Straight answers to fair questions.
How do I know if my house has lead paint?
Age is the first screen: built before 1978, assume it is possible; before 1950, assume it is likely. The definitive answer is an XRF survey, which reads lead through paint layers surface by surface without damaging anything. Testing turns a vague worry into a specific list of surfaces and conditions.
Does lead paint have to be removed?
No, and that misconception costs homeowners real money. Intact lead paint on non-friction surfaces can usually stay, managed or encapsulated. What the law targets is hazards: deteriorated paint, friction surfaces shedding dust, and failed dust tests. Treating those specific conditions is the requirement, not stripping the house.
What does the work cost?
Testing runs a few hundred dollars. Component-level correction runs $1,700 to $5,000, typical rental compliance packages $2,500 to $6,000, full interior abatement $8,000 to $15,000, and exteriors up to $21,000 on the oldest housing. The full table, by service, is published on our cost page.
I own a pre-1978 rental. What is required of me?
Maryland requires MDE registration, a lead inspection at every change of occupancy, correction of failures by accredited workers, clearance dust testing, and a current risk reduction certificate. The whole cycle, with costs and the mistakes that make it expensive, is on our landlord guide.
Who is allowed to do the actual work?
For covered rentals, MDE-accredited abatement contractors, with clearance by independent accredited inspectors. For renovation on any pre-1978 home, EPA RRP-certified contractors following lead-safe practices. Every quote we issue names the accreditation it will be performed under.
Is a certified renovation the same as abatement?
No. RRP is about disturbing paint safely during renovation; abatement is about eliminating identified hazards, with clearance testing to prove it. A kitchen remodel done under RRP does not produce a risk reduction certificate. Which one you need depends on whether the goal is a project done safely or a unit certified compliant.
We have young kids and an old house. Where do we start?
A dust wipe screening plus an XRF check of windows, doors, and any failing paint. Dust is how children are actually exposed, so measuring it answers the question that matters. If levels are fine and paint is intact, monitoring is a legitimate plan; if not, the fix list is specific and priceable.
How should I compare bids for lead work?
Demand three things: per-component itemization, clearance testing included in the price, and the MDE accreditation number on the quote. A bid missing any of the three is not comparable to one that has them. Published ranges to check any bid against are on our cost page.
Something we didn’t cover? Call (301) 610-3977 or start with the quote form. Area-specific questions are answered on each service area page.