the painted surface
Renovating, Repairing and Repainting a Home Containing Lead Paint
This article is reproduced for online reading from the brochure “The Lead-Safe Guide To Renovate Right” by the EPA. The PDF can be read, printed or downloaded here: Renovate Right.
It's the Law
Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractors certification. Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating more than six square feet of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.
Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet before starting work.
Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, and the families of children under six years of age that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.
Who Should Read This Pamphlet?
This pamphlet is for you if you:
- Reside in a home built before 1978.
- Own or operate a child care facility, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, built before 1978, or
- Have a child under six years of age who attends a child care facility built before 1978.
You will learn:
- Basic facts about lead and your health.
- How to choose a contractor, if you are a property owner.
- What tenants, and parents/guardians of a child in a child care facility or school should consider.
- How to prepare for the renovation or repair job.
- What to look for during the job and after the job is done.
- Where to get more information about lead.
This pamphlet is not for:
- Abatement projects. Abatement is a set of activities aimed specifically at eliminating lead or lead hazards. EPA has regulations for certification and training of abatement professionals. If your goal is to eliminate lead or lead hazards, contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for more information.
- “Do-it-yourself” projects. If you plan to do renovation work yourself, this document is a good start, but you will need more information to complete the work safely. Call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint.
- Contractor education. Contractors who want information about working safely with lead should contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) for information about courses and resources on lead-safe work practices. Next Page
