New EPA lead renovaton rule due 4/22/10 a “Hot Potato” according to NARI

NARI President William E. Carter, MCR, CKBR, UDCR, and incoming Government Affairs Committee Chairman David Merrick, MCR, UDCR, spent Thurs., March 18 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to request a delay on the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) Rule. NARI leaders met officials from the EPA, the Office of Management and Budget, as well as key senate leaders of the Energy Committee and Environmental and Public Works Committee.

Consistent with NARI’s core purpose to advance the remodeling industry’s vital public purpose, protecting the safety, welfare and housing of homeowners is included. Thus, NARI supports the EPA in its effort to protect the public from the hazards of lead poisoning. There is serious concern, however, that the remodeling industry is not nor can be prepared for an implementation date of April 22, 2010. The request for delay was made based on the following:

* The number of trainers is insufficient to certify the agency’s very conservative estimate of 200,000 contractors required.

* Only 14,000 individuals have been certified to date, and seven states reportedly have no trainers.

* The opt-out provision is a significant component of the rule and is under continuing review.

* The EPA has not commenced its planned public awareness campaign; the general public and the majority of contractors are not even aware of the rule.

“Issues like this which affect the remodeling industry and our members cause NARI to become more involved in the government arena” Carter said. “The government does not understand our industry and we must enable that understanding. The leaders with whom we met were receptive and keenly interested. We are hopeful that these key visits will result in a meaningful and necessary relief.”

Until the EPA or Federal government officially announces a delay of the LRRP rule, NARI members who work on homes built prior to 1978 must become certified by the April 22, 2010 deadline. Right now, there is no other alternative.

NARI Chapters are holding training sessions, and members can find additional information on all EPA LRRP-related information at www.nari.org/leadsafety.  NARI will remain active on this issue, and continue to keep members informed of developments.

Planning Home Improvement Projects

Planning Home Improvement Projects

If you are planning home improvement projects, there are a few things to consider. One of them is that you have to plan these carefully, since there can be many different things involved. If you live in the same house that you are planning your remodel, and you have kids, it is a good idea to sit down with them first and let them know that they are going to have to watch out more carefully. Home improvements can be dangerous, with materials hanging around, fixtures removed, and new appliances and items that may be delicate, like marble counter tops, and tiles for the bathroom, and much more. You need to let them know so they are careful not to get hurt, but also that they don’t break anything that may be expensive to replace.

One of the things you really need to think about is what your priorities are. If you are doing home improvements to living areas, you need to get certain things finished right away, like the kitchen or bathrooms that you use all the time. If you are working on home improvements to a basement, then you should cordon this area off from traffic so nothing is disturbed.

Another thing to consider is the time it is going to take, and the money involved. Many people get started on projects, and run out of money in the middle, or some other thing comes up and the job ends up not being completed, and in some cases, stays that way for a long period of time. In order to make sure that any project gets completed, you have to make time, and have a budget that you stick too. You may find that you can substitute expensive things like marble, for a just as nice laminate or lesser grade rock, that will be far less expensive on your pocket book.

You can also get quality but cheap materials in other places. You can go to estate sales, auctions, and flea markets. One good place to find many different things, from materials to major appliances is through the Habitat For Humanity Thrift Store. This organization gets donations of all kinds, and whatever they can’t use, or have an abundance of, they sell to regular people at very reasonable prices. You can often find one of their stores in your community, and you can find out by looking them up on the internet.

Now you need to be realistic about your home improvement projects. Some things you can do yourself, but more major jobs, ones that involve electrical or plumbing, you should really have a professional come in and do. They will know what kinds of building codes are required for the job, and can get it done is much less time than you can. They can do the job right the first time, which is important for any home owner.

When seeking a home improvement contractor, make sure they are licensed, insured and have experience working in the areas that you need done. They should be able to give you a free estimate, and a definite time line on when the job will be completed. You should always check their references, and even a call to the Better Business Bureau might be a good idea.

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