Happy Earth Day!

April 22 – Earth Day – Today the Environmental Protection Agency’s “lead paint law” goes into effect. It will have an impact on all pre-1978 homes. Many of you live in pre-1978 homes and we all know people who do.

Included in this special Earth Day edition of The Thompson Times is some information on what the new law entails and how it will affect you and your home.  Many months ago we became a Certified Renovator with the EPA so we are ready to take the hassle out of your next project.

Happy Earth Day!

Warmly,

Ben Thompson
President

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EPA's New Lead Paint Law

The Renovate, Repair and Painting Rule will affect you when you go to paint, repair or remodel your pre-1978 home -- unless you do the work yourself.  The rule states that contractors working on such homes must:

• Have their firm registered with EPA
• Have EPA-Certified Renovators on staff
• Use mandated lead safe dust-containment and clean-up protocols
• Document all compliance measures

Okay, okay, you say, but what does that have to do with homeowners? Here's what.

• EPA will enforce the rule by shutting down home projects with non-compliant contractors indefinitely. Picture a stop work order on a demolished kitchen.
• When you sell your home, you are required to disclose known lead to potential buyers. If you can't show that your work was performed by EPA-certified contractors using lead safe practices, the value of your home may be affected.

The rule will apply to any work that disturbs more than 6 sq. ft. of painted interior surfaces or more than 20 sq. ft. of painted exterior surfaces. That covers a lot of projects. But minor work and most energy improvements will be exempt.

The EPA will not carry out a public awareness campaign until later this year. Please spread the word to your friends. Ask before hiring any sort of contractor or painter:  Are you EPA Lead-Safe Certified? If you get a blank stare, get another contractor.

Shred Event Re-Cap

The Thompson Trio hosted a FREE shred event yesterday. 2,400 pounds of private documents were shredded for our clients and friends in just two hours. The shredded paper is recycled directly into the industrial supply chain.  We even filled the truck and it had to be dumped yesterday so very soon your old financial records & account statements will become someone's office paper.

Our thanks to everyone who came out and made this such a successful event!

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