When the old paint is the problem
On some houses, a repaint is mostly a matter of washing and two fresh coats. On others, the old paint is curling, flaking and lifting in sheets, and the job becomes one of removal and repair before any color goes on. If the house was built before 1978, that removal also has to be done in a way that keeps lead out of the yard and the house. This guide explains how all of that affects the price for a Houma home. It quotes no figures; ask for written proposals.
The federal rule, in EPA's words
Two EPA cards on this page cover it. EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, fully effective April 22, 2010, applies to firms doing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 and requires them to follow lead-safe work practices. EPA's program page adds that anyone paid to do such work must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices.
We give the rule as EPA states it. For pricing, the point is that lead-safe practices take time and materials, and a proposal for an older house should show them.
What lead-safe work adds
- Containment: plastic sheeting on the ground well out from the wall, closed windows and doors, and covered vents.
- Methods: wet scraping and wet sanding to keep dust down, and avoiding methods that throw dust or fumes.
- Cleanup: collecting chips and debris every day, and a careful final cleanup.
- Disposal: bagging and removing waste.
You can ask whether the firm holds RRP certification and how it handles each of those steps.
Reading the failure
Before a price, a good painter figures out why the paint is peeling. Peeling to bare wood often means moisture from behind; peeling between coats means poor adhesion; widespread cracking can mean too many layers. The cause decides how much has to come off. Ask the painter to explain what they see on each side of the house.
Scraping standard
There are levels:
1. scraping loose paint to a firm edge and sanding the edges smooth; 2. heavier removal across whole boards or walls where adhesion is poor; 3. full removal on the worst areas, which is much slower.
The proposal should say which level applies where. More removal means more labor and more lead-safe cleanup.
Wood repair and priming
Peeling paint often hides soft sills, rotted trim and split siding. These get repaired or replaced before primer. Bare wood then needs a good exterior primer, and any area of sound old paint gets spot-primed where the scraping exposed it. Our exterior painting page explains primer and caulking.
Paying for the work
Louisiana's residential contractor fraud law, R.S. 14:202.1, as the card on this page states it, says a misappropriation may be inferred when a person who contracted for home improvement work fails to perform any work for forty-five days or longer after receiving payment, unless the contract specifies a longer period. We print it as written. In practical terms, a clear payment schedule and a clear start date in the contract help both sides.
Finish coats
After repairs and primer, two finish coats are common on a house that has been heavily scraped. Ask for product names, sheens and colors by surface.
Comparing Houma proposals
Look for the scraping standard by area, lead-safe containment and cleanup, wood repairs priced separately, primer, finish products and coats, the start date and the payment schedule. The pricing guide explains how those lines shape the total.