there is a new lead abatement law, perhaps your contractor is not yet aware of it? sounds like it is too late now... check to be sure you will be ok when the inspector shows up for your permits.

You can get home lead testing strips at any hardware store - probably worth it for your peace of mind? You just swab them across the suspect surface and get fast results.

With 3 kids, after the fact is NOT when to consider hazardous material issues. You need to STOP immediately and test for both lead and asbestos. And, if your contractor isn't one that is certified to remove both, (and it's a simple class to take to get certified) then you need to turn him in and find one who is. You, as the homeowner, can face the fines ($37,500 PER DAY) associated with the new law, and all anyone has to do is to see any construction debris in a dumpster or at the curb and turn you in. Don't think it won't happen. Don't think that it's OK to do this without permits, either from a health standpoint or a governmental regulation standpoint.

You do need to know about this new law. Here's a link to some information. We also have an old house, and the last family to live here had a child with lead poisoning, so I'm glad my GC has already taken the class and is planning to be in compliance.

Here is a link that might be useful: lead abatement info

As the owner of an 1887 house, I can tell you that NO ONE who is uncertified in the new standards should be working in your house. Any trade that can disturb old paint must be certified. Demolition "disturbs" the paint and falls under these new guidelines. Make sure they put up Zip Wall and turn off any air intakes into the area of the house that isn't under construction. They should be wearing booties, have sticky mats, tyvek suits, and a containment barrier up at all times. There should also be warning signs about the lead posted outside of the job site.

Let me tell you what a pain it all is...and then guess what, they throw it all into the dumpster on site (contained inside trash bags). I've never see so much disposable *crap* for a task that is supposed to help the environment!

Of course, I'm glad to be able to, at the end, certify my old house as LEAD SAFE. Once folks find out how much it costs to do even minor home improvements, I think that paper will be worth its weight in gold.

There are quite a few tradespeople that don't even know about the new law. I've told 3 contractors that had no clue. From what I've heard, home*s without children under 6 and pregnant women are exempt.

grl...the law was passed to keep kids from getting lead poisoning...not help*the*environment. I suppose it also helps prevent lead from getting in to the soil though.

It is also designed to stop lead from leaching into the ground and then into the ground water, but the initial target was for homes where children reside or spend significant consecutive hours.

Since the rule applies for work done inside and outside at least some of it must be based on a greater environmental concern than the immediate inhalation of lead contaminated dust inside the home.

I stand by my observation that lead abatement produces a lot of petrochemical based garbage. So while one hand giveth, the other taketh away. So much for "green" renovating! I can't believe how much plastic and other junk (no more reusable canvas drop cloths!) has been hauled to and away from my job site.

BTW, our daughter's 10 and I'm not pregnant and our home is still subject to the rules.

asbestos was not used as a wall insulation AFAIK. And it is white. It was used for pipe insulation and in floor tiles. If you have a boiler, I'd check the pipes in the basement. If you have asbestos, then it has to be removed. Old tiles that look like linoleum should also be checked and if asbestos will need to be removed.

Asbestos isn't foamy. It's more chalky.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of asbestos products

Thanks everyone. Well, great. They didn't do any major demolishing but enough that I should be concerned obviously. E.g. they drilled holes in the ceiling to pipe wire through, and for all I know that ceiling's first coat of paint long ago had lead in it.

I don't believe guys working in this progressive city wouldn't know about the new law - not these guys in this neighborhood and with their positive reviews. And yet...why was he so clear that he's not dealing w/ enough lead paint to cause a problem? That's obviously wrong, and illegal at this point. God I'm so sick of feeling so helpless when it comes to contractors. I have this pathetic need not to be an inconvenience or control freak or appear super neurotic. My priorities should of course be my kids.

p.s. Weedmeister - thanks for the asbestos pics!

It turns out there is no asbestos in the kitchen. Whew!