Golden has a lot of older homes: Victorian-era and early-1900s houses near downtown, post-war bungalows, and thousands of ranches and split-levels built through the 1950s, '60s and '70s in Golden, Applewood, Wheat Ridge, Lakewood and Arvada. If your home was built before 1978, there's a real chance that somewhere under the current paint is a layer containing lead. This guide explains why that matters when you repaint, what federal rules require of contractors, and how to make sure your project is done safely.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice. For authoritative guidance, see the U.S. EPA's lead resources and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Why 1978 matters
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in the United States in 1978. Homes built before then may contain lead paint, and the older the home, the more likely it is. Intact lead paint that isn't being disturbed is generally considered lower risk. The concern is dust and chips: when lead paint is sanded, scraped, cut or demolished, it creates fine dust that can settle on floors, windowsills and surfaces, where it can be ingested or inhaled. Young children and pregnant people are especially vulnerable to lead exposure.
What the EPA RRP rule covers
The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule applies to paid contractors doing work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. In general terms, it requires:
- The firm to be EPA-certified (or certified by an EPA-authorized state program).
- Work to be performed or directed by a certified renovator who has completed accredited training.
- Lead-safe work practices: containment, dust minimization and thorough cleaning and verification.
- Providing the owner or occupants with the EPA's Renovate Right pamphlet before work begins.
- Recordkeeping that documents compliance.
There are limited exceptions — for example, very small amounts of disturbed paint below a threshold area, or homes where testing has shown the components being disturbed are not lead-based. Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces are generally not covered by the small-area exception. If you're unsure whether your project qualifies, ask your contractor to explain how the rule applies.
Colorado administers its own lead-based paint program through CDPHE, so you may see references to both federal and state requirements.
Does interior painting always trigger the rule?
Simply rolling a new coat of paint over intact walls doesn't generate much dust. But almost every quality paint job includes some surface preparation: sanding glossy trim so new paint will adhere, scraping loose or peeling paint, patching and sanding cracks, or removing caulk. Those activities disturb paint. In a pre-1978 home, unless testing shows the surfaces aren't lead-based, a reputable contractor will treat that prep as RRP work.
Older trim, doors, windows and window sills are the usual suspects. They were often painted with oil-based paints, and friction from opening windows and doors can create dust over time.
What lead-safe work looks like
On a lead-safe interior painting job, you should expect to see:
- Warning signs posted at the work area.
- Containment: plastic sheeting on floors and over doorways, HVAC vents closed or covered, and furniture removed or sealed in plastic.
- Dust-minimizing methods: wet sanding and wet scraping, sanders with HEPA-filtered vacuum attachments, and no open-flame burning, high-temperature heat guns or dry power sanding without HEPA extraction.
- Careful cleanup: HEPA vacuuming, wet wiping and misting and folding plastic inward to trap dust.
- Cleaning verification before the area is reopened.
All of this takes extra time and materials, which is why lead-safe work costs more than standard prep. A quote that seems surprisingly low on an older home may not include it. For more on what drives price, see our guide to interior painting cost in Golden.
Questions to ask any painter
- Is your firm EPA RRP-certified (or certified under Colorado's program)? Can I see the certificate number?
- Who on the crew is the certified renovator, and will they be on site?
- Will you test the surfaces you plan to disturb, or treat them as lead-based?
- How will you contain dust, and what happens to vents and furniture?
- What tools will you use for sanding and scraping?
- How do you clean and verify the area at the end of each day and the job?
- Will I receive the Renovate Right pamphlet and a copy of your records?
- Is lead-safe work included in your written quote?
What homeowners can do
- Know your home's age. Check county assessor records if you're not sure.
- Consider testing. A certified inspector or risk assessor can test surfaces. Over-the-counter test kits vary in reliability.
- Plan around vulnerable occupants. If you have young children or are pregnant, discuss staying elsewhere during prep-heavy work.
- Don't DIY heavy sanding on old trim without understanding lead-safe practices. The RRP rule applies to paid contractors, but the dust hazard is the same for homeowners.
- Keep surfaces maintained. Repainting intact surfaces periodically helps keep older layers sealed.
How we approach older Golden homes
We plan lead-safe practices into the walkthrough and quote for pre-1978 homes rather than treating them as an add-on, and we explain exactly which surfaces will be disturbed and how.
If you own an older home in Golden, Applewood or Wheat Ridge, our interior painting service and Paint Plan are built with these homes in mind.