Friday, May 27, 2011

Charlotte Lead Paint Testing Company Offers $350 Basic Lead Paint Test!

Charlotte lead paint testing company Get The Lead Out. Charlotte lead-based paint testing company Get The Lead Out® has been offering Charlotte residents, apartment communities, businesses, real estate agents, and government agencies professional lead-paint testing services since 1993.

A basic, professional lead-based paint inspection with Get The Lead Out® starts at $350 for a home under 2,000 total square feet.  Our $350 basic lead paint test includes professional testing with one of our licensed, experienced Lead Assessors, along with a Lead Paint Inspection from Charlotte's Get The Lead Out.comprehensive inspection report that will contain the lead-based paint findings from your home presented in language that you can understand.  Our testing protocol will uncover any lead paint found in your house.

Lead-based paint has become one of our country’s most highly-regulated environmental issues. Because of its widespread use, lead-based paint may be  found in residential, public, commercial, and industrial structures. Get The Lead Out®, one of the pioneering companies in the field of lead paint testing, is known throughout the country for our expertise.

Charlotte lead-based paint testing from Get The Lead Out. Around the Greater Charlotte area, we have inspected thousands of homes and buildings for lead paint.  Our area has beautiful, historic, older neighborhoods like Myers Park, Fourth Ward, Elizabeth, Dilworth, Southend and Noda, just to name a few.  So many of these homes were painted years ago using lead-based paint.  We’ve inspected so many of these homes.

To learn more and schedule your $350 basic lead paint test for a home under 2,000 square feet, call Get The Lead Out® at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz.  If you have a larger home, we can give you a cost estimate for a lead paint test as well.  The $350 basic lead-based paint test is an affordable measure to take to give you peace of mind that your home is safe and free of lead paint toxicity and harm.  Get The Lead Out® can give you that comfortable peace of mind!  We look forward to meeting with and working with you at your home.



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Thursday, May 19, 2011

What is in a Charlotte Lead-based Paint Inspection Report?

Lead paint inspection report_Page_01 Get The Lead Out™  is the leading Charlotte lead-based paint inspection, testing and abatement company serving residential, commercial and government agency customers.  Our biggest questions are, “What is contained inside my lead-based paint inspection report,” and, “How much does a typical lead paint inspection cost?”

Our Get The Lead Out™ basic lead-based paint inspection report is a comprehensive, professional report compiled by our trained, experienced and licensed Lead Assessors and Lead Risk Assessors.  A typical basic report contains as much as 40+ pages of information about the testing “shots” and positive results “shots” that were taken in your home or building.

The goal of each lead test and inspection is to determine whether your home or building contains any traces or amounts of dangerous lead paint.  Our inspection reports detail our findings, including showing you the locations, supported by actual photos and testing results, where lead was documented in your home or building.

Niton_Testing_GunGet The Lead Out™ lead inspectors and assessors use handheld Thermo Scientific* Niton XLp 300 Series analyzers.  These sensitive pieces of scientific, electronic tools set the industry standard with unparalleled performance for residential lead paint inspection.  Our testing guns average close to $17,000 each and they quickly identify and quantify lead in virtually all sample types: paint, consumer goods, soil, sediment, dust, air, and more.  It’s the training, knowledge and experience of our lead assessors that compile, analyze and present the findings in a manner that includes risks and solutions.

A Get The Lead Outlead-based paint inspection report contains a detailed description of your property, a reference drawing, untested components of your property, a discussion of results, conclusions, our testing procedure, a description of the testing equipment, an explanation of our sample numbering, and data on our quality control process.

Lead paint inspection report_Page_05 Here is a sample statement from a recent lead-based paint inspection report for a residence:

Get the Lead Out™ determined that there is intact positive (=/ >1.0 mg/cm2) lead-based paint on the property.

A copy of the summary found in Section 3 must be provided to new purchasers and tenants of this property under Federal law (24 CFR part 35 and 40 CFR part 745) before they become obligated under a sales contract or lease. The complete report must also be provided to new purchasers and it must be made available to new tenants.

How much does a basic lead-based paint inspection cost from Get The Lead Out™?  A basic, professional lead-based paint inspection starts at $350 for a home under 2,000 total square feet.  Our testing protocol will uncover any lead found in your house.

For more information about lead-based paint testing and to schedule your test, please call Get The Lead Out™ at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Charlotte Realtor Update - Lead Paint Laws for Home Sellers & Buyers!

Lead paint in homes and the resulting environmental and personal health hazards have been in the news for home buyers and lead_paint1 sellers. In the Charlotte area, we have many homes built PRIOR to 1978. These are the homes that benefit from lead paint inspections before being listed for selling or being purchased by a new homeowner.

Why would a seller have their home inspected for lead paint?

