Lead is a dangerous and toxic metal that was used in many different paint products for lots of years before finally being banned in the United States in 1977. In homes built before 1978, it was commonplace for lead-based paint to be used in residential settings. But, is lead paint dangerous?
Yes, lead paint is dangerous! With lead paint, a risk of lead poisoning exists for all the residents of the home. Young children and small children are exceedingly sensitive to exposure to lead and the resulting complications that arise. This makes it even more important to have a lead inspector determine the source of lead paint hazards in your home, such as paint chips, household dust containing lead dust, etc.
If you believe lead may be present in the paint of your home, contact SPS Inspections today to discuss your options for a “lead paint inspection near me.” We are here to help, so please, do not hesitate to call if you believe you and your family to be at risk of exposure to lead paint.Below you will find several photos and images taken during environmental testing for hazardous materials or toxic substances as well as information or infographics about lead, water quality, and asbestos in the home.Whether you are a homeowner that is concerned there might be something unhealthy in your drinking water or you are in the middle of a real estate transaction for a property with a private well supplying all of the water to the home, SPS Inspections can provide you with all of the water quality testing you need!
In Washington State, any home whose water is provided by a private well is required to undergo a private well inspection, which includes testing the quality of the water for different minerals and bacterias such as e. Coli bacteria, nitrates and nitrites, levels of copper, iron, and lead, the water’s pH level, hardness, alkalinity, clarity, and more! Get highly reliable lab results that a water quality test kit from Home Depot could never provide
- Water quality testing is required by the VA and FHA for several reasons when buying a home
- The worst water quality result you could get would be positive for e.coli
- Asbestos was banned in building products in 1989, but the materials already in existence were still allowed to be used to build homes
- The use of lead in paint products was banned in the U.S. in 1977, homes built after 1977 shouldn’t have to deal with lead paint concerns
What does asbestos look like? Asbestos is a mineral with several different structural formations, many of which are harmless to humans. Unfortunately, because of its jagged and crystalline structure, crocidolite types of asbestos-containing materials are durable and fire retardant. This also made asbestos a great insulating material.
What is asbestos used for? Because of its structural durability, asbestos was used in the United States for a number of years in the 20th century in several construction materials, such as loose-fill insulation containing asbestos fibers (vermiculite insulation), some styles of stucco (popcorn ceilings), and asbestos Insulating board or asbestos cement siding to name a few.
If your home was built sometime between 1930 and 1977 (when lead-based paints were banned in homes) using any of these materials, your home could be contaminated with asbestos. If you are exposed to asbestos it could be making you sick. With asbestos exposure, you run the risk of developing lung cancer if no asbestos abatement is performed.
Asbestos can be difficult to identify with only visual inspections of the material, which is why collecting a sample of the material to be sent to a lab for analysis. Interpreting asbestos test results after your asbestos inspection with your inspector will help you determine the extent of the issue if asbestos is present.
Luckily, asbestos is heavier than air, so if left alone will settle out of the air. Unfortunately, many building materials were made of friable asbestos, which crumbles easily with the force of a human hand, making it easy to get more asbestos-containing material released into the air. Once settled, this asbestos dust is only dangerous if disturbed and released into the air again.
If you think your home might have asbestos-containing building materials, or are looking for “asbestos testing near me”, please call SPS Inspections today at 360-688-3069 to speak with an experienced home inspector about inspecting for asbestos and asbestos testing services, or click the “request a lead and asbestos testing services” button to request your inspection from SPS Inspections!