How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Lead Paint in Your Home?
Key takeaways:
For a 2,000-square-foot residence, the average cost of lead paint removal is $15,000.
The service is expensive because lead paint removal requires specially trained professionals.
Lead is so toxic that paint chips and dust must be sealed up or removed from your home to limit exposure.
Table of contents
Almost 29 million American residences have lead hazards at home. The most common source is deteriorating lead-based paint and its dust.
Exposure to lead paint chips and dust could cause serious health problems for you and your family. Even low levels of lead in a child’s blood are enough to derail their health and development. Unfortunately, making your home lead-safe can be expensive.
What is lead paint abatement?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead paint abatement may include removal of painted surfaces, or it may involve covering or sealing them to prevent contact. Abatement removes the need for long-term maintenance and continued lead testing.
You can take some steps immediately (“interim controls”) to limit lead paint hazards. These include eliminating dust-producing friction in doors and windows, and installing rigid barriers such as vinyl flooring. You may pay less upfront with this approach, but you’ll have to monitor lead levels regularly.
Professional lead paint inspectors can help you decide which remediation option is right for you.
What conditions call for lead paint removal?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should address lead paint in the home when:
Your child is diagnosed with lead poisoning.
You live in — or are moving to — a home built before 1978 where small children are or will be living.
You’re planning a project, such as home remodeling, that will disturb lead-based paint or create dust and chips.
Who is most at risk for health problems from lead paint?
Children are at the highest risk of health problems from lead paint, but adults are at risk, too.
Children may have:
Hyperactivity and behavioral issues
Lower IQ and learning difficulties
Slower growth
Hearing problems
Anemia
All adults could suffer:
Decreased kidney function
Cardiovascular effects, including raised blood pressure and hypertension
Reproductive problems
Pregnant adults have a greater risk of:
Premature birth or miscarriage
Child developing learning and behavioral issues
Impaired fetal brain, kidney, and nervous system
What are the symptoms of lead paint exposure?
Symptoms vary somewhat, depending on your general level of health and how long you’ve been exposed. This information from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reveals the range of symptoms to look out for.
| Short-term overexposure to lead | Long-term exposure |
|---|---|
| Abdominal pain and/or constipation | Abdominal pain and/or constipation |
| Fatigue and weakness | Depression |
| Headaches | Distractedness |
| Irritability | Irritability |
| Forgetfulness | Forgetfulness |
| Loss of appetite | Nausea |
| Pain or tingling in the hands and/or feet | Risk of high blood pressure and heart disease |
| Risk of miscarriage or stillbirth | Risk of kidney disease |
| Risk of infertility in men and women | Risk of reduced fertility |
How do I know if I have a lead paint issue?
Given the serious risks, only certified professionals are legally cleared to investigate your home’s lead hazards. These pros offer two levels of evaluation:
Inspection: The inspector cleans and samples some indoor surfaces, revealing which areas have lead paint. If the paint is intact and you keep the surfaces chip- and dust-free, you may be able to get by if you just monitor the situation. Fixr.com estimates the average cost of a lead paint inspection to be between $250 and $450. You may want to have a lead-based paint test when moving into a new home or remodeling your current one. If you’re buying the house, federal law requires sellers to notify buyers of the presence of lead paint. It also says buyers must have the option of a 10-day testing period during the sale negotiations.
Risk assessment: More rigorous than an inspection, this process determines the type and severity of lead paint hazards. The risk assessor then suggests ways to control the amount of lead in your home. According to Fixr.com, the cost of assessment ranges from $800 to $2,000.
Who do I call to have my lead paint situation assessed?
The EPA has a database of inspectors and assessors it has certified. Start there. If you don’t find anyone in your area, contact your local health department for recommendations.
Who do I call to have my lead paint removed?
Hiring a certified lead paint abatement professional is crucial. This is not a project for do-it-yourselfers. Removing the lead paint creates exposure hazards and must be done carefully.
For lead abatement, consult the EPA’s directory of certified abatement firms. If you need a contractor trained in lead-safe renovation, repair, and painting (RRP), the EPA has a separate locator listing qualified companies in most states and most tribal lands.
