What Backwell Handles
Lead-based paint was used in roughly 87% of US homes built before 1940, 69% built between 1940 and 1959, and 24% of homes built 1960 to 1977. EPA banned residential lead-based paint in 1978. Any renovation, repair, or demolition on a pre-1978 structure triggers federal RRP rules, and any project that disturbs more than a small threshold of lead-painted surface triggers NYS Department of Health lead abatement standards.
Backwell is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm and works to NYS DOH Subpart 67-2 abatement standards. We self-perform abatement, encapsulation, and component removal directly. No sub-contractor handoff.
When Lead Work Is Required
- Pre-1978 rental property with painted surfaces being renovated (federal RRP)
- Child under 6 with elevated blood lead level traced to a property (NYS DOH order, mandatory abatement)
- Section 8 / HUD-funded property changing ownership or undergoing rehab (HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule)
- Public housing renovations
- Daycare, preschool, or school renovations
- Pre-1978 demolition requires lead-safe debris handling and disposal
Pricing in Central NY
| Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| XRF inspection (single unit) | $450 to $800 |
| RRP-compliant interior renovation surface prep | $1,200 to $3,500 |
| Window component removal & replacement (lead path) | $650 to $1,200 per window |
| Door & trim removal & replacement | $350 to $700 per opening |
| Encapsulation, single room | $1,800 to $4,500 |
| Full unit abatement (small apartment) | $8,000 to $18,000 |
| Whole-house lead abatement | $15,000 to $40,000+ |
| Lead-safe demolition of pre-1978 structure | +$2,000 to $6,000 over standard demo |
| Final clearance dust wipes (third party) | $400 to $900 |
What We Self-Perform
- XRF inspection with handheld lead paint analyzer
- Dust wipe sampling and lab coordination
- RRP-compliant containment setup (poly sheeting, negative air, HEPA equipment)
- Component removal (windows, doors, trim, baseboards painted with LBP)
- Wet scraping and HEPA sanding of small surfaces
- Encapsulation with EPA-recognized encapsulants (interior and exterior)
- Enclosure with new drywall, paneling, or siding over intact LBP surfaces
- Soil remediation for exterior contamination from peeling paint
- Hazmat-class disposal with manifested trucking
- Final cleanup and third-party clearance coordination
RRP vs Abatement, And Why It Matters
The two regulatory tracks confuse most property owners and many contractors. The difference matters because it changes the cost and who can legally do the work.
RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting)
Federal EPA rule. Applies to any renovation that disturbs more than 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior of paint in a pre-1978 child-occupied or rental property. Requires an EPA-certified firm and a certified renovator on site. Focus: safe disturbance of LBP, not permanent elimination.
Abatement (NYS DOH Subpart 67-2)
State rule. Triggered when work is specifically intended to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards. Required when a child has been ordered by NYSDOH following an elevated blood lead level case. Stricter containment, mandatory third-party clearance, and a NYS-licensed abatement contractor.
Most residential work falls under RRP. Cases tied to a child's elevated BLL or HUD-funded rehab fall under abatement. We hold both certifications and will tell you up front which track applies to your project.
The Process
- Site visit and XRF testing. We measure lead concentration on every suspect surface. Results in real time, on screen.
- Written scope. Itemized by surface, by component, by control method. Encapsulation vs removal vs enclosure called out per surface.
- Notifications. NYSDOH 10-day notification filed if work is abatement-classified. Tenant notification per EPA RRP.
- Containment setup. Critical barriers, poly sheeting, HEPA negative air machines, signage.
- Self-performed control work. Wet methods, HEPA tools, no dry sanding. Daily cleanup.
- Disposal. Manifested to a TSCA-compliant facility.
- Third-party clearance. Independent dust wipe sampling. Lab results in 3 to 5 business days.
- Documentation package. XRF report, work logs, photos, disposal manifests, clearance results.
Common Lead Sources We Find in CNY Buildings
- Window components (sash, jamb, sill, casing) - the #1 child exposure source
- Door frames and exterior thresholds with chalking paint
- Stairwell railings, balusters, treads
- Exterior siding (especially on Victorian-era homes around Syracuse, Utica, Rome)
- Porches, columns, soffits
- Basement walls and pipes
- Soil within 3 ft of exterior walls (from decades of weathered paint flakes)
- Hot water radiators and steam pipes