Homeowners in Colorado Springs who plan to repaint houses built before 1978 may be unaware that federal lead-safe rules can apply to their projects. Front Range Painters, a residential painting company based in Colorado Springs, is urging owners of pre-1978 homes to understand those rules and ask the right questions before any painting starts. The EPA banned consumer uses of lead-based paint in 1978, and homes built before that year are likely to contain it, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The implications for homeowners and contractors are significant. 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. This applies to common painting preparation, such as scraping, sanding, or other surface prep that disturbs existing paint. Contractors must give occupants the EPA's "Renovate Right" pamphlet before work begins.
The rule also prohibits certain dangerous practices on these projects. These include 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. For homeowners, the key takeaway is that lead-safe compliance is not optional for covered projects, and hiring an uncertified firm could put occupants and workers at risk.
Danny Manriquez, owner of Front Range Painters, emphasized that the home's age is the first thing to check. "When we look at an older home, the first question isn't the color. It's when the house was built," Manriquez said. "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.
Indoors, the same questions apply. Projects involving colorado springs interior painting 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 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 encourages homeowners with questions about an older home to review the EPA's guidance and discuss the home's age with any contractor during the estimate stage. For those seeking a painting company, verifying EPA certification is a simple but critical step that can affect the safety of the entire project.
