Federal rules apply when painting projects disturb paint in homes built before 1978, and Front Range Painters is encouraging Colorado Springs homeowners to ask about lead-safe practices before work begins.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, September 27, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Homeowners planning to repaint older houses in Colorado Springs may not realize that federal rules can apply to the project before the first coat goes on. Front Range Painters, one of several painting companies colorado springs homeowners turn to for residential work, is encouraging owners of homes built before 1978 to learn how those rules work and what to ask before any painting begins.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, homes built before 1978 are likely to contain lead-based paint, the year the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint.

The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule requires firms paid to perform projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and preschools to be EPA-certified. It also requires them to use certified renovators and follow lead-safe work practices.

The rule applies to common painting prep, including surface preparation that disturbs existing paint. Under the rule, contractors must give occupants the EPA's "Renovate Right" pamphlet before work begins.

The EPA identifies certain practices as prohibited on these projects. These include open-flame burning, using high-speed power sanders or grinders without HEPA exhaust controls, and operating heat guns at 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

"When we look at an older home, the first question isn't the color. It's when the house was built," said Danny Manriquez, owner of Front Range Painters. "That one answer changes how the prep gets done, how the site gets set up and how the cleanup gets handled."

The issue is especially relevant for exterior projects, where years of weather exposure can leave older paint peeling or flaking. Before hiring any of the exterior painters colorado springs has to offer, homeowners can ask whether the firm is EPA-certified and how it plans to contain paint chips and dust. The EPA maintains an online search tool that lists certified renovation firms.

The same questions apply indoors, where colorado springs interior painting projects in older homes often involve window trim, doors and stairways. The rule can also apply when original painted cabinets are sanded or stripped during cabinet painting colorado springs projects in pre-1978 kitchens.

"Most people just want the house to look good again, and that's fair," Manriquez said. "But if you've got an older home, spend two minutes asking your painter about lead before anybody starts scraping. A good contractor will have a straight answer."

Front Range Painters is encouraging homeowners with questions about an older home to review the EPA's guidance and to discuss the home's age with any contractor during the estimate stage.

Front Range Painters is a residential painting company based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, owned by Danny Manriquez. The company provides interior painting, exterior painting and cabinet painting services. Front Range Painters serves Colorado Springs and nearby communities within about 25 minutes of the city.

Read the original story here: https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539059/front-range-painters-encourages-owners-of-pre-1978-colorado-springs-homes-to-understand-federal-lead-safe-painting-rules

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