Some states and tribes administer their own RRP programs. Click on your state to find locally approved service providers:
Tips for hiring a lead paint removal specialist
After you’ve located possible lead-paint contractors, select at least three to interview and compare. Home services booking site Angi recommends you ask contractors specific questions about their services and methods:
Verify their EPA certifications, qualifications, and experience.
Ask for a quick run-down of their experience with abatement projects.
Get a description of how they will test lead levels and how they will carry out the project.
Find out what they intend to do with the hazardous waste removed from your home.
It’s also wise to perform a background check before making a final decision. Once you’ve chosen the contractor, get a written contract with a detailed description of services and a payment schedule.
Once my remediation has been scheduled, is it safe to be home until the lead paint is removed?
Yes, if you take these precautions recommended by the CDC:
Make sure kids and pets don’t have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces covered with lead-based paint.
Wash hands, feet, and paws often to keep kids and pets from ingesting lead dust.
Regularly wet-mop floors and horizontal surfaces — especially windowsills — to keep lead dust down.
How much does lead paint removal cost?
Research by Fixr.com shows that lead paint removal prices range from $8 to $17 per square foot or $10,000 to $30,000 per project. Some contractors provide a full range of services. Others only perform one or two tasks. Here are some remediation procedures and what they’re likely to cost.
| Procedure | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulation | Painting a lead-paint encapsulation mixture containing cement, polymers, or polyurethane over the existing lead paint. Purpose: to keep it from chipping or creating dust. | $1-$4/sq ft |
| Enclosure | Installing new surfaces to surround or cover small sections of smooth surfaces. Purpose: to combat the spread of lead dust. | $6-$12/sq ft |
| Removal | Methods include wet-sanding, heat, and chemical stripping. Purpose: to remove lead paint and capture dust and chips. | $8-$17/sq ft |
| Replacement | Removing and properly disposing of entire painted surfaces (such as doors, windows, floors, and walls). Purpose: to bring about a permanent solution. | $1,000- $15,000/project |
| Disposal | Disposing of all debris from the project according to federal, state, and local regulations. | $3-$5/sq ft |
The most common location for lead paint is windows. Remediation involves stripping the paint and costs between $8 and $17 per square foot. Abatement calls for removing and replacing the windows and sills. Abatement prices vary widely depending on the size and style of each window.
Are there cheaper options?
Not really, even if you’re handy. Unlike mold removal, which you can sometimes do yourself, handling lead paint is too toxic for non-pros. That’s why federal law requires anyone doing remediation — including property owners and residents — to obtain an RRP certification from the EPA.
Does my homeowners or renters insurance pay for lead paint removal?
Probably not. Lead abatement is only covered under very specific circumstances that would be outlined in your policy. Contact your homeowners or renters insurance carrier to find out if you’re covered.
What should I expect during my lead paint remediation?
Since lead paint and its dust are hazardous, the work site is dangerous. The CDC and EPA agree you need to leave the location for however long the process takes.
How long does lead paint removal take?
It depends on how much paint there is and which abatement process you select. On average, lead-safe remediation can take 1 to 3 days. Contractors do a lead test before leaving to make sure your home is safe to enter. Don’t return home until you’ve seen the test results.
The bottom line
Though lead-based paint is no longer used, its long-lasting toxicity still poses a threat. If you suspect your home contains lead-based paint, get an inspection or risk assessment now. These services probably aren’t covered by your homeowners or renters insurance. But quick action can lessen harmful health effects and medical costs.
Why trust our experts?
References [References]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Lead in paint.
Delaware Health and Social Services. (n.d.). Lead information for contractors - Lead abatement and RRP.
Fixr.com. (2022). How much does it cost to have lead paint removed?
Georgia Environmental Protection Division. (n.d.). Lead-based paint.
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Oregon Health Authority. (n.d.). Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule.
Pawlukiewicz, A. (2021). How to find a contractor for lead paint removal. Angi.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Learn about lead.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Locate certified inspection, risk assessment, and abatement firms.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Locate certified renovation and lead dust sampling technician firms.
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Wisconsin Department of Health Services. (2022). Lead-safe Wisconsin.
