Quick answer

For a home built before 1978, Oller Painting and Coatings, a Twin Cities painting contractor, recommends checking for lead before sanding, scraping or choosing a primer.  Intact paint usually presents less concern when left undisturbed, but painting preparation can release dust from older layers.  For planning by house age, see our guide to painting older Twin Cities homes by era.

Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978, but older layers may remain beneath newer finishes.  Across Minneapolis, St. Paul and older Twin Cities suburbs, a fresh-looking wall or doorway does not establish what is underneath.

Does lead paint matter if it is in good condition?

Lead-based paint in good condition usually presents less concern when left undisturbed, and finding lead does not automatically mean painted surfaces need stripping.  Peeling, chipping and rubbing surfaces deserve closer attention because damaged paint and friction can produce dust.

Look at window frames, door edges, damaged trim and loose exterior paint without touching or scraping them.  The EPA's guidance on lead exposure at home (opens in a new tab) explains why paint condition matters.

During preparation, contaminated dust and chips are the main concern, especially for young children and pregnant occupants.  Sanding and scraping can release dust; heat guns can add exposure hazards, and power washing can spread chips and contaminated water.  Clean-looking surfaces still need evaluation.

Make a plan before you disturb anything

Before disturbing paint in an older home, confirm the home's age, identify affected surfaces and arrange testing that covers the planned work.  Use the findings to decide which preparation needs qualified help.

Upstairs hallway of an older house with painted cream door casings, white painted beadboard wainscoting, patterned wallpaper, a wood stair railing and fir plank floors
Painted door casings and wainscoting in an older hallway. A fresh coat says nothing about the layers beneath it.
  1. Confirm the home's age.  Check property records and renovation paperwork.  If the age is unknown, keep lead among the possibilities.
  2. List affected surfaces.  Include walls, trim, doors and windows, plus places where patching, drilling or hardware removal will disturb paint.
  3. Photograph existing damage.  Document peeling areas and worn or rubbing surfaces.  Leave loose paint in place for evaluation.
  4. Arrange testing before preparation.  Explain the project scope so the testing professional can address the surfaces involved.
  5. Plan from the results.  If testing shows lead and preparation will disturb painted surfaces, hire an RRP-certified firm.

You can still choose colors and plan room use while a qualified firm addresses affected preparation.  In Minnesota's short exterior painting season, arrange evaluation early enough to avoid rushing preparation when suitable weather arrives.

How to test for lead paint in Minnesota

In Minnesota, a licensed lead inspector or risk assessor can evaluate painted surfaces and explain the findings.  An inspection identifies lead-based paint; a risk assessment also evaluates lead hazards and ways to address them.

Close-up of weathered wood siding where a gray top coat of paint is cracking and peeling away to reveal an older red-orange paint layer and bare wood beneath
Peel back one coat and you often find another. Only a test tells you whether any of those older layers contain lead.

The Minnesota Department of Health licenses these professionals.  Review the department's lead licensing information (opens in a new tab) when checking credentials.

EPA-recognized test kits exist for a quicker check of a specific surface.  They have limits, and one spot tells you about that spot only.  When you need a more complete answer, a professional inspection is the better choice.

Pro tip

Request written results identifying the surfaces evaluated.  One door's result does not cover every window or baseboard.  Keep the findings with your house records for future projects.

What the EPA RRP rule requires of painting contractors

The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, or RRP, generally covers paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978.  Covered contractors must be EPA-certified firms, use certified renovators, follow lead-safe work practices and provide the Renovate Right pamphlet before work begins.

The minor repair exception generally concerns disturbance of 6 square feet or less per room indoors, or 20 square feet or less outdoors.  Those areas are not safety thresholds.  Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces do not qualify for the exception, and prohibited practices remain prohibited regardless of area.

Review the EPA's contractor guidance (opens in a new tab) for coverage and exceptions.  Before scheduling, check the EPA's RRP program page (opens in a new tab) and the Minnesota Department of Health's lead pages (opens in a new tab) for current requirements.

