Tenant wants lead testing.
Y ou mean testing?
for an obvious rea sons I could not recommend the comany who did that testing for us. The guy who did he testing did a good job reading and collecting tests.
But the the sloppiness with sen ding results and how they dealt w it h our questions – I w ould not recommend them.
lucie
in General Discussion 2 years and 2 months ago
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172 replies
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
Yes. I have a lot of questions for the test.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
It starts to remind an action movie.
Half an hour before the test inspector cancelled due to the reasons really beyond his control. And will not be able to come for a week or more.
We came upstairs showed inspector’s text to the tenants, let them know about the cancellation and asked for a permission to do a self- test with HD kit.
At the place they were concerned about it tested negative ( just a bit of grayish from black paint, but no pink or purple whatsoever. I also dipped it in a crack to touch the plaster behind the paint, rubbed for 30 seconds.
We tested another spot, the one I noticed on original built in, where I found yellowish old paint under new paint chipped. Also negative.
Yellow staff that was needed for the reaction came through to the tip allright, when testing “cigar” was squeezed before the rubbing, so, I assume test is valid.
We will have X-ray test tomorrow.
Tenant said that the baby already took another blood test yesterday this time vein test.
Hopefully they will share results when it is ready.
It seems that they sincerely do their part, howeve r they think apartment is the culprit.
She said ” I still think it is something in the apartment” even not knowing if the baby really has lead elevated.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
It starts to remind an action movie.
Half an hour before the test inspector cancelled due to the reasons really beyond his control. And will not be able to come for a week or more.
We came upstairs showed inspector’s text to the tenants, let them know about the cancellation and asked for a permission to do a self- test with HD kit.
At the place they were concerned about it tested negative ( just a bit of grayish from black paint, but no pink or purple whatsoever. I also dipped it in a crack to touch the plaster behind the paint, rubbed for 30 seconds.
We tested another spot, the one I noticed on original built in, where I found yellowish old paint under new paint chipped. Also negative.
Yellow staff that was needed for the reaction came through to the tip allright, when testing “cigar” was squeezed before the rubbing, so, I assume test is valid.
We will have X-ray test tomorrow.
Tenant said that the baby already took another blood test yesterday this time vein test.
Hopefully they will share results when it is ready.
It seems that they sincerely do their part, howeve r they think apartment is the culprit.
She said ” I still think it is something in the apartment” even not knowing if the baby really has lead elevated.
justinromeu26 | 2 years and 3 months ago
Who is doing xray, city or your guy. Of course they will find. All of these houses have it.
cate | 2 years and 3 months ago
Well, that is very good news that your tests of the suspect spots are so far negative. Best wishes for the next steps. Please keep us posted.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
Our inspector had cancelled just before the inspection today as I said
( for the reasons beyond his or our control). He supposed to do the dust test.
City could be involved only if blood test confirms that lead level is indeed elevated, I think.
Or if the apartment test shows lead dust.
Our tenants found inspectors who is coming tomorrow to do x-ray test.
X- ray by itself is required by default by the city ( regardless of the blood test)
now as was mentioned above.
They did not send anything to us when baby was born.
Well, I guess it was official without their written notification.
We were around and learned from other tenant about new baby, brought flowers to new mom and left by the door and they texted later that day, Feb 26 2022.
It means that we have to do x-ray test till Feb 26 2023.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
Our inspector had cancelled just before the inspection today as I said
( for the reasons beyond his or our control). He supposed to do the dust test.
City could be involved only if blood test confirms that lead level is indeed elevated, I think.
Or if the apartment test shows lead dust.
Our tenants found inspectors who is coming tomorrow to do x-ray test.
X- ray by itself is required by default by the city ( regardless of the blood test)
now as was mentioned above.
They did not send anything to us when baby was born.
Well, I guess it was official without their written notification.
We were around and learned from other tenant about new baby, brought flowers to new mom and left by the door and they texted later that day, Feb 26 2022.
It means that we have to do x-ray test till Feb 26 2023.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
OK. We did the inspection.
It included:
water inspection ( all our pipes were replaced, kitchen, bathrooms) and new water main. Results will be in a week or so.
dust samples – those will be ready in 2-3 days.
XRF – most of our original woodwork showed lead.
Also lead reading was on 3 walls in a smaller room out of all floorthrough large 3-4 br apartment.
Also, wood shutters ( not frame, just shutters) showed 1.8 lead, I remember this because I have them refinished by myself, but an outer gel layer might be too thin.
