Blog
Michigan lead-paint compliance, plain English
Field-level reading from inside an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. We cover the federal RRP rule (40 CFR Part 745), Michigan's PA 434 landlord-liability layer, the new universal blood-lead testing statute (MCL 333.5474d), and what county health investigators actually look for when an elevated blood-lead level traces back to a recent renovation. Written for general contractors, landlords, and homeowners who'd rather hold a clean compliance packet than argue about whether one exists.
GC · Jun 2, 2026
How to get EPA Lead-Safe Certified: the firm + Renovator process explained from someone who just did it
EPA Lead-Safe certification is two separate credentials — the individual Certified Renovator and the firm Lead-Safe Certified Firm. ECT went through both in 2026. Here's the timeline, the cost, the exact CFR sections, and the EPA portals you'll actually use.
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GC · May 30, 2026
Michigan's free filter programs — what every pre-1978-housing contractor should know
Michigan operates four statewide programs that give homeowners free certified lead filters. Most homeowners don't know they exist. Contractors who can refer customers to them earn trust the cheap way — and these homeowners often become repeat callers.
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Homeowner · May 30, 2026
The silent threat: how lead exposure actually works in pre-1978 Michigan homes
Michigan defines an elevated blood lead level at 3.5 µg/dL — and most kids who hit that number look perfectly healthy. Here's how the six lead exposure pathways actually work inside a pre-1978 home, and what every homeowner can do this week.
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GC · May 30, 2026
Michigan's new universal blood lead testing law — what renovating contractors need to know
Michigan now requires blood lead testing for every child at 12 and 24 months. More EBLL findings will surface in 2026 — and PA 434 puts the liability on whoever last renovated the unit. Here's what that means for GCs.
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Homeowner · May 8, 2026
Pre-1978 home in Burns Park? Here's what RRP means for your contractor.
Burns Park is one of Ann Arbor's densest pre-1978 neighborhoods. If you're hiring a contractor for window work or a kitchen remodel, here's what the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule requires of them — and what it costs.
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Working a pre-1978 job?
ECT covers the EPA piece for $550.
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm. One transaction at booking. 24-hour compliance packet, 39-month retention. We arrive before your crew and the lead-impact zone is set when they get there.
Have a job that doesn't fit the flat-rate path? Request a walk-through quote.