What XRF actually does
X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) is a handheld scanner that measures lead content in painted surfaces without removing or damaging the paint. The reading is real-time, in milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm²). The federal definition of lead-based paint is anything ≥ 1.0 mg/cm².
XRF is the EPA's preferred screening method because it tests the entire paint history on each surface (all layers), not just the top coat. A 1992 latex top coat over 1942 lead-based paint reads positive. Paint chip lab testing only tests the chip you take.
When you need an XRF inspection
- Pre-purchase due diligence on any pre-1978 residential or child-occupied property
- Pre-renovation in a pre-1978 rental property (RRP rule trigger)
- Section 8 inspection failure with lead-paint flag
- NYSDOH order following an elevated blood lead level (EBLL) case
- HUD-funded purchase or rehab (Lead Safe Housing Rule)
- Pre-1978 demolition permit application
- Daycare, preschool, school renovation
- Insurance subrogation on lead-related claims
What we test
Every painted surface gets shot. On a typical pre-1978 single-family home, that's 80 to 200 individual surfaces:
- Every window: sash, jamb, stool, casing, exterior trim
- Every door: slab, frame, threshold, casing
- Every baseboard, chair rail, crown molding
- Every painted wall (separate readings per room)
- Every painted ceiling
- Stairwell components: railings, balusters, treads, risers
- Built-in cabinetry, painted shelving
- Exterior siding, soffit, fascia, columns, porches
- Hot water radiators, steam pipes
- Metal grates, vents, painted hardware
What the report looks like
Within 3 to 5 business days you get a sealed report containing:
- Inspector name, license number, equipment serial number, calibration check log
- Property address, inspection date, weather conditions
- Floor-by-floor inventory of every component tested
- XRF reading in mg/cm² for each component
- Component condition: intact, fair, deteriorated, friction surface
- Photos of representative components
- Summary classification (positive / negative / inconclusive)
- Recommended next-step controls for positive components
This is the document a county health department, HUD inspector, or your demo permit office wants to see.
Pricing
| Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Single-family residential, exterior only | $350 to $500 |
| Single-family residential, full interior + exterior | $450 to $800 |
| Apartment unit, single dwelling unit only | $300 to $500 |
| Multi-family, 4 to 8 units, full property | $1,200 to $2,200 |
| Multi-family, 9+ units, full property | $2,200 to $4,500 |
| Commercial, daycare, school | $800 to $2,500 |
| Soil sampling (XRF cannot test soil, requires lab) | +$250 to $600 |
If we bundle the XRF inspection with the abatement work, the inspection cost is rolled into the abatement price. Standalone inspections for due diligence or insurance work we charge separately.
Why XRF beats paint chip testing
- Non-destructive. No paint removal, no patching, no visible test marks
- Tests all layers. Modern top coat over old LBP still reads positive
- Real-time results. You know on site, not in 7 to 10 days
- More surfaces sampled. Chip testing costs $25 to $50 per sample, so most chip surveys hit 5 to 15 spots. XRF hits 80 to 200 components for the same price
- Defensible documentation. Court-accepted for landlord-tenant disputes and insurance claims
Why XRF is required (and what happens if you skip it)
For RRP-classified work, the federal rule allows a "presumed positive" approach (treat as lead, follow RRP protocols) instead of testing. That sounds cheaper but costs more because you can't selectively work outside the positive areas.
For abatement-classified work (NYSDOH Subpart 67-2), testing is required. The clearance examiner needs to know which surfaces were positive and how they were controlled.
For HUD-funded work, testing is required and must be performed by a NYS-licensed inspector or risk assessor. We hold both licenses.