New Oregon Lead Paint Laws: What They Mean For You

If you are considering a new exterior paint job for your home

, there are some new factors to consider. Oregon now has new regulations concerning lead based paint, meaning changes for both home owners and painting contractors. What effects does it have when you are considering a re-paint for your home? First let's look at what all the fuss is about:

Many of us already know that homes and buildings built before 1980 can have lead paint issues. Lead poisoning is a significant health concern because lead is a potent neurotoxin that affects every system of the human body. It is harmful to individuals of all ages and is especially harmful to children, fetuses and women of childbearing age. So when you are thinking about painting, whether it interior painting or exterior painting, check out whether or not your contractors have the proper licensing and experience.

In Oregon, contractors now have to obtain the "Certified Lead-Based Paint Renovation (LBPR) Contractors License if they work on homes or buildings constructed before 1980. While the license can be obtained for a nominal fee of $50, the added expenses for the consumer comes with what the contractors have to do throughout the course of a project to comply with the law. What are people saying about the laws regarding lead based paint?

Many people believe that this is just a new revenue stream for the government. I don't know everything about Government spending, but I don't think that there is a whole heck of a lot they can do with $50. Others believe whole heartedly that lead is harmful.

So what does this mean for customers? If you have an older home (1978 and prior), your painting contractors that have obtained their LBPR certification will be required to clean up more efficiently, which translates into more time at your home (billable hours).

Interior painting now requires things like sealing off air ducts while performing work that disturbs lead based materials will add time to the job, but even just to avoid dust I would want my ducts sealed during any construction project anyway.

Painters are also required to wear respirators and "Bunny Suits". While accustomed to not wearing these items, wearing them will not allow them to work as efficiently as they have in the past.

Painting contractors in Oregon are not all happy about these new regulations, but there will arise from this one more delineator between the fly-by-night contractors out there and the respectable contractors that are going to be around long term to help you perform the painting renovation and restoration work that you need.

So the bottom line is a price increase to customers due to additional labor, a cleaner safer home for you and your loved ones and a healthier non toxic generation of painters.

For more information on the laws your painting contractors are required to follow, go to: www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/leadpaint/cert.shtml

New Oregon Lead Paint Laws: What They Mean For You

By: Scott Madara

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