The honest range: $450 to $40,000+
Lead work in Central NY runs across a huge spectrum because the regulatory track matters more than square footage. A single-window XRF inspection is $450. A whole-house Subpart 67-2 abatement on a Section 8 property with displaced tenants and full third-party clearance can hit $40,000 or more. Most jobs land in the middle.
Pricing by scope
| Scope | Typical Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| XRF inspection (single unit) | $450 to $800 | Pre-purchase, pre-renovation, pre-Section 8 inspection |
| XRF inspection (full multi-family) | $1,200 to $2,800 | 4 to 12 units, whole building survey |
| RRP-compliant surface prep, single room | $1,200 to $3,500 | Renovation in pre-1978 child-occupied property |
| Window component R&R (per opening) | $650 to $1,200 | Most common child exposure source. Includes lead-safe demo + new replacement |
| Door & trim removal & replacement | $350 to $700 | Per opening |
| Encapsulation, single room | $1,800 to $4,500 | Intact LBP surfaces, no peeling, no friction |
| Single unit abatement (small apartment) | $8,000 to $18,000 | NYSDOH Subpart 67-2 track, BLL case or HUD-funded |
| Whole-house abatement | $15,000 to $40,000+ | Full pre-1978 single-family |
| Lead-safe demolition surcharge | +$2,000 to $6,000 | Over standard demo price for pre-1978 structures |
| Soil remediation (exterior LBP zone) | $1,200 to $4,500 | Within 3 ft of exterior walls with peeling paint |
| Final clearance dust wipes (third party) | $400 to $900 | Required for NYSDOH abatement jobs |
What's included in every Backwell lead quote
- XRF testing of every suspect surface, real-time results
- Itemized written scope, surface by surface, control method by control method
- NYS DOL notification filing if work is abatement-classified
- Tenant notification per EPA RRP rules
- Containment setup (poly, HEPA negative-air machines)
- Wet methods only, HEPA tools, no dry sanding
- Hazmat-class disposal with manifests
- Third-party clearance coordination
- Documentation package: XRF, photos, manifests, clearance results
What pushes price up
- Occupied tenancy. Daily containment teardown/rebuild, hotel costs, displacement schedule
- Lots of windows. Window components are the #1 child exposure source. Each gets individually removed and replaced
- Exterior LBP. Soffit, siding, porches, columns. Higher quantity, more containment, weather windows
- Section 8 / HUD-funded work. Stricter protocols, more documentation, often must use specific lead clearance examiner
- Friction surfaces. Door frames, window sashes, stair treads, painted floors. Cannot be encapsulated, must be removed or enclosed
- Soil contamination. 30+ years of peeling paint creates a halo of contaminated soil within 3 ft of exterior walls
What pulls price down
- Intact LBP that qualifies for encapsulation instead of removal
- Vacant property (no displacement, no daily teardown)
- Post-1978 portion of structure already cleared
- Bundling lead work with planned renovation or demolition
- Owner-handled tenant notification and scheduling
RRP vs Abatement: why the price gap is so big
The federal RRP rule and the NYSDOH abatement rule trigger different cost tracks. RRP is "work safely around lead during a renovation." Abatement is "permanently eliminate the lead hazard." Same paint, very different scope. See RRP vs Abatement for the regulatory breakdown.
How we price it
Free site visit, XRF testing of suspect surfaces, written scope with each surface line-itemed and the chosen control method (encapsulation, enclosure, removal) called out. Fixed price. Change orders only if something undisclosed appears (often the case in vacant or hoarder-condition properties), and we document and call before touching anything.