Lead Paint on Boston Home Exteriors — What You Need to Know

If your Boston home was built before 1978 there's a good chance it has lead paint somewhere on the exterior — trim, siding, window frames, or underneath multiple layers of newer paint. Here's what you need to know before hiring a painter to work on an older Greater Boston home.

The Federal RRP Rule

The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires contractors disturbing more than 6 square feet of lead paint in homes where children under 6 or pregnant women live to use certified lead-safe work practices. This includes containment, specific cleaning procedures, and waste disposal protocols.

What This Means for Your Paint Job

We follow RRP protocols on pre-1978 homes regardless of whether children are present — it's the right practice. This means wet scraping rather than dry sanding, plastic sheeting to contain debris, HEPA vacuuming, and proper disposal of lead-contaminated waste.

Massachusetts Lead Paint Law

Massachusetts has additional lead paint requirements beyond federal law, especially for rental properties. The Massachusetts Lead Paint Law requires that homes with children under 6 be deleaded. If you're a landlord in Cambridge, Allston, or Somerville with older housing stock, this is important to understand before painting.