jmo2

Royalt, good for you, but I can tell you that MOST contractors do not work lead safe. They work with the type of tunnel vision that can get the job done. I can't even get the plumber to pay attention to what the electrician is doing. You think contractors are working to seal off lead paint areas, take steps to eliminate lead dust from demo, or clean lead dust from surfaces during ongoing work? No, no, and no. I have had to board up spaces with drywall in order to totally stop subcontractors from blowing through a Zipwall airlock with lead dust all over their clothes and shoes.

I once had a major painting contractor balk at the idea of working an external painting job to minimize lead exposure. His exact words were, "Well, if you want someone to put down plastic and mist with water or whatever, we don't do that." Really? Wonder how your clients and their kids are doing. Not to mention your employees. Idiot.

People need protection against lead and lead dust. Contractors need to work more safely with this. Finally someone is paying attention to it. It's about time.

THANK you for tackling this subject. I'm a huge fan of window restoration versus replacement and rant about this subject on my blog quite often. I even did a series of posts to try and explain infiltration, thermal loss and the cost-benefit analysis of restoration vs. replacement. ( http://www.houseinprogress.net/archives/001504.html )

I think the current push by the gov't to support weatherization is well-intentioned but misguided on this point. I cringe every time I see old wood windows being ripped out and replaced by vinyl. Many people, especially in urban areas, don't have the skills or tools to restore windows. BUT! The City of Chicago has an opportunity to change all of that if they would grab it. The Park District still runs 17 wood shops within the city limits that are accessible to any homeowner here. If they would run workshops on weatherization and window restoration out of their wood shops, they could reach a number of goals: 1) teaching residents to maintain and fix their own homes through skill development/empowerment, 2) contribute to the green movement by keeping wood windows out of landfills and vinyl out of houses, 3) interest a new generation in woodworking, 4) maintain the historic integrity and aesthetics of bungalow neighborhoods.

http://www.houseinprogress.net/archives/001556.html

Good luck with the article! Looking forward to it.