1915 home will have lead paint, for sure. If these guys are licensed for RRP, and you have seen the license, let em go .(https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program)

There are speed limit laws a lot of people ignore as well as health oriented laws. Some people just do not believe there are dangers those laws were passed to mitigate.

And some dangers are over emphasized. To the rest of the US, most California regulations are absolute overkill.

Lead paint abatement, however is not one of those. The problem arises when companies charge way too much for the service, even when that service involves specific training/tools/procedures. And local regulatory agencies mandate extra fees.

Example, asbestos abatement here for shingles requires special waste containers. That costs extra, but those containers are emptied in the same area as the rest of the garbage.

To demo the walls in an entire rooms when lead paint is present is a bit more involved than hanging a few plastic sheets. That requires a company with all that training/tools/procedures. Example, a negative pressure system is necessary to prevent dust from getting out of the area, that means an air tight surround has to be set up and the machine used.

Get the test. Make sure the abatement is necessary and get it done right. It will be very expensive.

As I cough my way through another day, I rue how many demos I did of asbestos and lead laden building materials before I switched to new construction.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll stick my guns.

Would you still consider working with a GC who normally turns a blind eye to lead paint but is willing to have a lead abatement company do the demo if I insist? Or would that be a dealbreaker? It seems like the pool of guys who do this the right way of their own volition is quite small.

Go ahead and still use him if you like him. As I said in the previous post, many people think lead paint is not a 'real' problem. He obviously does not want to do the abatement, so get a company and do it.

Hi guys, I did have the paint tested. Surprise--lead based paint in most of the areas that are being demoed. Someone with the abatement firm just came by the house and brought up some other questions.

1. Lead in tiles. The lead inspector didn't test this, and I didn't realize it was something to be concerned about--should I be?

2. Asbestos. I have plaster walls and ceramic tile--would you have these tested for asbestos? I think there's some risk of asbestos flooring under the tile, but on the surface, asbestos seems unlikely.

It's hard for me to tell if the abatement firm is bringing up legitimate hazards or looking for more work. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Pics of the tiles below, in case it's relevant.

Bathroom floor:

Kitchen countertops:

Kitchen flooring:

Asbestos is a horse of a different color from lead.

Have never heard of asbestos in ceramic tiles.

Asbestos is only dangerous when it is friable---which is defined as a material able to be crushed to powder/similar by a human hand. Asbestos in tiles/shingles is contained in a material that does not allow the asbestos to become friable.

Asbestos in plaster/wall/ceiling coatings can become friable if sanded or pulverized So, if you take out any walls/plaster/sheetrock, have it tested first.

You may have asbestos in your ducting

Thanks guys. I guess I'll have the plaster tested for asbestos. The ducting is newer, and I think I'm OK there (thank you whichever previous owner installed central heating and air!).

So why is lead an issue in paint and not in tile?

So why is lead an issue in paint and not in tile?

Because the lead in tile is about 99% likely to only be in the glazing. When the tile is removed, there will be dust from the non-lead component -- the tile body -- but the glaze layer itself will not produce substantial dust. On the other hand, old lead paint on walls and molding is going to produce dust and particles that contain lead when they are demoed.

Check the lead regulations for contractors in Cali and you will get an idea of why the contractors are reluctant to address the problem on their own but "are willing to have a lead abatement firm do the demo if I don't mind paying for it." The requirements for a contractor are many and if he has employees, that includes having the air tested and, if they are going to be doing manual demolition, his employees blood tested. He may also have to notifiy CalOsha in advance if disturbance exceeds a 100 sq. ft. area. The EPA has regulations, the state has regulations, CalOsha has regulations. Perhaps contractors see it as a regulation minefield that they are just not willing to navigate. I can see why a contractor would rather turn the demo, and the risk involved, over to someone else.

They don't actually want to turn over the demo; they want to do it themselves while ignoring all the regulations. It's been surprising to me how many contractors ignore the rules and that other homeowners don't insist. I have to wonder if we'd all be safer if CA just insisted on the EPA rules and nothing more. Then more contractors would at least follow the EPA rules.

Yes, it is really unfortunate but it doesn't surprise me. Cali has created so many hoops for contractors to jump through that I imagine it would really problematic for them to follow the all the rules. I know a lot of contractors and I'll bet few (if any) have ever had the air tested on their jobsites, much less had their employees blood tested. That might be the case for large firms with a lot of employees, but the small contractor? Probably not. I'll bet most wouldn't even have a clue about how to do go about doing that! And I'll also bet that a good portion aren't even aware of the extent of the rules they are required to follow. If it is important to you that all the rules be followed, I would think your best bet would be to hire the demo/abatement people separate from the remodeling crew.

"It's been surprising to me how many contractors ignore the rules and that other homeowners don't insist."

I'll bet cost has a lot to do with that.