If their home was built prior to 1978, it is recommended that the seller have a professional lead paint inspection.  Home buyers will want to know if the house contains lead paint.  Pre-1978 homes trend toward larger remodeling and renovation projects when they are sold.  These projects can generate lead dust and soil contamination that are dangerous for children and other occupants.  Lead paint disclosure is now more important than ever!

The New EPA Renovate, Remodel & Paint (RRP) Rule of 2010 

New EPA rules govern the treatment of lead paint found in homes.
The EPA issued a rule meant to reduce the generation of lead dust and lead soil hazards during home construction projects conducted by contractors.  Since April 22, 2010, the EPA has required all contractors performing renovation, repair, and painting projects in homes built before 1978 to determine if they will be disturbing any lead-based paint.  If lead paint is present, the contractor must be certified and follow specific lead safe work practices to prevent lead contamination of the home environment.

Why would a home buyer want to know if a house has lead paint? 

Keep our children safe from poisonous lead paint in older homes.

Home buyers should ask about the presence of lead paint in any pre-1978 home that they are considering buying.  If renovation, remodeling, and painting would disturb lead paint, they would need to hire a contractor trained and certified to follow lead-safe practices.  Even if buyers are not planning to do any remodeling, they should still be concerned about the presence of lead paint in their house.  Children can ingest lead from paint chips and normal household dust, causing damage to their brains and nervous systems.  Knowing where lead paint is located can allow the homeowner to protect their family by stabilizing it.

This update was sent to you to help you understand more about possible lead paint contamination in Charlotte properties that you might either help sell or help somebody buy.

If you would like to learn more about lead paint inspections or the EPA rulings on lead paint in remodeling, please contact Pete Hubicki at Get The Lead Out.  We are available to provide “Question & Answer” or educational seminars for small or large groups on the issues of lead paint, lead paint dangers, lead paint in remodeling, and lead paint health concerns for small children.

Contact
:  Pete Hubicki, Principal Scientist, Get The Lead Out, 704-376-3594 or peteh@gettheheadout.biz.  Thank you for helping to educate home buyers and sellers about the safety and dangers of lead paint!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Charlotte Realtor Update - Lead Paint Laws for Home Sellers & Buyers!

Lead paint in homes and the resulting environmental and personal health hazards have been in the news for home buyers and lead_paint1 sellers. In the Charlotte area, we have many homes built PRIOR to 1978. These are the homes that benefit from lead paint inspections before being listed for selling or being purchased by a new homeowner.

Why would a seller have their home inspected for lead paint?

If their home was built prior to 1978, it is recommended that the seller have a professional lead paint inspection.  Home buyers will want to know if the house contains lead paint.  Pre-1978 homes trend toward larger remodeling and renovation projects when they are sold.  These projects can generate lead dust and soil contamination that are dangerous for children and other occupants.  Lead paint disclosure is now more important than ever!

The New EPA Renovate, Remodel & Paint (RRP) Rule of 2010 

New EPA rules govern the treatment of lead paint found in homes.
The EPA issued a rule meant to reduce the generation of lead dust and lead soil hazards during home construction projects conducted by contractors.  Since April 22, 2010, the EPA has required all contractors performing renovation, repair, and painting projects in homes built before 1978 to determine if they will be disturbing any lead-based paint.  If lead paint is present, the contractor must be certified and follow specific lead safe work practices to prevent lead contamination of the home environment.

Why would a home buyer want to know if a house has lead paint? 

Keep our children safe from poisonous lead paint in older homes.

Home buyers should ask about the presence of lead paint in any pre-1978 home that they are considering buying.  If renovation, remodeling, and painting would disturb lead paint, they would need to hire a contractor trained and certified to follow lead-safe practices.  Even if buyers are not planning to do any remodeling, they should still be concerned about the presence of lead paint in their house.  Children can ingest lead from paint chips and normal household dust, causing damage to their brains and nervous systems.  Knowing where lead paint is located can allow the homeowner to protect their family by stabilizing it.

This update was sent to you to help you understand more about possible lead paint contamination in Charlotte properties that you might either help sell or help somebody buy.

If you would like to learn more about lead paint inspections or the EPA rulings on lead paint in remodeling, please contact Pete Hubicki at Get The Lead Out.  We are available to provide “Question & Answer” or educational seminars for small or large groups on the issues of lead paint, lead paint dangers, lead paint in remodeling, and lead paint health concerns for small children.

Contact
:  Pete Hubicki, Principal Scientist, Get The Lead Out, 704-376-3594 or peteh@gettheheadout.biz.  Thank you for helping to educate home buyers and sellers about the safety and dangers of lead paint!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Charlotte Realtors and Charlotte Real Estate Agents Want You to Know More About Lead Paint Testing and the Lead Paint Disclosure Laws!

