Our Lead Abatement Process

1. Assessment: We conduct thorough inspections to identify lead hazards and assess the extent of contamination.
2. Planning: Based on the assessment, we develop a comprehensive abatement plan tailored to the specific needs of the property.
3. Abatement: Our trained professionals use specialized techniques and equipment to safely remove or contain lead hazards.
4. Verification: After abatement, we conduct clearance testing to ensure that the area meets regulatory standards for lead exposure.
5. Documentation: We provide detailed documentation of the abatement process, including test results and compliance certificates.

What Are the Most Common Sources of Lead Throughout Properties?

Lead was once a widely used material in construction and household products due to its durability and resistance to corrosion. While modern regulations have reduced its use, it still lingers in many older homes and buildings. Lead exposure remains a risk in properties built before the late 20th century, especially in materials like paint, plumbing, and soil.

Here are five of the most common sources of lead:

• Lead-based paint: When walls, doors, and windows are disturbed, lead particles in your lead-based paint can become airborne or settle on surfaces, posing a serious health risk.
• Lead pipes and plumbing fixtures: Older homes may still have lead pipes or plumbing components that leach lead into drinking water. Even some modern brass faucets and solder used in plumbing may contain traces of lead. Corrosion in the pipes can increase lead levels, making regular water testing essential for older properties.
• Contaminated soil: Properties near highways, older buildings, or former industrial sites are at higher risk. Gardening, landscaping, or children playing in contaminated soil can lead to lead exposure.
• Household dust: Lead-based paint, soil, and old building materials can generate fine lead dust that settles on floors, furniture, and air vents. Regular cleaning with proper techniques, such as wet mopping instead of dry sweeping, is crucial to minimizing exposure. Dust is one of the most common ways lead enters the body, especially in homes with deteriorating paint.
• Imported or vintage products: Older furniture, antiques, and vintage dishware may also have lead-based finishes or glazes. It’s important to research and test products when purchasing vintage or imported items, especially those used for food or drink.

How Can You Tell if There’s Lead-Based Paint in Your Home?

If your home was built before 1978, there's a strong possibility it contains lead-based paint. Homes built prior to this time were commonly painted with lead-based materials, which were phased out after the dangers of lead exposure became widely known. The most noticeable signs of lead-based paint are deteriorating surfaces, such as chipping, peeling, or cracking paint. Areas that experience friction, like doors, windows, and stair railings, are particularly prone to wear and tear, allowing lead dust to be released into the environment.

To confirm the presence of lead-based paint, it's best to have your home professionally tested. Certified inspectors use methods like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) testing or can analyze paint samples in a lab to determine lead content. If you suspect lead dust is present, it’s important to act quickly, as this dust can be harmful, especially to young children. Avoid addressing matters yourself—and let us handle the abatement.

Benefits of Lead Abatement

• Protects Health: Reduces the risk of lead poisoning and associated health problems.
• Legal Compliance: Ensures compliance with regulations and standards for lead exposure.
• Preserves Property Value: Improves property value by eliminating lead hazards and reducing liability.
• Peace of Mind: Provides peace of mind knowing that the environment is safe from lead contamination.

Why Choose Scott Asbestos?

• Experience: Extensive experience in lead abatement projects of all sizes and complexities.
• Expertise: Highly trained and certified professionals using state-of-the-art equipment.
• Compliance: Strict adherence to regulatory requirements and safety standards.
• Customer Satisfaction: Commitment to delivering superior service and exceeding client expectations.

What Are the Dangers of Lead Exposure?

Prolonged or extreme lead exposure can have a number of severe health effects. It can impact the brain and nervous system, the reproductive system, the digestive system, kidneys, and blood. Lab experiments have also found links between lead exposure and cancer, and it’s a suspected cause of cancer in humans.

The dangers of lead exposure include:

• Anemia
• Nerve damage
• Muscle weakness
• Kidney damage
• Impaired brain functioning
• Elevated blood pressure
• Reproductive issues for both men and women

Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Even low levels can be harmful to a developing fetus. Children are also at a higher risk and can experience stunted physical and mental development if they’re exposed to lead at a young age.

What Are the Early Signs of Lead Exposure?

Lead exposure often has effects before serious health complications fully develop. Recognizing these signs and calling our team quickly for a lead inspection is crucial to protecting you and your family’s health.

Early signs of lead exposure include:

• Weakness and tiredness
• Headaches
• Appetite loss
• Tasting metal

Later signs include:

• Abdominal pain, often aching
• Constipation
• Pain in muscles and joints, often aching
• Memory issues, especially with short-term memory

People can react differently to lead exposure, so if everyone in a space is showing one of these signs, you should call us for an inspection immediately.

Should Your Family Be Present During Our Lead Removal Work?

Your family should not be present during residential lead removal, as it poses serious health risks, especially to children and pregnant women. The process of removing lead-based paint, dust, or other contaminated materials can release harmful lead particles into the air, which can be easily inhaled or ingested. Exposure to lead can cause severe health issues, including developmental delays in children, neurological damage, and other long-term complications. To ensure safety, all occupants should vacate the property until the work is completed and the area is thoroughly cleaned and tested for lead residue.

We take every precaution to protect your family during lead removal. Our team follows strict containment and safety protocols, including sealing off work areas, using industry-approved filtration systems, and conducting post-removal cleanup to ensure no lead particles remain. Once we’ve finished the job, we’ll perform comprehensive testing to confirm that your home is safe for reentry.

How Long Does Lead Inspection and Removal Take?

If we ask you to vacate the premises, your first question will probably be, “How long will this take?” The timeline for lead inspection and removal depends on several factors, including the size of the property, the extent of the lead contamination, and the removal methods required.

A standard lead inspection typically takes a few hours to complete, as our team conducts thorough testing to assess lead levels in paint, dust, soil, and water.

The lead removal process itself can take anywhere from one to several days, depending on the severity of the contamination. Smaller-scale projects, such as removing lead paint from a single room, may be completed within a day, while more extensive remediation efforts could take a week or more.

Service Areas

We offer services in Surrey, Vancouver, surrounding Metro Vancouver cities, including the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, Tsawassen, and Squamish. Contact us today for safe and effective lead abatement.