Real Estate - Jacksonville Florida

Where Florida Begins

Information Source for Buying & Selling Residential and Commercial Properties.

 

 
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Before you buy or sell an older home, you need to know what hazards may exist. If selling, federal law stipulates that you must disclose any lead paint in the home. If you're buying, you want to know what hazards may be lurking in the walls, as well as in the pipes, before you put up your earnest money. If you suspect that a house contains high levels of lead, you should contact a qualified professional to do an inspection. These tradesmen use a range of tools - from the well-trained eye to complex, specialized equipment - to detect lead levels and recommend appropriate solutions. The National Lead Information Center can help you find a resource.

Many solutions exist for cleaning up lead paint concentrations. Depending upon your situation, you may find one of these an adequate solution. Removing lead paint, for example, may be as much trouble as it is worth.

First, just the act of stripping the lead paint from the walls is likely to create dust and debris which is more likely to be ingested. Given these hazards, you should consult a certified contractor to complete this kind of work.

Short of removing the lead paint, you may be able to get by with covering the old, lead paint with a coat of sealant specifically designed for this purpose. Once again, a certified contractor will be able to recommend an appropriate solution. Financial assistance is even available in certain circumstances.

So even though a house may not carry a warning label from the EPA, a little common sense and a sharp eye should keep your family safe.

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