Homeowners in Colorado Springs planning to repaint older houses may be subject to federal rules 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 understand lead-safe painting requirements and to ask contractors the right questions during the estimate stage.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, homes built before 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint, which the federal government banned for consumer use that year. 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 rule applies to common painting preparation tasks, including surface preparation that disturbs existing paint. Contractors must give occupants the EPA's "Renovate Right" pamphlet before work begins. The EPA identifies certain practices as prohibited on these projects, including 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.
"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 serves Colorado Springs and nearby communities within about 25 minutes of the city.
