Plenty of homes in the St. Croix Valley were built before 1978, from century-old houses in Hudson and Stillwater to mid-century ranches throughout the area. Many of them still have lead-based paint under newer layers. Undisturbed and in good condition, it's mostly a hidden layer. Scraped, sanded, cut or heated, it creates dust and chips that are a serious health hazard, particularly for young children and pregnant people. This guide explains the basics. It's general information, not legal advice; follow the official sources linked below.
Why 1978 matters
The United States banned lead-based paint for residential use in 1978. Homes built before then may contain it; the older the home, the more likely. Lead paint was common on trim, windows, doors, porches, siding and some metal surfaces like tin ceilings.
How lead exposure happens during projects
The main risk isn't touching intact paint. It's fine dust created by:
- Dry sanding or scraping
- Power sanding, grinding or planing
- Cutting or demolishing painted materials, like trim or drywall
- Using heat guns or torches to remove paint
- Opening and closing old painted windows that rub (friction surfaces)
Lead dust settles on floors and windowsills, where children pick it up on their hands and toys. It also travels on clothes, shoes and tools.
The rules for paid contractors
Federal: EPA's RRP rule
EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule applies to paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities above certain minimum amounts: more than 6 square feet per room on interiors, more than 20 square feet on exteriors, and any window replacement or demolition. Covered contractors must be certified, use trained renovators, follow lead-safe work practices and give occupants the EPA "Renovate Right" pamphlet before work begins.
Wisconsin: the state runs its own program
Wisconsin is authorized by EPA to run its own program, administered by the Department of Health Services (DHS) under the Lead-Safe Renovation rule. In Wisconsin, paid renovation, repair and painting work covered by the rule must be done by a DHS-certified lead company using DHS-certified lead-safe renovators. If you're hiring someone in Wisconsin for work on a pre-1978 home, ask for their DHS certification.
Minnesota
Minnesota is not one of the states that runs its own RRP program, so EPA administers the rule there and contractors doing covered work on pre-1978 homes need EPA firm certification and certified renovators. The Minnesota Department of Health has been working on state RRP rules, so check MDH for the current status. Contractor licensing in Minnesota is a separate matter handled by the Department of Labor and Industry. Our hiring guide covers what to check before hiring in Minnesota.
Homeowners doing their own work
Homeowners working on their own owner-occupied homes generally aren't covered by the RRP certification requirements (EPA notes exceptions, such as if you rent out part of the home, run a child care center in it, or renovate homes for resale), but the dust is just as hazardous. Following lead-safe work practices is strongly recommended, especially if children live in or visit the home.
Testing for lead
You can't tell by looking. Options include:
- EPA-recognized test kits, which give a quick yes or no on a specific spot. Certified renovators use them to determine whether the rule applies.
- Paint chip samples sent to an accredited lab.
- XRF testing by a certified lead risk assessor or inspector, which can test many surfaces quickly without damage.
If you don't test, assume lead is present in a pre-1978 home.
What lead-safe work looks like
A lead-safe job looks different from a normal paint job:
- Warning signs at the entrances to the work area.
- Plastic sheeting covering floors and furniture, with doorways sealed or covered.
- HVAC vents closed and covered in the work area.
- Methods that keep dust down: wet scraping, wet sanding, hand tools or power tools with HEPA dust collection.
- No open-flame burning, high-temperature heat guns or power sanding without HEPA collection.
- Waste bagged and sealed daily.
- Thorough cleaning at the end with HEPA vacuums and wet wiping, then a cleaning verification check.
Expect lead-safe work to take longer than a standard job. That's the price of doing it safely.
Flooring and lead
Flooring projects in older homes can disturb lead paint too: removing old baseboards and shoe molding, cutting door casings for new floors, or sanding old painted floors. Old floors themselves may have other hazards, like asbestos in some older vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl backing and black adhesive. Don't sand, grind or scrape suspect old flooring without testing. Our carpet removal guide touches on this.
Questions to ask a contractor
- Is your company certified for lead-safe renovation (DHS in Wisconsin, EPA in Minnesota)?
- Who on the crew is the certified renovator, and will they be on site?
- How will you contain dust, and how will you clean up?
- Will you give us the "Renovate Right" pamphlet?
- How will you verify the area is clean when the job is done?
Official resources
- Wisconsin DHS, Lead-Safe Renovation: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/wilsr.htm
- EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program
- EPA, Lead test kits: https://www.epa.gov/lead/what-lead-test-kits-are-recognized-epa
- Minnesota Department of Health, Lead: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/