Get The Lead Out is the leading lead-based paint testing and removal company in Charlotte.  We work closely with individual GTLO Twitter Logo homeowners, apartment communities, government housing agencies, individual Charlotte realtors and Charlotte real estate agents to help educate homeowners and renters about lead-based paint and lead paint disclosure laws.

Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, also known as Title X, to protect families from exposure to lead from paint, dust, and soil. Section 1018 of this law directed HUD and EPA to require the disclosure of known information on lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978.

Why is this important in Charlotte?  Because we have thousands of homes, condos, townhomes and apartment communities that were built before 1978!  And Get The Lead Out has performed thousands of lead paint testing and lead removal jobs on older homes around Charlotte.  We work with Charlotte realtors and Charlotte real estate agents to help them understand about the laws protecting homeowners and renters about the hidden dangers of lead-based paint and lead paint.

HUD Logo The US Department of Housing and Urban Development works hard to help educate the community about lead paint.  See their latest brochure on protecting your family from the dangers of lead-based paint.

Also visit the US Department of Housing and Urban Development website for more information on the Lead Paint Disclosure Laws and how they exist to protect homeowners and renters.

Get The Lead Out in Charlotte can help Charlotte realtors and Charlotte real estate agents in complying with the Lead Paint Disclosure Laws as well with lead paint testing services should there be a need.  Call Get The Lead Out at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Charlotte Lead Paint Poisoning – How to Protect Your Family from Lead Paint Poisoning

Lead_paintEPAsign Because Charlotte and the surrounding area has thousands of homes, apartments and condos that were built before 1978, there could be a much larger risk of exposure to lead-based paint.  Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly, especially for younger children.

Get The Lead Out is a professional, Charlotte-based environmental air quality inspecting and testing company that has provided lead-based paint testing since 1993.  Get The Lead Out routinely performs lead-paint testing in Charlotte homes, apartments and condos because of the older age of many properties.

Lead From Paint, Dust, and Soil Can Be Dangerous If Not Managed Properly.

FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born.

FACT: Even children that seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. 

FACT: People can get lead in their bodies by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips with lead in them.

FACT: People have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.

FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.

What can you do to protect your family from lead paint poisoning beyond lead-lead_paint2paint testing from Get The Lead Out?  Well, there are several things that you can do around your home should you suspect that your home have high levels of lead.

  • Get your young children tested for lead, even if they seem healthy.
  • Wash children's hands, bottles, pacifiers, and toys often.
  • Make sure children eat healthy, low-fat foods.
  • Get your home checked for lead hazards.
  • Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces.
  • Wipe soil off shoes before entering house.
  • Talk to your landlord about fixing surfaces with peeling or chipping paint.
  • Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating (call 1-800-424-LEAD for guidelines).
  • Don't use a belt-sander, propane torch, dry scraper, or dry sandpaper on painted surfaces that may contain lead.
  • Don't try to remove lead-based paint yourself.
  • If you would like to learn more about professional lead-based paint testing, call Get The Lead Out at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz. We can provide you an affordable lead paint testing service to help give you peace of mind about possible lead paint exposure to your family!

    Tuesday, April 12, 2011

    Charlotte Asbestos Inspections from Get The Lead Out Can Calm Fears about Cancer from Asbestos

    Asbestos Sticker Charlotte and the surrounding area has a number of neighborhoods and buildings that were built before 1970 and the asbestos regulations that were passed to protect people from exposure to asbestos-containing products.  Could your home be at risk?  Where is asbestos found?  Get The Lead Out can help you find out.

    Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.

    From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know at Get The Lead Out that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of:

    • lung cancer;
    • mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and asbestos lung cancer
    • asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

    The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. (photo at left is a cancerous lung from asbestos)

    Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

    Examples of Where Asbestos Hazards May Be Found In The Home

    • Some roofing and siding shingles are made of asbestos cement.

    • Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos as insulation.

    • Asbestos_Removal_ImageAttic and wall insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from a Libby, Montana mine, may contain asbestos fibers.

    • Asbestos may be present in textured paint and in patching compounds used on wall and ceiling joints. Their use was banned in 1977.

    • Artificial ashes and embers sold for use in gas-fired fireplaces may contain asbestos.

    • Older products such as stove-top pads may have some asbestos compounds.

    • Walls and floors around wood burning stoves may be protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets.

    • Asbestos is found in some vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives.

    • Hot water and steam pipes in older houses may be coated with an asbestos material or covered with an asbestos blanket or tape.

    • Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets may have asbestos insulation.

    Get The Lead Out can provide Charlotte asbestos testing to discover if asbestos is present around your home.  Call us at 704-376-3594 or email peteh@gettheleadout.biz to learn more about asbestos and asbestos management.  There is no need to panic or live in fear of possible asbestos present in your home.  We can help you accurately determine if asbestos is present or not!