Lead Paint and DIY, Before You Sand a Pre-1978 Home

If your home was built before 1978, treat any sanding, scraping, cutting or demolition of painted surfaces as a lead dust job until a test says otherwise. EPA says a project in a pre-1978 home that has lead-based paint "can easily create dangerous lead dust," and its first recommendation is to hire a lead-safe certified contractor. If you do the work yourself, EPA publishes a set of DIY lead-safe work practices. This page summarizes them as of October 2026.

1. Why 1978 is the cutoff

In 1978 the federal government banned the sale of lead-based paint for use in homes, child care facilities and preschools. EPA says approximately three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint. The older the house, the more likely it is.

Intact paint is not the main concern. EPA notes that children can live safely in these homes as long as paint and surfaces are in good condition and kept clean. The risk comes when paint deteriorates, or when a renovation breaks it into chips and dust. Worn paint on surfaces that rub constantly, such as doors and window sills, produces chips and dust that can be inhaled or swallowed.

2. Does the federal rule apply to you?

EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and preschools to be certified in lead-safe work practices. In general, it does not apply to homeowners working on their own home.

There are exceptions. EPA says the rule does apply if you rent all or part of your home, operate a child care center in your home, or buy, renovate and sell homes for profit. A renter's landlord or property manager must follow the rule when work disturbs paint. Even where the rule does not apply to you, EPA still recommends the lead-safe practices below.

3. Step 1: Find out whether lead is there

Check the year your home was built. If it predates 1978, EPA recommends hiring a certified lead inspector or lead risk assessor to test the surfaces you plan to disturb. If you cannot determine the age of the home, EPA says it is safest to assume the area has lead-based paint and use the practices below.

4. Step 2: Set up the work area

The goal is to keep dust inside the work area and keep family members out. EPA's setup list:

• Remove furniture, area rugs, curtains, food, clothing and other household items until cleanup is complete.
• Tightly wrap anything that cannot be removed in plastic sheeting and tape it.
• Cover floors with plastic sheeting.
• Close and seal all doors in the work area. If needed, build an airlock at the entry from two sheets of thick plastic: one taped on all four edges and cut down the middle, and a second taped only along the top to cover the slit.
• Turn off forced-air heating and air conditioning, then cover the vents with taped plastic.
• Close all windows in the work area.
• Post warning signs.

5. Step 3: Protect yourself

EPA says to consider wearing a disposable N-100 certified respirator, disposable coveralls, a painters' hat, disposable shoe covers, eye protection and gloves. Wash your hands and face every time you stop working, and wash work clothes separately from the rest of the family's laundry. Do not eat, drink or smoke in the work area.

6. Step 4: Keep dust down while you work

EPA lists these dust-control tools: wet-dry sandpaper or a sanding sponge, a spray bottle to mist surfaces before sanding, scraping, drilling or cutting, a HEPA vacuum, and power tools fitted with HEPA vacuum attachments. For stripping paint, EPA mentions a low-temperature heat gun (under 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit) or chemical strippers. Some strippers contain hazardous substances, so follow the manufacturer's instructions.

7. Step 5: Clean up and handle waste

Leave the work area clean at the end of every day: put trash in heavy-duty bags as you go, vacuum often with a HEPA vacuum, and clean your tools daily.

Waste includes dust, paint chips, plastic sheeting, HEPA filters, wipes, protective clothing, respirators and gloves. Collect it in heavy plastic sheeting or bags, seal it with duct tape, and consider double bagging. EPA says most residential renovation waste is classified as non-hazardous solid waste and goes to a licensed solid waste landfill, but you should always check local and state disposal requirements first.

8. Step 6: Clean one more time

Before family members re-enter, EPA says to:

1. Mop uncarpeted floors thoroughly.
2. Clean walls with a HEPA vacuum or a damp cloth.
3. Vacuum remaining surfaces and objects, including furniture and fixtures, with a HEPA vacuum.
4. Wipe all surfaces with wet disposable cleaning cloths until the cloths come up clean.

You can also hire a certified lead dust sampling technician, lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor to run post-renovation dust-lead testing to confirm the area is clean.

9. When to call a professional

EPA's position is that DIY projects "can easily create dangerous lead dust," so it recommends certified contractors for all RRP projects in pre-1978 homes. If you hire one, ask whether the firm is lead-safe certified. EPA runs a search tool for finding certified firms, and the National Lead Information Center can be reached at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

10. Key takeaways

• Pre-1978 home plus sanding, scraping, cutting or demolition means assume lead dust until a certified inspector says otherwise.
• The RRP rule generally does not cover homeowners working on their own home, but it does cover landlords, house flippers and home child care.
• EPA's DIY practices: seal off the area, consider an N-100 respirator and disposable coveralls, mist surfaces, use HEPA tools, and clean until wet wipes come up clean.
• Check local rules before throwing away renovation waste.
• EPA recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for these projects.