Most people don’t. Nor do they know that 75% of homes and apartments built before 1980 contain some lead paint, since the government banned the manufacture of lead paint in 1978. At Johnson Home Improvement,  we take the quality and care of our installations, replacements and renovations very seriously, which is why we are certified and registered by the EPA to deal with lead-based paints in homes.

As of April 22, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency will enforce their Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, requiring all contractors to be trained how to conduct renovation activities safely to reduce the risk of lead poisoning. The EPA defines “contractors” as general contractors, renovation contractors, property managers, painters, plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, and the rule applies to any of these individuals or companies who work on homes, buildings or schools that were built before 1978.

As a family-run business, we understand the importance of protecting children, and we also want to protect our customers. We are happy to comply with the EPA’s rule requiring a contractor to provide the homeowner with information on the Lead PRE (Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Rule) before starting work. The RRP Rule applies to homes built before 1978 where children are present, and the renovations will affect a painted area of 2 sq. ft. or larger. How serious is the EPA about their RRP Rule? VERY—fines can cost up to $37,500 per incident.

The EPA has listed Johnson Home Improvement as a Certified Renovation Firm, and have a technician trained in all the EPA compliance rules. And although this may add cost to a select amount of installations or replacements by Johnson Home Improvement, we agree with the EPA that you can’t put a price on your family’s health and safety.