Doing your own work on a pre-1978 home

Homeowners working on their own homes generally are not covered by RRP the way paid contractors are, but lead dust still needs careful attention.  If you own a rental property or the home is used for child care, the rules can be different, so check the EPA pages.

Old wooden window sash and sill with worn brown and white paint flaking off weathered wood, beside a leafy green shrub
Old window sashes and sills are where homeowners most often scrape and sand. On a pre-1978 home, test first and contain the work before you start.

The EPA's homeowner guidance (opens in a new tab) recommends hiring an RRP-certified firm.  A lead-safe project includes containment, restricted access and specialized cleanup.  Children, pregnant occupants, pets and others outside the crew stay out of the work area.  Workers need appropriate protective equipment, including properly fitted respiratory protection when required.

Common mistake

Ordinary sweeping and household vacuums are not substitutes for appropriate HEPA vacuuming and wet cleaning.  If work has already exposed suspect layers, pause and keep others away while you arrange qualified help.  Primer does not resolve damaged paint or dust already released.

Questions to ask a painter about lead-safe work

Tools and materials for testing and planning

Planning an older home's painting project starts with records, photographs and written findings.  Gather information that helps a testing professional and painter define the work before preparation begins.

  • Property records showing the year built and available renovation history.
  • A written list of surfaces the project will disturb.
  • Photos of affected surfaces, existing damage and nearby living areas.
  • Written test results identifying evaluated surfaces.
  • The contractor's Renovate Right pamphlet.
  • A written scope covering containment, access, cleanup and documentation.

Common mistakes

Common planning mistakes include judging older paint by appearance, applying one test result to unrelated surfaces and starting preparation before evaluation.  Correct those assumptions before setting the work schedule.

  • Assuming fresh paint means no lead.  Check the home's age and evaluate affected older layers.
  • Treating one negative result as a whole-house answer.  Match written results to the surfaces actually tested.
  • Starting preparation while waiting for results.  Wait for findings and an appropriate work plan.
  • Confusing the minor repair exception with safety.  Evaluate dust controls even when a project appears small.
  • Planning only for the finished color.  Include household access, containment, cleanup and verification in the scope.

How to tell the job was done right

  • You received Renovate Right before work began.
  • Containment was set up before painted surfaces were disturbed.
  • Access restrictions and daily cleanup followed the agreed plan.
  • The contractor completed and documented required cleaning verification.
  • You received applicable documentation and clear instructions about using the space again.

Frequently asked questions

Should I test for lead paint before painting an older Twin Cities home?

Test before preparing painted surfaces if your home was built before 1978.  Older lead-based paint may remain beneath newer coats, so appearance alone cannot rule it out.  Arrange testing before sanding, scraping, drilling or other work that could disturb those layers.

Who can test my house for lead paint in Minnesota?

A Minnesota-licensed lead inspector or risk assessor can test painted surfaces and explain the results.  An inspection identifies lead-based paint, while a risk assessment also evaluates hazards and ways to address them.  Request written results that identify the surfaces tested.

Can you just paint over lead paint?

A fresh coat of paint does not resolve peeling lead paint or dust already released.  Intact paint may not need stripping if it can remain undisturbed.  Have the surface evaluated before deciding what preparation and painting are appropriate.

Are home lead paint test kits reliable?

Home lead paint test kits have limits and cannot establish that an entire room is lead-free.  A result from one surface does not tell you what is on other trim, doors or windows.  Arrange a professional inspection when you need a more complete answer.

What should I do if I find possible lead paint while sanding?

Stop sanding and keep other people away from the work area.  Get qualified help before continuing, and avoid ordinary sweeping or using a household vacuum on suspected lead dust.  If testing confirms lead and preparation will disturb it, hire an RRP-certified firm.

When to call a pro

Call a qualified professional before preparation if testing shows lead and the job will disturb painted surfaces, or if inconclusive results leave the work scope unclear.  Ask any painter you talk to, including us, for their EPA firm certification.

For a home in Bloomington, Minneapolis, St. Paul or the Twin Cities suburbs, we can discuss the painting scope and which parts need qualified help.