Tenants were visibly uncomfortable.
When I asked inspector what could be done to make it safer – his first answer was – remove all the woodwork.
I have asked about encapsulation because this is what EPA and nyc.gov document recommend.
Inspector answer is that he is not a risk assessor, he just reads data that shows lead.
But as about remediation if we want to keep the woodwork – all the paint is an intact condition, there is nothing more to do. He did asked when apartment was painted the last time and we answered that last painting of the walls, ceiling, woodwork etc. was September 2021.
And we had 5 paintings of the surfaces that he read as positive alltogether in the last 18 years because this is our fifth tenant in this apartment.
So, he said – we have nothing to do from his perspective.
The total bill was 1.5K which we paid. He will send us reports in portions when those will be ready.
To keep tenants happy we agreed that I will come tomorrow with contractor because I have noticed several dents or chips of the upper surface of the woodwork, just a handful for the whole apartment, and only the most upper surface, but still.
We will mark those dents, so, he can come and repaint over and around.
Shutters – we will wrap in a wet clean sheet each, unscrew, put in a black plastic bag and will take with us tomorrow. They will live without shutters. If we have time, we will deep them and refinish, then put them back. As I have mentioned – surrounds are negative, including original windows casing ( probably I did a better stripping for mouldings then shutters then).
Also, contractor will remove 3 drawers from the original built-in in the kitchen because reading showed lead paint underneath but paint is caked too much, if they move those drawers back and force, paint could start to crack. Actually it is already almost cracked at the bottom corner of one of the drawers..
It does not have a metal slider, just old school built in that could stack sometimes if pulled with force.
So, Our contractor just replace drawer faces with fresh wood, paint them and bring them back.
That about it for now.
Our tenants could have a hard time to find apartment this size in Park Slope that does not contain lead ( all new) or has all lead stripped and removed completely.
It is doable but not an easy task in our historic neighborhood.
Also, prices jumped even from the time they moved in.
so, I gather they could not find any blame to put on us, but probably will decide to move.
they were visibly unhappy that the lead exists at all even if there is no exposure.
Baby blood test will come in a couple of days.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
OK. We did the inspection.
It included:
water inspection ( all our pipes were replaced, kitchen, bathrooms) and new water main. Results will be in a week or so.
dust samples – those will be ready in 2-3 days.
XRF – most of our original woodwork showed lead.
Also lead reading was on 3 walls in a smaller room out of all floorthrough large 3-4 br apartment.
Also, wood shutters ( not frame, just shutters) showed 1.8 lead, I remember this because I have them refinished by myself, but an outer gel layer might be too thin.
Tenants were visibly uncomfortable.
When I asked inspector what could be done to make it safer – his first answer was – remove all the woodwork.
I have asked about encapsulation because this is what EPA and nyc.gov document recommend.
Inspector answer is that he is not a risk assessor, he just reads data that shows lead.
But as about remediation if we want to keep the woodwork – all the paint is an intact condition, there is nothing more to do. He did asked when apartment was painted the last time and we answered that last painting of the walls, ceiling, woodwork etc. was September 2021.
And we had 5 paintings of the surfaces that he read as positive alltogether in the last 18 years because this is our fifth tenant in this apartment.
So, he said – we have nothing to do from his perspective.
The total bill was 1.5K which we paid. He will send us reports in portions when those will be ready.
To keep tenants happy we agreed that I will come tomorrow with contractor because I have noticed several dents or chips of the upper surface of the woodwork, just a handful for the whole apartment, and only the most upper surface, but still.
We will mark those dents, so, he can come and repaint over and around.
Shutters – we will wrap in a wet clean sheet each, unscrew, put in a black plastic bag and will take with us tomorrow. They will live without shutters. If we have time, we will deep them and refinish, then put them back. As I have mentioned – surrounds are negative, including original windows casing ( probably I did a better stripping for mouldings then shutters then).
Also, contractor will remove 3 drawers from the original built-in in the kitchen because reading showed lead paint underneath but paint is caked too much, if they move those drawers back and force, paint could start to crack. Actually it is already almost cracked at the bottom corner of one of the drawers..
It does not have a metal slider, just old school built in that could stack sometimes if pulled with force.
So, Our contractor just replace drawer faces with fresh wood, paint them and bring them back.
That about it for now.
Our tenants could have a hard time to find apartment this size in Park Slope that does not contain lead ( all new) or has all lead stripped and removed completely.
It is doable but not an easy task in our historic neighborhood.
