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FAQ: Understanding The Emails

Here are questions that we frequently receive:

What does A, B,C,D mean?

We use the A,B,C,D system to identify the location of the component. Here is how it works:  If you are standing in the room that the component is in, face the street.  The wall in front of you is A.  It then goes clockwise. (B to the right, C behind you, D to your left)

If you are trying to figure out the exterior, it’s basically the same system.  The exterior wall facing the street is A, then it goes clockwise. (C is rear)

For limited lead free, why do I have to paint areas that I KNOW are not lead paint?

For lack of a better reason, because the law is stupid.  As long as there is any lead paint on the exterior, there can’t be any defective paint. (In DC, this is not the case, but it is in Maryland)

What does ‘enclose/replace’ mean?

You have two options.  You can replace the component, or you can enclose it. Enclosure is defined as a ‘rigid material that has been mechanically fastened’.  An example of enclosure would be:

  • Luan
  • Sheet Rock
  • Paneling
  • Siding
  • Aluminum
  • Coil Stock
  • Vinyl
  • etc

The following materials are NOT considered enclosure:

  • Paint
  • Carpeting
  • Lead Block Paint
  • Gels
  • Foam
  • Insulation
  • etc

You can also ‘strip’ the component to make it lead free. I don’t usually recommend this option.  It’s easy to strip the first 95% off, the last 5% is very difficult and it needs to be 100% or it will still test positive.

If you are going to strip, please call us back to reinspect prior to painting.  Lead paint can leach into the wood, and we are able to overrule the gun, but we need to see the component prior to it being repainted.