When restoring older homes, buyers and owners need to be
aware of potentially deadly secrets any old home may be harboring.
Deadly because their effects on the body can be fatal; and secret
because they are not readily observed when looking around a home. In a
nutshell we're talking about:
Lead Paint
Frequently used in paints and lacquers prior to 1978, lead poisoning
is the nation's number one environmental disease affecting children. A
seller has a legal obligation to notify a buyer of lead paint present in
the property and to provide a lead
paint disclosure to the buyer before signing a purchase and sale
agreement. The older the house, the higher the likely lead content.
The reason for this is that lead dust & fumes are extremely toxic
to children, especially those under the age of six. In young children,
too much lead in the body can cause permanent harm to the brain,
kidneys, nervous system, and red blood cells. Even at low levels, lead
in children's bodies can slow growth and cause behavioral and learning
problems. Lead is not only harmful to children: in the body of a
pregnant woman, lead can harm a baby before it's born; most adult lead
poisoning is caused by home renovation.
Many people mistakenly assume that, as long as the children don't eat
the paintwork, they'll be safe. Unfortunately there are many
circumstances that will lead to lead poisoning, such as sanding down
painted woodwork to repaint, which releases fine lead dust particles
into the air. These particles are so small they easily pass through a
vacuum cleaner's filtration system and back out into the air (every time
the floor is vacuumed). Drilling a hole into a surface painted with lead
paint will also release lead paint particles into the air. Lead paint on
moving surfaces, such as windows, releases fine lead dust just through
normal operation.
In addition, the older lead paint can flake and blister. Children
find the sweet taste of these paint flakes appealing.
Buyers, especially those with children under the age of six, can have
the lead paint encapsulated or removed (some states mandate this by
law). Licensed specialists typically must do this, although some states
allow the homeowner to obtain certification for specific aspects of
de-leading their own home.
When buying a home built before 1980, it is worth getting a lead
paint test to determine the presence of lead in the house (although
banned in 1978, many homeowners continued to use old stocks of lead
paint around the house after that date). Some inspection companies use
advanced electronic lead detection sensors that make it easy and quick
to check almost every painted surface in the home. http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm#remodeling
For more information from the Environmental Protection Agency, go to www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm
or call 800-424-LEAD.
Asbestos
Asbestos was once considered the wonder material of the building
industry. It was found in many different building products, such as
floor tiles, pipe insulation, roofing, textured paint, and insulation to
name just a few.
Asbestos is a fine mineral fiber that provides strengthening and
exceptional heat insulation and fire resistance. There are several types
of asbestos fibers that can be positively identified with a special type
of microscope.
Unlike lead paint, the worst thing you can do with asbestos is to try
and remove it unless it is done professionally. The best thing to do
with asbestos is not to disturb it. In fact, it can often be safely
encapsulated and left in place indefinitely. Asbestos is fairly safe if
it is not disturbed. However, when asbestos is disturbed, the fine
fibers get into the air and can be easily inhaled, leading to increased
risk of lung scarring (Asbestosis), lung cancer and Mesothelioma.
The most common forms of asbestos found in older homes are in roof
tiles, cement shingles, floor tiles, ceilings and pipe lagging. Lagging
can be easily encapsulated using a special plastic wrap or a paint-on
plastic film that prevents the asbestos from breaking loose. Asbestos
floor tiles are best simply covered over with a new floor covering.
Some Vermiculite contains traces of asbestos due to the presence of the
mineral in the Vermiculite mines. If your attic has Vermiculite
insulation, leave it alone!
Some acoustic ceilings (circa (1950-1970) may contain asbestos. Don't
mess with asbestos. If you think your property may contain it, have it
professionally inspected to determine if it is asbestos.
For more information, go to www.epa.gov/asbestos/
Formaldehyde
A colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause watery eyes, burning
sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing.
High concentrations may cause cancer or trigger attacks in people with
asthma. It is found in the home in building materials (e.g. pressed
particle board/MDF), and with the use of un-vented, fuel-burning
appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html
Radon
You can't see radon, you can't smell it or taste it, but it may be a
problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands
of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing
radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned
that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US today.
Fortunately testing for Radon is fairly simple and it is relatively easy
to mitigate. (A simple test kit can be purchased at DIY stores such as
The Home Depot or Lowes). http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Carbon Monoxide
This is also a colorless and odorless gas that is released when
burning fossil fuels. Poorly maintained gas fires, cookers and furnaces
can lead to increased carbon monoxide in a home. Many towns now require
carbon monoxide detectors to be present in homes as part of the fire
alarm inspection process. If concentrations of carbon monoxide are
present in the home it can be fatal. The best prevention is to have all
appliances and furnaces checked and serviced regularly. http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/airairpocarbonmonoxide.html
Heating Oil
Although not dangerous in itself, heating oil that is spilled or
leaking from an appliance or old oil tank will seep into the soil
beneath the home and may contaminate the water table. Oil contamination
is considered one of the most difficult and expensive things to clean
up, so be sure to check for any oil spillage around the furnace and oil
tank.
If any underground oil tanks are on the property, make the seller
responsible for their safe removal and any required environmental
cleanup (which can be substantial) before closing on the deal. If
selling a property with an underground storage tank, this must be
disclosed to the buyer. Be prepared to pay for its safe removal as part
of the sale. |
