Important for Older Homes - Lead Paint and Asbestos Information

Lead paint and asbestos-containing materials can be very harmful and even life threatening, especially if you live in an older home, apartment, condominium or if you own older investment properties. On the other hand, if these items get proper treatment and handling, risks can be greatly reduced, but any remediation should be done by professionals.

When these materials are removed, they may cause the release of tiny particles into the air, and this is when they are especially harmful because they can be breathed in. Remediation professionals have specialized equipment, and they will know how to seal a structure so that these potentially harmful particles are not breathed in.

Even though the government banned production of lead paint in 1978, your dwelling or property may still have been painted with paint that contained lead. This is because lead paint was still available in may paint stores, and it was still used after the ban.

The newer that your structure is, the less likely that it was built with either of these materials. However, if your dwelling or structure was built in 1978 or before, and if it was never rebuilt, renovated or remodeled, you should really consult professionals in this field before you do anything.

Additionally, lead paint can really be a problem if it is cracked or peeling, especially if there are young people living in the housing unit. Since young children have a tendency of putting things into their mouth, it is quite likely that they will ingest peeling paint.

If children ingest lead-based paint, it can lead to stunted mental and physical development. Adults can be affected through nerve and reproductive damage, irritability and poor muscle coordination. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, with the most prevalent cancers caused by asbestos being in the abdomen, lungs and chest, and it can lead to pulmonary diseases.

Before you carry out any sort of construction on buildings or structures built on, around, or before 1978, make sure you understand that abatement of lead paint and asbestos is regulated by federal, state and local laws, and that you cannot just take it upon yourself to take corrective measures. If you want advice, you can always contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and you should ask about lead-based paint and asbestos-containing products remediation.

Experts estimate that there are still 24 million homes that contain these materials in one form or another, and this is without taking commercial properties into account. However, asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint are not dangerous unless there are airborne particles, or unless they are ingested.

If you are worried about your legal liability, you should provide written disclosure to your tenants, and this is often enough to shift liability from the owner to the tenant. However, make sure you consult a professional who specializes in this aspect of the law to make sure that you meet local, state and federal requirements.

If you want to remodel, renovate, or rebuild an older building or dwelling, make sure you hire people who are expert in asbestos and lead paint remediation. They will know exactly what to do in this type of situation, and you will reduce any potential risks.

Why worry about asbestos and lead-based paint? You can buy a newer home by going to New Property in Gilbert, Foreclosed Homes for Sale in Gilbert and 4-Bedroom Houses in Gilbert.