Lead Abatement Costs

Lead abatement can cost as little as $100 or as much as $20,000. Techniques range from mitigating methods such as lowering exposure with low-risk, DIY spot treatments or encapsulation to total elimination such as professional paint stripping or demolition. Get a quote from a pro to estimate the cost of your project. This is the only way to get an accurate estimate.

Removal and replacement are expensive but can eliminate the danger. Encapsulation, enclosure or management methods are more affordable but only mitigate the toxin.

Hire a pro to test for lead to find the best abatement method for your home. They will choose which technique is best based on the wear and tear of the home and test results.

Lead-Based Paint Removal Cost

A range between $8 and $17 per square foot can guide project estimates. Full removal projects can run between $15,000 and $25,000.

Many variables influence direct costs, including:

• Materials
• Prep of the work area
• Testing and disposal of the substance
• Accessibility to the area
• Multiple kinds of affected surfaces
• Labor

• Storing hazardous wastes
• Prepping and cleaning the affected area
• Evacuating the affected area

Paint is one of the most common forms of exposure in the home. Hire certified abatement contractors who carry proper tools and know how to remove the toxin safely and legally.

Removers strip the paint with a heat gun, sander or liquid paint remover. Like asbestos abatement, they use a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum to capture dust and particles. HEPA vacuums create a large amount of dust and fumes. Pros must take care to seal the home with proper containment products to prevent toxic particles from getting into the HVAC system and outside. Disposal of dangerous materials sometimes requires special containers and landfills.

Full removal requires no further touch-up and increases the home's resale value.

Lead Paint Replacement Cost

Demolition completely removes affected surfaces such as walls, windows, doors or floors. Affected components sometimes require testing to determine whether the levels are high enough to require a special landfill. Pros replace affected surfaces with new, safe materials.

Pros use HEPA vacuums and careful sealing measures to ensure that dust particles do not get into the air and or furnace system. Full replacement eliminates the danger and increases the home's value.

Replacement can also reveal other issues such as asbestos, radon or termites leading to more abatement costs.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires renovators to be trained and certified before working around lead in your home and offers a tool for finding certified pros.

Lead Paint Encapsulation Cost

Encapsulation products cost about $50 for a gallon of sealant or $230 for 5 gallons at your local hardware store. Expect to pay between $800 and $1,400 to cover all areas of a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot home. Estimate about $4 per square foot when using a pro.

This is an inexpensive and non-invasive encasing technique that you can sometimes do yourself. Epoxy or cement-based polymers form a thick coating to prevent further flaking or dust from entering the environment.

It is difficult to apply to detailed work such as molding, sometimes harming the aesthetic of your home. It works well for spot treatment. It is not a permanent solution as the product wears down with moving parts like window and doors.

Lead Remediation By Enclosure

Enclosure costs around $10 per square foot. Costs vary based on materials and labor involved for each project.

This method covers affected surfaces with new panels, drywall or siding. It only works on smoother surfaces. It is not a permanent solution, but it will limit exposure and keep toxic dust from spreading.

Consider the cost of new siding to decide if enclosure is the best decision for the exterior of the home.

Lead Remediation By Lowering Exposure

Lowering lead paint exposure only costs time, management and minimal expenses for upkeep products.

The substance is not dangerous if it is not ingested. Children's growing bodies and frequent hand-to-mouth activities are at greatest risk of ingestion. Paint particles can accumulate on the floor and in the soil outside the home.

Tips for lowering exposure:

• Avoid tracking dirt into the home
• Clean your air ducts
• Watch children to ensure they are not chewing on surfaces
• Wash children's hands and toys frequently
• Clean the walls, floors, and surfaces with a wet mop and rag often, especially around friction areas such as windows and sills
• Hire certified pros to execute renovation projects safely

Average Cost to Remove Lead Paint from a Home

A range of $8 and $17 per square foot can guide removal estimates. Complete elimination from a home may cost more than $20,000. Costs for mitigation projects range between $1,100 and $4,600. Remember only a quote from a pro can give you a true estimate the cost of your project.

Pros quote costs based on:

• Square footage
• Materials/equipment needed
• Disposal processes
• Accessibility
• Types of surfaces
• Repairing affected areas
• Labor

Older homes often contain lead in painted surfaces, plumbing, and even soil. Full removal involves stripping paint or removing and replacing affected areas such as walls, windows, pipes, and soil. Total elimination projects are expensive and rare. State laws may require property managers to eliminate the substance from subsidized housing properties.

Homeowners often choose to mitigate the problem by encapsulating, enclosing, or lowering exposure to it.

Check to see if your state offers any financial assistance through grants, low-interest loans, or tax breaks.

Exterior Lead Paint Removal Cost

Stripping paint from siding and trim can cost up to $8 to $17 per square foot. Labor, removal of the waste, and the cost of repainting your home can run the project over $20,000.

You may mitigate the problem at a lower cost through enclosure or encapsulation. This will not permanently remove the risk.

Removing Lead Paint from Windows

Estimate about $8 to $17 per square foot to strip the paint from windows.

Homeowners often cut out and replace affected windows. Removal and replacement may cost between $1,000 and $15,000.

