A lead-based paint renovation, repair and painting rule will be enforced April 22 in North Carolina by the Environmental Protection Agency. The law will affect “contractors, property managers and others who disturb painted surfaces,” according to a statement from the organization. It requires home professionals who work in homes that contain lead-based paint or that were built before 1978 to receive special training.
“If there is any sanding, cutting holes in the walls or any type of paint removal, then (the contractor) has to have this certification,” said Amy Hedgecock, residential property manager at Fowler and Fowler Realtors.
A positive side of the certification is that it teaches industry workers to disturb as little lead-based paint as possible, according to Ed Terry, executive vice president of the High Point Regional Association of Realtors. The HPRAR began holding training sessions for the certification Monday.
“The focus of the training is to disturb the paint as little as possible on doors, windows and walls,” he said. “If this can be avoided, environmental issues will be minimized if not eliminated.”
But the law potentially could have a negative impact on home professionals and consumers, Hedgecock said.
“The cost is going to go up for builders to do their business in renovating and remodeling,” she said. “They’re going to have to get the certification and different equipment that the EPA requires.”
She said the rules of the new law also require more cleanup time when dealing with a lead-based paint project, resulting in extra costs that could show up on a consumer’s bill.
Also, finding a certified contractor may be a challenge since training classes are filling up, she said.
“The class sizes are very limited,” she said. “EPA says one teacher per six students are allowed in a class. In addition, getting the word out to contractors that they need the certification has been a challenge.”
phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
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