No matter how skilled you are at home restoration, it’s easy to fall short when it comes to lead paint abatement. This was a lesson Chip and Joanna Gaines learned the hard way. This summer, the beloved stars of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” were brought under scrutiny for violating the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule). For a couple famous for home renovations, that’s a big deal.
“Fixer Upper” Stars Violate EPA’s Lead Paint Rules
Magnolia Homes, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Waco-based renovation firm, has gained fame in recent years for remodeling historic homes while preserving the unique architectural details of each property. The EPA launched an investigation into the company after noticing insufficient measures for lead paint abatement had been taken on several episodes of their show. The EPA’s lead paint guidelines include:
- Obtaining certification from the EPA before performing relevant renovations
- Assigning a certified renovator to pertinent projects
- Providing homeowners or tenants with an approved pamphlet about lead-based paint hazards before starting the renovation
- Posting signs to define the work area and warn people not to enter that area
- Complying with the RRP Rule’s work practice standards
Magnolia Homes cooperated throughout the investigation, volunteering information about their projects and using their celebrity status to educate the public about the hazards of lead paint. In the end, 33 homes renovated by the Gaines were found to be in violation of EPA regulations. Magnolia Homes settled with the EPA in June 2018, agreeing to:
- Pay a $40,000 civil penalty
- Comply with EPA regulations for active and future renovations
- Educate their national audience about the dangers of lead-based paint safety
- Enact an initiative to increase awareness of lead-based paint safety issues in their home community of Waco, TX
- Complete $160,000 of local work in lead paint abatement
Are you renovating a historic home in Atlanta? Lead paint abatement is no small matter. Work with a team of highly trained, certified lead paint removal technicians. Call Clean Environmental Group today.