Top To Bottom Services can provide X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Lead Paint Analysis on the home you currently own or one you are looking to buy. If you are interested in XRF Lead Paint Analysis as part of your real estate purchase, be sure to speak to your Realtor® for all the information on what may or may not be applicable to your situation and permitted and/or negotiable per your real estate transaction contract.
This on-site lead testing in Maryland can determine the presence, location and sometimes the severity of lead-based paint hazards. Lead paint will likely be found in houses built prior to 1978; it was at this time that the use of lead-based paint was outlawed in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The XRF device will scan up to 60-layers of paint to determine if lead is present.
There are significant health risks associated with lead paint ingestion, especially for children under 6 years of age and for pregnant women; lead paint friction creates a fine dust that is easily inhaled or swallowed. Lead paint dust tends to accumulate on floors and toys where children play, which is a risk because of children’s hand-to-mouth activity.
According to the U.S. EPA, there are approximately 57 million homes in the United States that contain lead-based paint. Lead paint can potentially be found in any painted surface of a home built prior to 1978, although it is even possible to find it in homes built in 1978 or newer, albeit quite rare. The presence of lead-based paint cannot be determined visually. Painted surfaces must be tested.
I Am Buying A Home That Was Built Before 1978 And Am Concerned About Lead Paint, Can Top To Bottom Services Help Me?
Yes, one of our inspectors can perform a verbal informative XRF Analysis in Maryland or Virginia. One of our inspectors or ancillary service technicians will scan the home and let you know if they find evidence of lead paint, and where they find it. No written report is provided for this service, so homebuyers are encouraged to join and notate what was found.
I Own A Home Built Before 1978 And I Want To Rent It Out. What Do I Need To Do?
If the property is located in Maryland, we can perform an XRF Analysis to help you obtain a Lead-Free Certificate from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Before you call in to schedule, there are a few things you need to know.
- You must be the current homeowner of the property.
- You must call the MDE and obtain your 7-digit property tracking number; their direct number is (410) 537-4199. You will need to give this number to the scheduler who helps make your appointment.
- You will need to prepare a check written out to the Maryland Department of the Environment for $10.00; this is a paperwork processing fee and can be given to the inspector or ancillary service technician who performs the analysis.
If the home passes, you will know immediately on-site; our inspector will file the appropriate paperwork with the MDE and you will receive your official Lead-Free Certificate in the mail.
Everything You Need Right Under One Roof!
What Happens If Lead Is Found During The Certification Process?
First, do not worry; just because lead was found does not immediately disqualify the home from getting certified, there are still other options.
- If Lead-Paint is found on the Exterior of the home, and no paint chipping is noted, the client can still receive a "Limited Lead-Free Certificate."
- If Lead-Paint is found on the interior of the home, two options are available:
You, the homeowner can elect to renovate:
You, the homeowner can elect to not renovate:
The Home I Want Analyzed For Lead Paint Is A Condominium; Will You Need To Analyze The Exterior Of The Building?
For condominiums, there are some exterior requirements for Lead Free Certification. Those requirements vary, depending on whether the condominium is considered a “Garden Style” or “High-Rise” condominium. The required exterior testing areas could include stairways, handrails, and common-areas in the building—to name a few—but will best be determined by the inspector or ancillary services technician once they arrive on-site.
Does This Have To Be Requested During The Scheduling Process, Or Can It Be Added At The Inspection?
You would need to let us know at the time of scheduling if you would like this service performed; we only have a select few inspectors certified to perform this service at the moment. Mentioning that you want lead inspection in Maryland added onto your home inspection would ensure we are scheduling the inspector with the proper certification so they may do this as part of the inspection.
