Lead Dust Cleanup & Clearance: what to know
Specialized cleanup and a test afterward.
Dry sweeping and dusting tend to lift fine lead dust into the air rather than pick it up. After a remodel, a repair, or paint failure in an older home, specialized cleaning methods are used to pick the dust up and keep it contained.
Cleanup is often paired with clearance testing: dust samples are taken afterward and sent to a lab. A failed sample usually means another round of cleaning and a new test. Who cleans and who tests are worth asking about.
We refer you to a contractor who holds an active California contractor license. We do not do cleanup, quote prices or negotiate, and you contract and pay the contractor directly.
Questions to ask a pro
- What cleaning method do you use, and is it meant for lead dust?
- How do you stop cleaned areas from picking up dust again?
- Is a clearance test part of the job, and who performs it?
- What happens if the test fails?
- What is your California contractor license number?
Common questions
Can I just vacuum?
An ordinary household vacuum can push fine dust back into the room. The pro can say which equipment suits the job.
How will I know the cleanup worked?
A clearance test is the standard way to confirm it. A qualified person takes the samples and a lab analyzes them.
Do I need to leave the home?
That depends on the work. Put the question to the pro directly, and mention any young children or pregnant family members.
Where we refer
San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Richmond, San Jose, Hayward, Daly City.