A large share of the homes we serve, from Huntington Woods bungalows to Grosse Pointe colonials to the older streets of Birmingham, Royal Oak, Plymouth, and Northville, were built before 1978. That is the year residential lead-based paint was banned in the United States, and it is the line that determines whether federal lead-safe rules apply to your painting project.
The rule in plain terms
The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule applies to work that disturbs painted surfaces in housing built before 1978. Sanding, scraping, and removing components can release lead dust, and lead dust is the actual hazard, especially for children and pregnant women. Contractors doing this work must be certified, must follow lead-safe work practices, and must contain and clean up properly. A painting project that only applies new paint over intact surfaces is handled differently than one that scrapes and sands.
Does it apply to your project?
If the home was built before 1978 and the work will disturb more than a minimal area of painted surface, the rule applies unless the surfaces are tested and shown to be free of lead-based paint. Testing can be done with a recognized test kit on the specific surfaces being worked on, or by a certified inspector or risk assessor for a fuller picture.
What changes on a compliant project
- Testing or presumption. Surfaces are tested, or lead is presumed present and the work proceeds under lead-safe practices.
- Containment. Work areas are isolated with plastic sheeting, HVAC is managed, and floors and furnishings are protected to capture dust.
- Dust control. Wet methods and HEPA-equipped tools replace dry sanding and open scraping.
- Cleanup and verification. The area is cleaned to a standard with HEPA vacuuming and wet cleaning, and the work is documented.
- Disclosure. You receive the required lead-hazard information before work starts.
Exteriors
Pre-1978 exteriors are the most common place lead-safe practices come into play, because exterior preparation often involves scraping and sanding failing paint. Containment on an exterior means ground cover, controlled scraping, and cleanup of chips and dust, with attention to soil and to the neighbor's property on tight lots.
What to ask any contractor
- Is the firm certified under the RRP rule, and will a certified renovator be on the project?
- How will surfaces be tested, or will lead be presumed?
- What containment and cleanup practices are planned, and are they in the proposal?
- Will I receive the required pre-renovation disclosure?
Clear answers are a sign of a contractor who has done this before. Vague ones are a sign to keep looking.
How we handle it
During the walkthrough on a pre-1978 home we identify the surfaces being disturbed and plan testing and lead-safe practices into the scope. It is written into the proposal like everything else, so you know what is happening and why before the first surface is touched.
Questions on this topic
My home was built in 1965. Does every painting project require lead-safe practices?
Only work that disturbs painted surfaces beyond a minimal area, unless those surfaces test free of lead-based paint. Repainting intact walls with light preparation is handled differently than scraping and sanding.
Can I just test the paint myself?
EPA-recognized test kits exist and can be used on the specific surfaces being worked. A certified inspector gives a fuller and more reliable picture for a whole house.
Does lead-safe work cost more or take longer?
Containment, dust control, and cleanup add steps, and the proposal reflects them. It is the correct way to prepare an older home, not an upsell.
Is intact lead paint dangerous if I leave it alone?
Intact, well-maintained paint is a managed condition. The hazard is dust from deterioration or disturbance, which is why failing paint on an older home is worth addressing properly rather than ignoring.