Lead Paint in Homes Built Before 1978

Why the 1978 Line Matters

Lead paint was banned for use in homes in the United States in 1978. Homes built before then may have it on walls, trim, windows, doors, porches and exterior siding, often under newer layers of paint. The older the home, the more likely it is, and homes built before 1950 carry the highest chance of lead paint and the highest concentrations.

Intact lead paint under a good coat of newer paint is not a hazard by itself. The problem comes when it breaks down or is disturbed. Lead gets into the body mostly through dust you cannot see. That dust comes from

• peeling, chipping or cracking paint,
• friction surfaces like windows that rub when they open and close,
• impact surfaces like doors and stair treads,
• renovation work that sands, scrapes or cuts painted surfaces,
• and soil near the house where exterior paint has flaked off for decades.

Young children put their hands and toys in their mouths, and they swallow that dust. Pregnant people can pass lead to the baby. That is why these two groups are at the center of every lead rule.

Who Is Most at Risk and What to Watch For

Lead affects the developing brain and nervous system. In young children even low levels are linked to lower IQ, attention problems and learning difficulties, and the CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Most children with elevated lead have no obvious symptoms, which is why testing matters.

• Children under 6 are most at risk because their brains are developing and they absorb lead more easily than adults.
• Pregnant people can pass lead to the fetus, and lead stored in the mother’s bones can be released during pregnancy.
• Adults can also be harmed, especially people who do renovation work often.

A simple blood test is the only way to know a child’s lead level. Talk with your child’s doctor about testing if you live in or regularly visit a home built before 1978, especially if there is peeling paint or recent renovation. Many children are tested around ages 1 and 2. The CDC uses a blood lead reference value of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter to flag children with higher levels than most.

If you are pregnant, tell your doctor if your home was built before 1978 or if renovation is planned.

How to Find Out if Your Paint Has Lead

There are three levels of testing, and each answers a different question.

Inspections and risk assessments should be done by certified lead inspectors or risk assessors. They often use a portable XRF device that reads lead through paint layers without damaging the surface, and they collect dust wipe samples from floors and windowsills for a lab.

Hardware store kits vary. Only use kits the EPA recognizes, and remember that a negative swab on the top layer does not always rule out lead further down. When you are unsure, assume the paint contains lead and work lead safe.

The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, known as the RRP rule, applies to paid work that disturbs paint in homes and child care facilities built before 1978. That includes contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, window installers and landlords.

• The firm must be certified, and a certified renovator must direct the work.
• Before work starts, the contractor must give you the EPA pamphlet on lead safe renovation.
• The rule applies when work disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint per room inside, or more than 20 square feet outside. Window replacement is always covered, whatever the size.
• The crew must contain the work area, keep dust from spreading, clean with HEPA vacuums and wet methods, and check the cleanup before they leave.

The rule also bans three practices on painted surfaces covered by it.

1. Open flame burning or torching.
2. Machine sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning or abrasive blasting unless the tool has a HEPA exhaust shroud.
3. Heat guns at or above 1100 degrees F.

HUD rules for federally assisted housing go further and also prohibit dry sanding and dry scraping except in small areas. If a contractor shows up planning to dry sand or torch old paint, stop the job.

Renovation Versus Abatement

People often mix these up, and the difference matters when you hire.

• Lead safe renovation is ordinary work, like replacing a window or painting trim, done in a way that keeps lead dust from spreading. That is what the RRP rule covers.
• Lead abatement is work meant to permanently remove lead hazards, such as removing lead paint, replacing painted components, or permanently enclosing or encapsulating them. Abatement is done by certified abatement workers and supervisors under separate rules, and it usually ends with a clearance test to confirm dust levels are low enough before people move back in.

If a child has an elevated blood lead level, the local health department may inspect the home and require specific repairs. In that case follow their orders, and hire certified abatement professionals for the work.

Encapsulation, which means coating lead paint with a special sealant made for the purpose, can be an option on some surfaces. It only works if the underlying paint is stable. It is not the same as painting over peeling paint with ordinary paint.

Everyday Steps That Lower Exposure

While you plan testing or repairs, a few habits greatly reduce lead dust in a pre-1978 home.

• Wet clean floors, windowsills and window wells at least weekly. Use damp paper towels or a wet mop, and change the water often. Dry dusting and sweeping stir dust up.
• Use a HEPA vacuum, not a regular vacuum, on floors and rugs.
• Wash children’s hands before meals, naps and bedtime, and wash toys and pacifiers often.
• Keep children away from peeling paint and from chewing on windowsills and railings.
• Take shoes off at the door, and use a doormat outside and inside.
• Plant grass or cover bare soil near the foundation where old paint may have flaked.
• Feed children regular meals with iron and calcium rich foods, which can reduce how much lead the body absorbs.

If you do a small repair yourself, mist the paint before scraping, use wet sanding sponges, lay plastic under the work, HEPA vacuum, wet wipe, and change clothes before you leave the room.

Step by Step

1. Check the Year Built

   Find the construction year from your deed, tax record or lease disclosure. If it is before 1978, treat older paint as possibly containing lead.

2. Look for Deteriorating Paint

   Walk the home and note peeling, chipping or cracking paint and worn window tracks, doors and stair treads. Check outside near the foundation too.

3. Test the Paint

   Use an EPA recognized kit for a quick screen, or hire a certified inspector or risk assessor for a complete picture. Get a risk assessment if a young child lives there.

4. Test Children and Tell Your Doctor

   Ask your child’s doctor about a blood lead test. If you are pregnant, tell your doctor your home was built before 1978.

5. Hire Certified Contractors

   For paid work that disturbs paint, confirm the firm is certified under the RRP rule and ask for the lead safe renovation pamphlet before work begins.

6. Keep Kids and Pregnant People Away From Work

   Plan for them to stay elsewhere during larger projects. Do not let them return until cleanup is finished and verified.

7. Contain and Clean Small DIY Jobs

   Lay plastic, mist paint before scraping, use wet sanding sponges, and HEPA vacuum and wet wipe everything. Never dry sand or torch.

8. Keep Up Wet Cleaning

   Wet clean floors, sills and window wells weekly and wash hands and toys often. Recheck painted surfaces a few times a year.

Mistakes That Make It Worse

• Dry sanding or power sanding old paint to prep for a fresh coat, which fills the home with fine lead dust.
• Stripping paint with a torch or a very hot heat gun, which can release lead fumes.
• Using a regular shop vacuum or household vacuum on paint chips, which blows fine dust back into the air.
• Assuming the home is safe because the top coat of paint looks new. Lead is often under several layers.
• Letting a contractor skip containment because the job seems small. Window replacement is always covered by the RRP rule.

Where You Live Matters