Table of Contents
- Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint; assume it until tested, especially on trim, porches, windows and older siding.
- The EPA RRP rule requires paid contractors to be certified and to follow lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes.
- Never dry-sand, power-sand without HEPA controls, open-flame burn or pressure wash suspect lead paint.
- Containment, wet methods, HEPA cleanup and soil protection add time and cost, and they are what keep a family safe.
- Typical 2026 exterior ranges are roughly $4,000-$12,000 for small homes and $12,000-$30,000+ for larger or complex exteriors, lead-safe work included in scope.
Old New York houses wear their history on the outside. Layers of paint on porch rails, window trim, cornices, clapboard and ironwork go back decades, and for homes built before 1978, some of those layers were made with lead. For most of a house's life, intact lead paint sits quietly. The trouble starts when someone scrapes it, sands it, burns it or blasts it, and turns a stable coating into dust and chips on your lawn, your porch and your neighbor's yard.
This guide explains how to handle exterior lead paint on older homes safely: how to tell if you have it, what the EPA rule requires, what lead-safe work looks like in practice, how to protect soil, children and pets, what it adds to the cost, and what is different in neighborhoods from the Upper East Side to Livingston, New Jersey. Costs are typical planning ranges as of October 2026, and a written, itemized quote governs the real price. This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.
1. Why Lead Paint Is Still a Problem
Lead was widely used in house paint until it was banned for residential use in 1978. In older neighborhoods, repainting after repainting has built up a heavy film that may include lead layers near the bottom. On exteriors, the highest-risk places are the ones that rub, open and weather:
- Window sills, sashes and casings. Friction surfaces create dust.
- Doors and thresholds. Same reason.
- Porches, steps and railings. Foot traffic and weather break down paint quickly.
- Trim, cornices and fascia. Often thick with old paint.
- Siding, shingles and clapboard. Especially on older wood-frame houses.
- Ironwork and fire escapes. Older metal primers often contained lead.
When that paint chips, chalks or is disturbed, it produces fine dust and flakes that can drift into soil and onto play areas. Lead exposure is particularly harmful to young children and pregnant people, and the dust is hard to see. The EPA's lead pages offer a good general overview of health effects and prevention.
Where the risk concentrates
It is not the paint on the wall that harms people; it is the dust. A house with a peeling porch and bare-soil planting beds near the foundation is a bigger concern than an intact painted wall that no one touches. That is why the rules focus on how work is done, not simply on whether lead is present.
2. The EPA RRP Rule in Plain English
The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule applies to work in homes, child care facilities and preschools built before 1978. According to the EPA RRP program, firms paid to disturb paint in these buildings must be EPA-certified or authorized by the state, use certified renovators, and follow lead-safe work practices.
What contractors have to do
- Be certified. The firm and a supervising renovator must hold current certifications.
- Give notice. Occupants must receive lead hazard information before work begins.
- Contain the work area. Use plastic sheeting and barriers to keep dust and debris from spreading.
- Minimize dust. Use wet methods and tools designed to control dust.
- Clean thoroughly. Use HEPA vacuums and wet cleaning, then verify cleaning.
- Keep records. Document training, practices and cleaning verification.
What is prohibited
The rule bans certain practices that create too much dust or fumes in work areas covered by the rule, including open-flame burning or torching of paint, using heat guns above specified temperatures, and using machines that remove paint through high-speed operations like sanding or grinding without HEPA-equipped controls. Dry scraping is poor practice and should be avoided, because it throws dust and chips into the air and onto the ground.
Small jobs and exceptions
The rule contains limited exceptions for minor repair and maintenance activities that disturb only small amounts of paint, but those exceptions have conditions, and a contractor should not rely on them without checking. New York City also adds its own lead requirements for older buildings, especially those built before 1960, so rental properties and multiple dwellings are subject to additional rules. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development is the right place to ask about local requirements for rentals.
3. Testing: How to Know What You Have
Guessing is the enemy here. There are three common approaches.
| Method | What it does | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Treat all pre-1978 paint as lead | Assumes lead and uses lead-safe work throughout | Simple, protective, and common for contractors |
| Lab sampling | Paint chips analyzed by an accredited lab | Reliable, takes time, requires proper sampling |
| Inspector or risk assessor | Professional testing of surfaces | Most thorough; best for rentals and sales |
| Home test kits | Quick swab tests | Convenience varies; results may not reflect all layers |
Many contractors choose the first path on older houses because it protects everyone and avoids false negatives from partial testing. Testing can still be useful: if only certain components, such as window casings, contain lead, you may be able to limit the most intensive work to those areas. Ask any contractor how they decide.
4. What Lead-Safe Exterior Work Looks Like
On a well-run job, the lead-safe steps are visible, deliberate and slower than a typical paint prep.
