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Lead Paint Removal & Remediation in Chester & Delaware County, PA
Lead paint remains in an estimated 29 million U.S. homes — virtually every pre-1978 home in Chester and Delaware County contains it. ACI-TECH, INC. provides certified lead remediation, inspection, and risk assessment for homes and rental properties throughout Pennsylvania.
Recent work
Work we've done — lead remediation
Scope of work
What does lead remediation cover?
- Lead paint inspection (XRF analyzer and chip sampling)
- Lead risk assessment with dust wipe sampling
- Encapsulation of intact lead-painted surfaces
- Enclosure with new drywall or paneling
- Full abatement — paint removal or component replacement
- Window and door replacement on friction surfaces
- Post-work clearance dust wipe testing
- EPA RRP documentation and homeowner notification
Our process
How does it work?
- Inspect XRF analysis or chip samples identify every lead-painted surface throughout the property.
- Risk assessment Dust wipe samples and soil testing identify the surfaces most likely to cause exposure — especially for children.
- Contain Plastic sheeting isolates the work area; foot coverings prevent tracking lead dust through the home.
- Remediate Encapsulation, enclosure, or full removal applied to each surface based on its condition and use type.
- HEPA cleanup Wet methods and HEPA vacuums capture all lead dust — standard vacuums recirculate fine particles back into the air.
- Clearance testing Independent dust wipe samples confirm levels below EPA clearance standards before occupancy resumes.
Regulatory requirements
Pennsylvania notification requirements
Lead remediation work in Pennsylvania is governed at two levels — both apply to every project:
ACI-TECH holds EPA RRP Firm Registration NAT-43556-2 and PA Lead Contractor Certification C00154. Ask to see documentation before any lead work begins — any qualified contractor should provide it without hesitation.
Cost guidance
What lead remediation costs
Lead remediation cost varies with the method and number of surfaces. Encapsulation of intact surfaces is the least expensive option. Window replacement — often the largest cost item, because window channels are high-friction surfaces — adds significantly. Full abatement of a multi-room home costs more than a targeted single-room project. Delaware County and Chester homeowners may have access to financial assistance through the Delaware County Health Department. ACI-TECH provides free written on-site estimates before any work begins.
Get a free written estimate →From ACI-TECH's field work
What We See in Chester and Delaware County Lead Work
The pattern in pre-1960 Chester and Delaware County row homes is predictable once you have seen enough of them. The highest-concentration lead paint is almost always on the original woodwork — window trim, door casings, stair railings, baseboard. Pre-1940 oil-based trim paint commonly tests well above the federal lead-based paint threshold of 1 mg/cm² — the HUD Guidelines document that pre-war trim paint routinely contains lead at concentrations many times higher than the regulatory definition. It is not surprising that a house has lead paint. The question is where the highest concentrations are and whether children live there.
Window channels are the most consistent exposure source in occupied homes. The sash slides through the channel on every use, grinding lead paint into fine dust that settles on the sill. A child who touches that sill and then touches their face has been exposed. It happens without any renovation and without any visible paint deterioration. The paint on the channel itself can look perfectly intact while generating measurable lead dust.
The other pattern we see frequently: a home where the walls have been repainted multiple times over the decades, with the original lead paint buried under several layers of latex. Intact buried lead paint is not an active hazard. But when that wall gets sanded during a renovation — to fix a crack, to prep for new paint — the sanding goes through the latex layers and into the original. That is when the exposure happens.
ACI-TECH holds EPA RRP Firm Registration NAT-43556-2 and PA Lead Contractor Certification C00154 (expires February 2027). Jack Helms, President, has held these certifications continuously since the company's founding in 1995.
Lead paint was banned in residential use by the federal government in 1978, but it remains in an estimated 29 million homes nationwide according to HUD. In Chester, Delaware County, and the broader Philadelphia area — where the majority of housing stock predates 1978 — lead paint is not a rare exception. It is the baseline condition of an older home.
ACI-TECH, INC. provides lead inspection, risk assessment, and lead remediation services for homeowners, landlords, and property managers throughout Chester, Delaware County, Philadelphia, Montgomery County, and Chester County. Our work follows EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requirements and Pennsylvania state regulations.
Why Lead Paint Is a Health Emergency for Children
Lead exposure causes permanent neurological damage in children under 6. The CDC has established a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) — but the agency is clear that there is no known safe level of lead in a child’s blood. Exposure at any measurable level is associated with IQ loss, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems that do not resolve when exposure ends.
Lead paint itself is not the primary hazard. Lead dust is. When painted surfaces are disturbed by wear, friction, or renovation work, they release microscopic particles that settle on floors, windowsills, and toys — and are ingested by children through normal hand-to-mouth contact. Pennsylvania requires blood lead screening for children as part of routine well-child care through the Pennsylvania Department of Health childhood lead surveillance program.
Lead Inspection vs. Lead Risk Assessment
These are two different documents that serve different purposes.
Lead inspection identifies whether lead-based paint is present and where. An inspector tests paint surfaces throughout the property using an XRF analyzer or paint chip samples sent to a laboratory. The result is a report showing which surfaces contain lead paint. It does not assess the likelihood of exposure.
