Lead Paint Inspections - LodeStar Inspection Services

Lead Paint

Many people are surprised to learn that lead-based paint is safe – as long as it is not defective – chipping, peeling, or flaking. When lead paint is damaged or deteriorating in any way, it creates lead dust. And it’s from the lead dust that children develop elevated blood lead levels. They can also get it from eating paint chips and playing in contaminated soil. If you are preparing to buy a home built before 1978, investing in a lead-based paint inspection can provide peace of mind.

We perform a lead based paint test by using an XRF gun (x-ray fluorescence) to take between 100 and 200 readings on the interior and exterior of the house to determine where there is lead based paint. We also identify any defective lead paint, which would be a lead-based paint hazard. We’ll walk you through what we’ve found at the end of the inspection and email the report over to you later that evening.

Most XRF (x-ray fluorescence) inspections are $320 or $370.

For more information about lead based paint inspections for rental properties, go to our sister company’s website, LeadProbe.

Remember that lead poisoning comes from the ingestion of lead-based paint dust. The paint itself, as long as it is not cracking, peeling, chipping, or damaged is not inherently dangerous.

We’ve found that most houses built in the 1940’s or earlier have high incidences of lead based paint and that houses built closer to the time of the 1978 lead based paint restriction implementation, are less likely to have lead based paint.

Who doesn’t need lead based paint inspection? You don’t need a lead-based paint inspection if you are not pregnant or going to be pregnant. You also don’t need it if you are not going to have any children under the age of 6 in the home regularly. It’s when children’s bones are developing at their fastest rate that they absorb lead into their bones.

Who might benefit from a lead based paint inspection? If you have kids under six or if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant while living in this home. If the home was built before 1978, and if you are planning to rent the house out in the future. If you are going to use it as a rental property at some point, it will need to have a lead paint certificate to satisfy the state requirements, and we can educate you about what that entails.

If you are concerned about your health or the health of your children, have blood levels tested and have your home inspected to evaluate the hazard level of the home.