Before work
- Notify and plan. Occupants and neighbors who share property lines should know what is happening. Plan for pets and children to stay away.
- Protect the ground. Plastic sheeting under the work area, extending outward from the wall as a catch zone. The EPA guidance generally calls for protection that extends several feet and, for many exterior jobs, up to 10 feet from the building.
- Cover plants and remove toys. Move play equipment, grills and furniture.
- Close windows and doors facing the work area, and cover or seal those that cannot be closed.
During work
- Use wet scraping with a mist, rather than dry scraping.
- Use HEPA-equipped power tools if power tools are needed.
- Avoid open-flame burning, high-heat guns, uncontrolled sanding and pressure washing of loose paint.
- Work in calm, dry weather; wind spreads dust and rain complicates containment. The best time of year to paint a house exterior in New York explains the weather windows.
- Clean up at the end of each day.
After work
- Collect sheeting carefully by folding it inward.
- HEPA-vacuum all surfaces and wet-wipe porches, sills and nearby hard surfaces.
- Verify cleanliness with disposable cleaning cloths, following the rule's procedure.
- Dispose of waste in accordance with local requirements.
The porch problem
Porches get the harshest wear, and they are where children and pets spend time. If you have an old porch, our article on safe practices for old lead paint on an outdoor porch walks through the realities. For a broader view of lead in renovation work, read lead safety in renovation.
5. Soil, Gardens and the Yard
The soil near an older house's foundation often holds decades of lead from weathering paint. Painting work can add to it if debris is not controlled.
- Protect soil during the job with sheeting, and pick up all chips.
- Avoid growing vegetables in beds directly beside an old painted foundation wall without testing the soil.
- Keep bare soil covered with mulch, plants or grass to limit dust.
- Wash hands and shoes after yard work, and remove outdoor shoes at the door.
- Test soil if you have children who play in the yard or you garden near the house.
If you are unsure, local health departments and extension services can advise on soil testing. In New York City, the HPD and the Department of Health guidance cover residential lead issues in older buildings.
6. Costs and Schedule Effects in 2026
Lead-safe practices add labor and materials but do not change the basic cost drivers of an exterior job.
| Home | Typical 2026 planning range |
|---|---|
| Small house or Cape | About $4,000-$12,000 |
| Larger or complex exterior | About $12,000-$30,000+ |
| Scaffolding or sheds | Extra |
| Rot and carpentry repair | Priced separately |
These ranges are estimates, not quotes, and lead-safe containment, wet scraping and HEPA cleanup are part of how an older home's scope is built. Costs rise with the number of stories, the amount of loose paint, how much of the yard needs protection and how much wall area has to be treated. The exterior painting guide for NYC, Long Island and NJ explains the full cost picture, and the NYC renovation cost guide puts exterior work in context.
The schedule
Lead-safe work takes longer than conventional prep, and weather interruptions matter more. Build in buffer days and expect the sequence to include setup, work, cleanup and verification before the final coats go on.
Is it worth the extra cost?
Yes, because the alternative is risk. A lead-contaminated yard, an angry neighbor or a regulatory complaint costs far more than careful practice. Hiring a certified firm also protects you if you later sell or rent the property.
7. Why Hire an EPA-Certified Pro for Exterior Lead Work
If your home predates 1978 and you are hiring someone to repaint, the first question should not be price. It should be: are you certified and insured, and how will you contain the work?
Certification matters. The rule requires certified firms for paid work, and a certified renovator must be on the job. Ask for proof, and request the lead-safe plan in writing.
Containment is a skill. Good containment keeps debris out of your yard and your neighbor's. It is not a roll of plastic taped on the ground.
Safe tools. The right tools, such as HEPA vacuums, wet scraping systems and dust-controlled sanders, make the difference between a safe job and a contamination event.
Finish quality. Lead-safe prep is also thorough prep. Properly feathered, primed and caulked surfaces last longer.
N.Y. Renovation Services is a fully licensed and insured, in-house design-and-build company. When your project involves a pre-1978 home, we plan lead-safe practices into the scope, the schedule and the itemized price. We coordinate permits, sidewalk sheds and co-op or condo board paperwork when they apply, and we can bring carpentry, siding and masonry repair into the same contract, so decayed wood is replaced rather than painted over. Your written quote states what is included, with no hidden fees.
What we put in writing before the first scaffold goes up
- The lead-safe plan. How the work area is contained, which tools are used, and how cleanup is done and checked.
- Who does the work. Our own crew, with the supervising renovator named, rather than an unknown subcontractor arriving on the day.
- What is excluded. Rotted wood, failed siding and hidden hazards such as suspect asbestos materials are called out, with a price to address them if they appear.
- How the yard is protected. What is covered, for how far from the wall, and how it is restored.
