Lead Paint Abatement in New Kensington

New Kensington’s housing stock tells its age in layers of paint. The city’s mill-era neighborhoods along the Allegheny River corridor are dense with brick rowhouses, two-story frame homes, and multi-unit rentals built between the 1890s and the 1950s, a period when lead-based paint was standard on every interior and exterior surface. If you own or manage a property here and renovation work is on the horizon, lead paint abatement is not a precaution you can skip. Katofsky Construction LLC handles the full process, from initial testing through certified clearance, for homeowners and landlords across the New Kensington area.

Why New Kensington Properties Face Elevated Lead Paint Risk

Westmoreland County’s older river towns were built fast to house steelworkers and their families, and New Kensington was no exception. The construction era that shaped most of the city’s residential blocks predates the federal ban on residential lead paint by decades. That means original window sashes, door frames, porch columns, and plaster walls in many homes still carry multiple layers of lead-containing paint beneath whatever has been applied since.

The region’s climate accelerates the problem. Western Pennsylvania’s freeze-thaw cycles put constant mechanical stress on painted wood surfaces. Window frames swell in summer humidity, contract in January cold, and the paint film cracks and chalks with each cycle. Chalking and peeling paint on friction surfaces like windows and doors is one of the most common pathways for lead dust to enter living spaces, particularly in homes where children are present. Older homes in the area also frequently have intact original plaster, which can test positive for lead and requires careful handling whenever walls are opened for electrical updates, plumbing repairs, or remodeling.

Our Lead Paint Abatement Process in New Kensington

The work begins with testing, not assumptions. A certified inspector collects paint chip samples or uses XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis to identify which surfaces contain lead and at what concentration. Results determine the scope: some surfaces may qualify for encapsulation, while others require full removal.

For abatement, the work area is sealed and contained before any disturbance begins. Plastic sheeting covers floors, HVAC registers are closed and taped, and negative air pressure is established to prevent dust migration to other parts of the home. Workers use HEPA-filter vacuums and wet methods throughout removal to keep airborne particulate as low as possible. Debris is bagged, labeled, and disposed of in compliance with EPA and Pennsylvania DEP requirements.

Clearance testing by a certified inspector follows every abatement project. Wipe samples are collected from surfaces and sent to an accredited laboratory. The job is not complete until the lab results confirm that lead dust levels fall below the EPA’s clearance standards. You receive a written clearance report, which is the document your contractor, insurer, or lender will ask for.

For renovation projects that disturb lead paint but do not require full abatement, the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule applies. Work must be performed using lead-safe practices by EPA RRP certified renovators. Katofsky Construction LLC holds EPA RRP certification, so projects that fall under that rule are handled in compliance from the first day on site.

Reaching New Kensington from Pittsburgh

Katofsky Construction LLC is based in Pittsburgh, and New Kensington is a straightforward run up Route 28 along the Allegheny River. The corridor is familiar territory. Because the company operates 24/7, scheduling a site visit or responding to a concern about a renovation in progress is not limited to business hours. Call (412) 304-9284 to set up an assessment.

Local Note

Something worth knowing if you are renovating an older New Kensington property: many of the frame homes in this area were built with balloon-frame construction, a method common before platform framing became standard after World War II. In balloon-frame walls, the stud bays run continuously from the foundation sill to the roof, with no horizontal fire blocking between floors. When lead paint testing or abatement requires opening a wall cavity, that open bay can allow dust to travel vertically through the entire wall height into adjacent spaces. Containment setup for these homes needs to account for that pathway, not just the immediate work area. It is a detail that matters in a city where this construction type is common and easy to overlook if you have not worked in the housing stock before.

If you are dealing with a property in New Kensington that needs lead paint testing, abatement, or lead-safe renovation work, the right time to call is before the first nail goes into a wall. Contact Katofsky Construction LLC at (412) 304-9284 to schedule an assessment and get a clear picture of what your project requires.