Homeowners in Colorado Springs who plan to repaint older houses may be unaware that federal regulations can apply before any paint is applied. Front Range Painters, a residential painting company based in Colorado Springs, is encouraging owners of homes built before 1978 to learn about lead-safe painting rules and what to ask before work begins. The announcement highlights a critical safety issue that can affect both the health of occupants and the legal responsibilities of contractors.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that homes built before 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint, because the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint that year. Exposure to lead dust or chips can cause serious health problems, especially in children and pregnant women. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lead exposure can harm the brain, kidneys, and nervous system, making it essential to handle older paint safely during renovations.
The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires firms paid to perform projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities, and preschools to be EPA-certified. They must also use certified renovators and follow lead-safe work practices. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule applies to common painting prep, including surface preparation that disturbs existing paint. Under the rule, contractors must give occupants the EPA's "Renovate Right" pamphlet before work begins.
Certain practices are prohibited on these projects, such as open-flame burning, using high-speed power sanders or grinders without HEPA exhaust controls, and operating heat guns at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. These restrictions are designed to prevent the release of lead dust and fumes into the air.
"When we look at an older home, the first question isn't the color. It's when the house was built," said Danny Manriquez, owner of Front Range Painters. "That one answer changes how the prep gets done, how the site gets set up and how the cleanup gets handled."
The issue is especially relevant for exterior projects, where years of weather exposure can leave older paint peeling or flaking. Before hiring any of the exterior painters colorado springs has to offer, homeowners can ask whether the firm is EPA-certified and how it plans to contain paint chips and dust. The EPA maintains an online search tool that lists certified renovation firms.
The same questions apply indoors, where colorado springs interior painting projects in older homes often involve window trim, doors, and stairways. The rule can also apply when original painted cabinets are sanded or stripped during cabinet painting colorado springs projects in pre-1978 kitchens.
"Most people just want the house to look good again, and that's fair," Manriquez said. "But if you've got an older home, spend two minutes asking your painter about lead before anybody starts scraping. A good contractor will have a straight answer."
Front Range Painters is encouraging homeowners with questions about an older home to review the EPA's guidance and to discuss the home's age with any contractor during the estimate stage. The company provides interior painting, exterior painting, and cabinet painting services and serves Colorado Springs and nearby communities within about 25 minutes of the city.
