[MassHistPres] Restoring windows and lead paint issues

Jeff Levine jeff_levine at town.brookline.ma.us
Mon Dec 28 09:44:52 EST 2009


As someone who has gone through the lead abatement process in more than
one house, here is what I have heard from lead inspectors (not the
contractors, but the ones that do the initial and final inspections.)

If the window or door is shown to be bare of wood when the process is
complete, they will pass the item as abated, whether or not there is
remaining lead in the wood from a chemical process. They should make a
note in the final inspection report that the item was stripped to bare
wood so a future inspector would understand that new paint does not
invalidate that abatement. It is not complicated nor is it discriminatory
against retaining old windows or doors. 

These were both reputable inspectors who seemed to know the law and
practice backward and forward. Unfortunately, the practice changes
constantly so there is no guarantee that notes on the inspection report
will count in the future as "abated", but you have to hope that future
inspectors would be reasonable. I have found that inspectors tend to trust
reports from past inspectors, so I personally am not worried about it.

The more complicated part of removing old windows to abate is that it
usually takes longer than just popping in a new window, so it may
complicate getting back into the unit. If its vacant for a month or two
that may not matter, but often units are already occupied and therefore
every day out of the unit is another day in a hotel, with friends, etc.
With small kids that can be a big hassle, and therefore often owners
choose to replace rather than strip. In the long run, stripping is often
the better choice if residents are willing to deal with the extra
inconvenience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Levine, AICP
Director
Department of Planning and Community Development
Town of Brookline
333 Washington Street Third Floor
Brookline, MA

617-730-2130 (v)
617-730-2442 (f)

Email:    jlevine at brooklinema.gov
www:  http://www.brooklinema.gov/Planning/

Please remember the Secretary of State considers email a public record.



More information about the MassHistPres mailing list