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Aug 14, 2008 2:27 pm US/Eastern
Angie's List: Lead Paint Safety
(CBS 3)
It's well known just how
dangerous lead paint can be. But according to a new Angie's List investigation,
contractors frequently downplay the risks linked to the toxic paint.
In this week's Angie's List
report, Jim Donovan shows you what you need to know before having any work done
in your home.
In 1978 lead paint was
banned. But if your home was built before 1978, there's a good chance it may
have lead based paint in it. However, in many cases, contractors aren't taking
proper precautions when it comes to removing it.
Lead paint is serious
threat, especially to children.
"This can cause
irreversible brain damage in children, so we want to be sure people really
understand what they are dealing with," said Angie Hicks, founder of
Angie's List.
She says too many
contractors are overlooking the danger.
"This year we
contacted 200 contractors across the country and asked them for advice on
painting a toddler's room in a 1920's house - so a house that was probably
likely to have lead paint. This year 30 percent of the contractors gave us bad
advice," said Hicks.
She also says if you have
an older home, it's crucial to hire the right person for the job.
"Look for a contractor
who's had lead-safety certification. It's going to be important because they are
going to know how to properly seal off the area and properly remove the lead
paint, if necessary. So if you have a contractor who's not concerned about lead
paint or tells you it's not a problem, choose someone else," said Hicks.
RELATED LINKS:
http://leadsafety.angieslist.com
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