- Schedule and weather days. Realistic dates, with buffers for wind and rain, because lead-safe work should not be rushed on a windy afternoon.
Because our team also handles interior painting, tile, flooring and gut renovation, we can coordinate when an older house needs lead-safe work both outside and inside, such as window replacement or trim restoration. One contract and one schedule keep dust from moving between phases of the project.
We also donate 5% of total project cost to a nonprofit of the client's choice.
If you are comparing quotes, ask each bidder how they will protect your yard, how they will clean up and how they document it. Differences in those answers often explain differences in price. For a walkthrough of common mistakes in this area, see our step-by-step guide to painting an exterior.
8. Neighborhoods and ZIP Codes We Serve
Lead exposure risks and rules differ by building type and location.
- Upper East Side, Manhattan (10021, 10028, 10065, 10075, 10128): Pre-war co-ops, limestone townhouses and white-glove buildings in LPC districts. Exterior work on townhouses may need LPC approval, and lead may be present on old ironwork and windows. See our Upper East Side historic restoration page.
- Midwood, Brooklyn (11230): Detached and semi-detached homes and pre-war co-ops. Porches, trim and detached-house exteriors with decades of paint are the main concern, and tight side yards make containment planning essential.
- Maspeth, Queens (11378): Two-family homes and industrial-adjacent blocks. Close neighbors, shared property lines and soil near industrial areas make careful containment and soil protection especially important.
- St. George, Staten Island (10301): Ferry-adjacent apartments and Victorian houses in an LPC district. Wood trim and ornamental details on Victorians often carry old paint, and landmark approvals may apply.
- Roslyn, Nassau County (11576): Village of Roslyn historic homes. Older wood-frame houses and village rules on exterior changes both apply.
- Livingston, Essex County, NJ (07039): Colonials, ranches and large lots. New Jersey permits come from the local municipal construction office, and contractors must be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Large yards mean more ground to protect, but also more room for containment.
9. Lead, Demolition and Other Older-Home Hazards
Lead is rarely alone in an old house. Exterior projects can uncover or interact with other issues.
- Asbestos. Older siding, roofing, window glazing and some flooring and insulation materials can contain asbestos. Disturbing suspect asbestos-containing materials in older buildings typically requires an asbestos survey and certified abatement when present. The EPA asbestos page explains the basics, but note that this is not a place for guessing.
- Demolition. Removing painted components, such as porches, can trigger lead rules. See lead paint and demolition rules in NYC.
- Water damage and mold. Rot behind old paint is common, and moisture problems need repair before finishing.
- Silica. Cutting or grinding masonry creates silica dust, which has its own safety standards.
Plan for these when you have a contractor inspect the house, and ask them to identify what they find before pricing the job.
10. A Homeowner's Checklist
- Confirm the year built. Pre-1978 means assume lead.
- Look at the paint condition. Peeling, chalking or chipping paint is the priority.
- Test or treat as lead. Decide with your contractor.
- Verify the contractor's certification and insurance. Ask for the lead-safe plan in writing.
- Protect the family. Keep children, pregnant people and pets away from the work area.
- Protect the yard. Cover soil, move toys and furniture and cover plants.
- Check permits and approvals. DOB, LPC, board or municipal as applicable. See our permit overview.
- Plan the weather. Calm, dry days.
- Insist on cleanup verification. Ask how it will be checked.
- Keep records. They help at sale or refinance.
11. Related Guides
If you are researching further, these pages help:
- Lead safety in renovation
- Old lead paint on an outdoor porch
- Lead paint and demolition in NYC
- Exterior paint for salt air on Long Island coastal homes
- The best time of year to paint a house exterior in New York
- Siding cost estimator
12. Next Steps: Get Your Free Lead-Safe Estimate
Here is how to move forward safely.
- Request an estimate through the quote request form or by calling (347) 455-1741. Text works too.
- Share the details: address, year built if known, stories, siding and trim materials, and areas of peeling.
- We inspect or review photos, discuss testing, and note whether landmark, DOB, board or municipal approvals apply.
- Receive a written, itemized quote showing lead-safe containment, prep, repairs, access, paint and cleanup as separate lines.
- Schedule the work in a suitable weather window. We confirm dates in writing and keep you informed.
You can also book a quote through our request page if you want to compare our plan against another bidder's. Ask us anything about the process before you commit.
All figures are typical planning ranges as of October 2026, not quotes. Home age, paint condition, access, building rules and repairs change the final price, and the written itemized quote governs. This guide is general information and not legal or medical advice.
Safety Note: All work follows OSHA 30 safety and EPA Lead-Safe practices for pre-1978 homes. Check local permit requirements before starting.
James - Lead Renovation Editor. With over 20 years in renovation and construction, James writes and edits our guides. More about James