Also, prices jumped even from the time they moved in.
so, I gather they could not find any blame to put on us, but probably will decide to move.
they were visibly unhappy that the lead exists at all even if there is no exposure.
Baby blood test will come in a couple of days.
Lurker | 2 years and 3 months ago
What a nightmare, sorry you and your tenant have to navigate. You are seemingly doing everything right.
FWIW, I do sympathize with the fear of the parents–these sorts of scares often seem over the top but for other readers here who may not know, in the case of lead it’s gravely serious for young children. The effects aren’t reversible, and even a tiny amount—a single paint chip—could permanently lower IQ, can cause kidney damage, developmental problems, behavioral changes and so forth. And something like a paint chip can stick in a kids gut and continuously leach lead for years.
Hoping for the best for you all.
Guest User | 2 years and 3 months ago
This is exactly the reason the 3 renovations I am undertaking this winter are via gutting to the studs instead of salvaging some existing plaster walls to reduce construction costs. Short term construction costs savings are not worth the fnancial and personal burdens related to long term compliance and maintenance of lead based housing hazards.
For anyone wondering about reduction of lead quantities and absorption rates in the body, it is worth noting that therapies such as chelation, improved diet, vitamin supplementation, etc. are available for reducing toxicity levels after exposure: https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/lead-poisoning-chelation-therapy
justinromeu26 | 2 years and 3 months ago
I did not want to say it here where a child is concerned but they told me to take iron. They said the lead would attach to the iron and void.
cate | 2 years and 3 months ago
I’m sorry to hear all this. Thank you for posting what happened.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
I wanted to bring Luke Gray for risk assessment on a top of this.
Luke gave 2 options for an appointment. Unfortunately tenants declined, they said they will not be around both times.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
I wanted to bring Luke Gray for risk assessment on a top of this.
Luke gave 2 options for an appointment. Unfortunately tenants declined, they said they will not be around both times.
Guest User | 2 years and 3 months ago
OP you should have a clause in lease that covers the issue of tenants not needing to be home for landlord to provide access for necessary repair, maintenance, etc. Tenants often tell me a contractor’s appointment doesn’t work for their schedule, and I often reply with “not necessary for tenant to be present” because building staff will provide access. Often times tenants don’t push back on this, especially when you hint if necessary about tenant’s denial or limitation of access for necessary repairs causing unnecessary limitations and harm to landlord per the terms of the lease. And of course you can go the route of making the lease the bad guy and the landlord the good guy who says we can overlook this first refusal as a courtesy but we can’t keep rescheduling entirely at tenant’s convenience if there are other limiting factors making doing that too difficult for landlord
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
It is not about access denial. It is about them to hear what risk apartment posses.
From professional.
Inspector who did x- rays said he does not see anything that needs attention.
But he also mentioned that it is not a risk assessment.
I suggested we will remove shutters.
Not because it is a risk, there is no lead on the surface but some locked under the gel lead paint bits. Just because it is easy to remove and gives them peace of mind.
Now tenants look at this as “the fix”. One that is necessary to do asap.
We will remove those shutters today, but I am afraid it is not the end.
Professional will answer their questions and write something that we will keep.
But it is critical for tenants to hear what he will say.
We are pretty confident there is no danger or if any we can fix it.
I am afraid without this I will be looking for “dangers” just because I sincerely care about child well being, trying to fix whatever I think needs to be fixed and it could be used against us.
lucie | 2 years and 3 months ago
It is not about access denial. It is about them to hear what risk apartment posses.
From professional.
Inspector who did x- rays said he does not see anything that needs attention.
But he also mentioned that it is not a risk assessment.
I suggested we will remove shutters.
Not because it is a risk, there is no lead on the surface but some locked under the gel lead paint bits. Just because it is easy to remove and gives them peace of mind.
Now tenants look at this as “the fix”. One that is necessary to do asap.
We will remove those shutters today, but I am afraid it is not the end.
Professional will answer their questions and write something that we will keep.
But it is critical for tenants to hear what he will say.
We are pretty confident there is no danger or if any we can fix it.
I am afraid without this I will be looking for “dangers” just because I sincerely care about child well being, trying to fix whatever I think needs to be fixed and it could be used against us.
justinromeu26 | 2 years and 3 months ago
If you get him to come in when they are there, have him say less in front of them and prepare a report for you later.
We had to deal with potentially unsafe conditions in buildings and we never discussed things in front of the occupants. We were not even allowed to use the word asbestos outside of our offices. Be careful. She will latch on to anything you or the inspector says and use it.