Lead Paint Abatement Calculator

Abatement Cost is Affected Area times a fixed per-square-foot rate that depends entirely on which Abatement Method you select -- encapsulation is modeled at $8/sq ft, enclosure at $12/sq ft, and full removal at $25/sq ft, reflecting removal's much heavier labor and disposal burden versus simply sealing the surface. A Number of Stories multiplier adds 15% to that per-square-foot cost for every story above the first, approximating the added scaffolding, lift rental, or fall-protection setup that upper-floor work requires. Disposal Cost only appears for the Full Removal and Enclosure methods, since encapsulation leaves the lead-based paint sealed in place rather than generating waste that needs hazardous-material disposal.

Testing Cost per Room and Number of Rooms combine into a separate Testing Cost total that has nothing to do with Affected Area or the chosen Abatement Method -- it reflects XRF or lab testing to confirm where lead paint is present and, later, that abatement was successful, and that testing step is required regardless of which remediation method you ultimately choose. The per-square-foot rates and the fixed 15% per-story surcharge are illustrative planning figures based on typical published cost ranges, not a quote: actual contractor pricing varies by region, the specific containment and disposal requirements of your local jurisdiction, and whether the property qualifies for any lead-hazard-reduction assistance programs, so use this as a first-pass budget rather than a binding estimate.