To estimate costs, consider:

• The number of windows
• The cost of installing new windows
• Accessibility to the problem through layers of paint

Mitigation techniques average around $2,900. Encapsulate, enclose or manage affected areas to reduce the risk.

Deleading an Apartment

Expect to spend between $10,000 to $20,000 to delead a 1,200 square foot apartment of painted walls, windows and doors.

To estimate costs, consider:

• Materials
• Testing and disposal of toxic waste
• Labor
• Preparing with protective gear and decontamination equipment affect cost
• The cost of installing new doors and windows
• The cost of repainting the interior

Mitigation techniques average around $2,900. Encapsulate, enclose or manage affected areas to reduce the risk.

Uses of Lead in a House

Before 1978, lead was used in many different applications around the home, including both exterior and interior paint, plaster tints, soil, plumbing and pipes. Each requires a distinct form of testing.

Lead-Based Paint

Builders used the paint prior to 1978 because of its durability and easily washable surface. Now, the seller in real estate transactions must disclose the known presence of lead. Real estate transactions under the FHA loan program require lead-based paint screenings during inspection.

Paint dust and flaking is one of the most common reasons for poisoning. A lab test can determine how much is in the paint in parts per million.

Soil

Contaminated soil comes from:

• Gasoline that contained lead prior to 1985
• Flaking exterior paint
• Industrial sources
• Contaminated Superfund sites

Consider the cost to test the soil. Remove the risk by hiring a pro to collect and remove it.

You can mitigate the risk by not tracking dirt into your home after being in yards or playgrounds and cleaning regularly.

Plumbing & Pipes

Some water service lines and pipes used the substance before 1986.

Corrosion can leach it into the water. The chemistry of the water can react with the substance in the pipes contaminating water, especially when hot.

Test your home's drinking water by hiring a pro or with a home kit sent to an EPA-approved lab for analysis. A test determines acidity levels and how the minerals act with water that sits for a long period of time in the pipes.

Take action if you discover elevated levels:

• To eliminate, consider the cost of replacing lead pipes: $1,000
• To mitigate, consider the cost of a home filtration system: $1,200

Air-Born Dust

Dust is the most common way the substance puts your family at risk of ingestion.

Contaminated dust comes from:

• Friction between surfaces such as window panes
• Natural flaking or chipping
• Scraping or sanding during home improvement projects
• Tracking in contaminated soil

To mitigate the problem:

• Keep the paint in excellent condition
• Clean regularly with wet rags and mops
• Use certified home improvement pros when undertaking house projects

Products

Simple products in the home such as painted toys and furniture, jewelry, cosmetics and food containers could contain the substance. Be aware of these products and test if you suspect anything.

Lead Inspection Costs

Lead inspections cost  between $220 and $410.  During and inspection, pros will test the interior and exterior by scanning surfaces with an x-ray fluorescent analyzer. It is your right to request an inspection when buying a home. An inspection can determine the possibility of exposure.

Lead risk assessments cost between $800 and $2,000. Assessors investigate problems and create strategies for abatement. Property owners usually request an assessment if people have become sick from elevated levels in the blood.

FAQs

What is toxic lead?

Lead is a bluish-gray metal that is naturally occurring in the earth's rock. The toxicity comes from burning or consuming lead-based materials. Common products such as paint, plumbing, pipes ceramics and gasoline often contained lead prior to 1980s when the government banned it from consumer use.

Leaded gas was phased out of production after 1971, but the toxic metals still leach into the environment. Paint dust and affected water and soil still pose health hazards.

Does lead-based paint have to be removed?

If lead-based paint is intact and not at risk of disturbance, you do not need to remove it. Poisoning only comes from ingestion. Small children are especially susceptible through chewing and hand-to-mouth activities where lead dust exists.

It is especially important to understand lead-related dangers. Hire a pro to inspect and inform you of the risks in your home.

Do I have to remove walls with lead paint?

You do not have to remove walls with lead paint. Some property owners choose to remove walls if deteriorating paint poses health risks. Removing the danger from the home also increases resale value.

Is there only one way to get rid of lead paint?

There are many ways to get rid of lead paint.

Eliminate it by:

• Stripping off and disposing of it
• Cutting out entire affected walls or windows and replacing them

Mitigate the risk by:

• Enclosing affected surfaces with new ones
• Sealing the paint with a thick polymer
• Taking care of the existing paint and
• Continuously cleaning to mitigate dust particles

Hire a pro to inspect your home. Consider the severity of the problem, abatement costs, and return on investment before deciding.

What happens if lead paint begins to peel?

Peeling paint creates infected dust particles in the home. This can lead to ingestion and poisoning.

It is a good idea to hire a pro to inspect your home if you see paint deteriorating. Consider abatement options and learn the best ways to reduce exposure.

Can the same company remove asbestos and lead paint?

The processes of removing asbestos and lead paint are similar. Many specialists provide both services. Bundling inspections and abatement projects for both can be cost-effective. Contact a pro to find out.

Can a homeowner remove lead?

Homeowners should be wary of removing lead themselves. Direct exposure increases the risk of poisoning and accidentally spreading the substance throughout the home.

Pros have the proper equipment, protective gear, disposal methods, and know the best ways to seal off the home to prevent the substance from entering the HVAC system.