Lead-Based Paint and Homes in the Salt Lake City Area

May 23, 2013 – Utah Real Estate Professionals

When buying a house in the Salt Lake City area there are lots of things to consider. We tend to get bogged down in features, neighborhood, amenities, etc…. But what about health hazards lurking within a home?

A home with toxic gas bubbling up from the vents wouldn’t even make it on the market, but most of the time the most dangerous hazards in a home are those that you can’t see or smell, like lead-based paint.

Lead paint poses a threat to children and women, especially during the child-bearing years, if lead is ingested.

Lead-based paint was used in most all homes dating before 1960 and some dating from before 1978.

For this reason when purchasing a home built before 1978 most states require a separate Lead-Based Paint Disclosure wherein the seller details any known lead-based paint hazards within the property and the buyer acknowledges that disclosure and either opts to conduct testing for the existence of lead-based paint or not to.

Don’t let this scare you away from every charming, older home that you have your heart set on viewing. The mere existence of the lead-based paint cannot make you sick. For lead-based paint to become a hazard it has to be unsettled in some way. This generally occurs when a homeowner begins to paint and starts sanding or scraping old paint off in order to prime for the new. When the paint debris is either ingested directly or breathed in it can become a health hazard.

If you’re buying an older home in the Salt Lake City area, be sure to have it tested for lead-based paint. This includes the interior as well as the exterior of the property. If lead-based paint is detected there are safe protocols for its removal. Hire an expert to remove the paint safely so not to expose yourself or your family to any hazardous paint in the process of beautifying your new home.

We’re here to help you in the buying process in the Salt Lake City and surrounding area. Call (801) 513-3788 ( and let’s get started!!

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