detrimental to the physical and mental development of young children. Lead exposure can also cause physical illness in adults.
Homeowners often worry about lead paint in their homes leading to lead exposure problems. A lead inspection can help you identify where lead paint exists and can give you clear directions on minimizing your family's risk of exposure.
The more you know about lead paint in your home, the better equipped you will be to mitigate any risks associated with lead exposure.
Exposure Risk Is Higher in Older Homes
The age of your home factors into the potential for lead exposure caused by lead-based paints. The government banned the use of lead paints for residential construction in 1978. This means that homes constructed after 1978 should not contain any lead-based paint surfaces.
If your home was constructed prior to 1978, there is a high probability that lead paint can be found somewhere in your house. An inspector will be able to determine which surfaces are coated with lead paint and offer helpful suggestions for managing these surfaces in the future.
Only Damaged Paint Is Dangerous
Many homeowners think that the mere presence of lead paint makes their homes unsafe. This isn't necessarily true. The only time lead paint poses a safety risk is when the paint becomes damaged or disturbed.
The chips, flakes, and dust that are created when lead paint is disturbed are what can cause serious health issues for your family.
A lead inspector can evaluate the integrity of any lead surfaces in your home. If the lead paint appears to be in good condition and isn't likely to become damaged or disturbed in the future, you can safely live with the lead paint still in your home.
High-Traffic Areas Pose a Higher Risk
There are certain features within your home that pose a higher risk of lead exposure.
Lead paint was often used to coat stairs, banisters, window sills and frames, and porches. Since these are considered high-traffic areas, the risk of any lead paint coating these surfaces sustaining damage is high.
You can work with a lead inspector to help you identify which painted features in your home could lead to lead exposure in the future.
Lead inspections are valuable tools that can help you identify lead paint in your home and assess the level of risk this point poses for your family in the future.
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