Many homes throughout South Hill, Browne's Addition, and other established Spokane neighborhoods were built before 1978, when lead-based residential paint was banned nationwide. If your home falls into this category, here's general context — and why this is a conversation to have directly with your painter.
Why This Matters
Lead-based paint, when intact and undisturbed, generally poses limited risk. The concern arises during renovation or painting work that disturbs the surface — scraping, sanding, or heat-stripping old paint can create lead dust, which is the primary exposure pathway in pre-1978 homes.
EPA RRP Rule
The EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires contractors working on pre-1978 homes to follow lead-safe work practices when their work disturbs painted surfaces. This includes specific containment, cleanup, and verification procedures.
What to Do If You're Concerned
If your Spokane home was built before 1978 and you're planning an exterior or interior repaint, raise this directly during your free estimate. Your painter can walk through the home's specific situation, discuss the right approach for your project, and explain what precautions apply. This isn't something to navigate from a blog post — it's a conversation with the professional who will actually be doing the work and can assess your home's specific surfaces.
Don't DIY Scrape Old Paint Without Knowing
If you suspect lead paint, avoid dry-sanding or scraping it yourself without proper precautions. Professional crews follow lead-safe practices specifically because the dust generated by improper removal is the real risk — not the intact paint itself.
Ready for a Free Estimate?
Riverflow Brush Painting serves Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Greenacres, and Otis Orchards. Every estimate is free, in-person, and obligation-free.
📞 Call (509) 852-8545