An interior job with an extra layer
Repainting rooms in a house built before 1978 is a normal interior job with one more consideration: what's under the existing paint. EPA says approximately three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, and that any renovation, repair or painting project in a pre-1978 home with lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust. That shapes the way the work is done, and how it's priced. This guide explains those factors without quoting any figures.
The federal rule
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices. The full statement is in the card below. Ask the painter whether the firm holds RRP certification; that's the one credential question worth making early.
Testing first
Before the work starts, the painter may test the surfaces that will be disturbed. If the paint tests positive, or if no test is done and it's treated as if it contains lead, the lead-safe steps apply. Ask how and where they'll test, and what changes if a test is positive.
What lead-safe setup costs in time
Lead-safe interior work adds steps that a standard job doesn't have:
- covering floors and sealing doorways and vents with plastic sheeting;
- warning signs and keeping family and pets out of the work area;
- sanding and scraping methods that limit dust;
- careful cleanup with special vacuums and wet wiping;
- a cleaning check at the end.
These steps take labor and materials, and they're often the biggest difference between bids. A bid that skips them may look cheaper.
The heating season
NOAA's engineering weather data for Rochester lists about 8,376 heating degree days and 663 cooling degree days in an average year (base 65°F). That long heating season is when many owners schedule indoor work, while the windows stay shut. With windows closed, containment matters even more, because dust has nowhere to go but the rest of the house. Ask the painter how they'll ventilate for paint fumes without spreading dust, and whether the heating system's vents in the work area will be sealed during sanding.
Rooms, surfaces and repairs
Beyond the lead-safe steps, the usual factors apply:
- the number of rooms and their ceiling heights;
- whether ceilings, trim and doors are included;
- how many cracks, holes and patches need filling and sanding;
- whether windows, with their many painted parts, are included.
Window sashes, doors and trim are friction and impact surfaces, which is where old paint tends to be disturbed most. Each needs careful preparation. The surface preparation guide explains the repair work.
Coats and products
Most repaints need two finish coats, plus primer on repairs. A primer may also be needed to seal stains or a glossy old surface. Paint choice and sheen affect cost a little; preparation affects it much more. See the sheen guide.
Living in the house
Lead-safe work usually means rooms are closed off while the crew works. Plan which rooms you'll live in, and ask how long each one will be off limits, and how the crew moves between rooms without carrying dust.
In writing
- Rooms and surfaces included.
- Testing and lead-safe methods to be used.
- Repairs included.
- Products, coats and sheen.
- How cleanup will be checked at the end.
See interior painting and the pricing guide for more.