'Fixer Upper' stars Chip and Joanna Gaines owe $40K for violating lead paint rules

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

Chip and Joanna Gaines, the husband-wife duo who host Fixer Upper, have been fined $40,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency after improperly handling lead-based paint during their famous house renovations.

The co-stars, who together own Magnolia Homes, have agreed to pay the fine. On top of that, per the settlement, they will complete $160,000 in lead abatement work in Waco, Texas, their hometown.

The EPA says that proper precautions to avoid lead exposure to workers and residents were not shown on the HGTV show while renovation work was being performed on buildings built before 1978.

Chip and Joanna Gaines have settled with the EPA over lead paint. (Photo: HGTV)
Chip and Joanna Gaines have settled with the EPA over lead paint. (Photo: HGTV)

The couple has been accused of mishandling paint that could have contained lead in 33 of the properties they renovated, and they originally faced a $556,000 fine before the settlement. In addition to the $40,000 fine, Chip Gaines has 90 days to release a short educational video about the dangers of lead-based paint.

I can't believe tonight marks our very last episode of Fixer Upper. This picture is of us filming our pilot in 2012 and then our last scene of fixer in 2017. What a journey this has been! Check out my blog to read an update from us and to see what's on the horizon for our family and Magnolia as we move forward. The end is bittersweet, but we are excited for what's to come. Tune in tonight for the series finale on HGTV @ 9/8c! #fixerupper (link in profile)

A post shared by Joanna Stevens Gaines (@joannagaines) on Apr 3, 2018 at 8:08am PDT

“It’s important that consumers and contractors understand that improper home renovation can expose residents and workers to hazardous lead dust,” the head of enforcement at the EPA said in a statement.

“Through this settlement, Magnolia is putting in place safeguards to ensure the safety of its renovation work and making meaningful contributions toward the protection of children and vulnerable communities from exposure to lead-based paint.”

Children are especially prone to lead poisoning. Inhaling and ingesting lead can cause kidney and nervous system damage. Lead-based paint was banned for use in housing in 1978, and it is likely that houses built before then contain some lead-based paint.

Chip and Joanna Gaines have been documenting their renovations through Magnolia Homes since 2013. Fixer Upper aired its fifth and final season in 2018.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Chip and Joanna Gaines said goodbye on ‘Fixer Upper’ and fans are really sad
• Chip Gaines of ‘Fixer Upper’ accidentally revealed 5th child’s gender on Twitter
• Chip and Joanna Gaines got the name ‘Magnolia’ from one of their first dates

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