Lead risk assessment goes further. A risk assessor evaluates lead paint condition, lead dust levels (using wipe samples), and lead in soil. The result is a report identifying the specific hazards that are most likely to cause exposure — and recommendations for how to address them. A risk assessment is the appropriate document when children live in or will occupy the property.
Philadelphia has gone further than state law requires: the Philadelphia Code Chapter 6-800 requires landlords renting to families with children under 6 to provide a lead-safe certification before occupancy.
The Three Methods: Encapsulation, Enclosure, and Abatement
Not every lead paint surface requires full removal. The correct method depends on the material’s condition, location, and how it will be used.
Encapsulation covers intact lead paint with a specially formulated coating that seals it against the surface and prevents dust generation. It is appropriate for surfaces in good condition that are not subject to friction or impact. It is not appropriate for deteriorated paint or surfaces like window channels and door frames where paint is already abrading.
Enclosure covers lead-painted surfaces with new material — paneling, drywall, or other solid coverings — that permanently separates the lead paint from the occupied space. It is appropriate for walls and flat surfaces where the existing substrate is sound.
Abatement (full removal) removes lead-painted components entirely — stripping paint down to bare substrate, or replacing windows, doors, and trim. It is the most durable solution and the only method appropriate for friction surfaces and severely deteriorated paint. It is also required in many situations involving young children.
ACI-TECH will assess the specific materials in your home and recommend the method that provides durable protection — not just the least expensive option.
What Lead Remediation Involves
All contractors performing renovation, repair, or painting work that disturbs lead paint in pre-1978 homes must be certified under the EPA RRP Rule. Uncertified contractors who disturb lead paint face significant federal fines — and leave homeowners with a health hazard rather than a solution.
A properly conducted lead remediation project includes:
Containment. Plastic sheeting isolates the work area. Foot coverings and decontamination procedures prevent tracking lead dust through the rest of the home.
Wet methods and HEPA. Disturbing lead paint dry releases dust. All work is conducted with wet methods where possible. HEPA vacuums — not standard shop vacuums — capture lead dust. Standard vacuums recirculate fine particles back into the air.
Clearance testing. After work is complete, independent dust wipe samples confirm that lead dust levels have been reduced to below the EPA clearance standards. The space is not cleared for occupancy until samples pass.
Regulated disposal. Lead paint debris is handled as regulated waste and disposed of properly.
Where We Work
- Chester, PA — 87% of pre-1940 homes contain lead paint; Delaware County Lead Hazard Control Program available
- Delaware County, PA — 80% of county homes contain lead paint; 307 children with elevated blood-lead in 2022
- Upper Darby, PA — highest childhood lead poisoning rate in Delaware County; ordinance-required lead certification
- Collingdale, PA — near-universal lead paint in pre-1978 housing stock
- Darby, PA — over 50% of homes pre-1950; high-concentration lead paint risk
- Folcroft, PA — postwar housing with lead paint on all original pre-1978 surfaces
- Lansdowne, PA — lead paint on virtually every original surface in Victorian twins
- Ridley Park, PA — Victorian and Craftsman homes with high-concentration lead paint
- Sharon Hill, PA — 1935–1955 construction wave; lead paint universal on original surfaces
- Wayne, PA — pre-war Main Line homes and borderline-era Chesterbrook construction
- Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia Lead Paint Disclosure and Certification Law; lead-safe certification for landlords
- Montgomery County, PA — pre-1940 Main Line and industrial borough homes
- Chester County, PA — Victorian boroughs and farmhouse conversions
Where we work
Areas near you
Common questions
Lead Remediation — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does lead remediation cost in Pennsylvania?
Lead remediation cost depends on the method and number of surfaces involved. Encapsulation of intact painted surfaces is the least expensive option. Window replacement — often necessary because window channels are high-friction surfaces — is typically the largest single cost item. Full abatement of a multi-room home costs significantly more than a targeted single-room project. ACI-TECH provides free written on-site estimates before any work begins.
Do I need a certified contractor for lead paint work in Pennsylvania?
Yes. The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires any contractor disturbing painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home to be certified, use containment and wet methods, and provide homeowners with the 'Renovate Right' pamphlet before work begins. Uncertified contractors face federal fines and leave homeowners with unresolved hazards. Always verify EPA RRP certification before any lead work starts.
How long does lead remediation take?
A targeted encapsulation or window replacement project typically takes one to two days. Full abatement of multiple rooms runs two to five days depending on scope. The timeline includes clearance dust wipe testing at the end — the space is not released for occupancy until samples pass EPA clearance standards. ACI-TECH provides a project timeline with every written estimate.
Can children return home immediately after lead remediation?
No — not until independent dust wipe samples confirm lead dust levels are below EPA clearance standards. Clearance testing is the final step of every properly conducted lead remediation project. The number of samples and specific thresholds are set by the EPA. ACI-TECH coordinates independent clearance testing as part of every project.
Does lead paint pose a risk if it's not peeling or chipping?
Intact lead paint on surfaces not subject to friction or impact is not an active hazard — the risk comes from lead dust. Friction surfaces like window channels and door frames abrade continuously and generate dust regardless of visible paint condition. Any renovation that disturbs lead-painted surfaces also releases dust. A risk assessment identifies which specific surfaces in your home pose the highest current risk.
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PA DEP licensed · EPA RRP certified · Serving Chester, Delaware County & Philadelphia