If your Nashville home was built before 1978, there's a strong chance it contains lead-based paint — especially on windows, doors, trim, and exterior siding. Lead paint in good condition isn't an immediate hazard, but the moment you sand, scrape, or disturb it, you create toxic dust that poses serious health risks.
Why Lead Paint Is Dangerous
Lead dust and chips can cause serious health problems, especially in children and pregnant women. Even small amounts of lead exposure can cause developmental delays in children, and chronic exposure in adults can lead to kidney damage, high blood pressure, and neurological issues.
The DIY Danger
Well-meaning homeowners often create the worst lead exposure scenarios by sanding or scraping old paint without proper containment. A single window frame can produce enough lead dust to contaminate an entire room. Power sanding is even worse — it can spread lead particles throughout your home and into your HVAC system.
What the Law Requires
The EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule requires that any contractor working on pre-1978 homes be EPA Lead-Safe Certified. This means following specific containment, cleanup, and testing procedures. It's not optional — it's federal law.
The Safe Approach
- Test before you disturb: Use an EPA-recognized test kit or hire a certified inspector
- Hire EPA Lead-Safe Certified painters (like Brushwork Pro)
- Encapsulation — painting over lead paint with a proper encapsulant — is often safer and more practical than removal
- Never dry sand, dry scrape, or use a heat gun on lead paint
- Keep children and pregnant women away from any work area
What We Do
Brushwork Pro is EPA Lead-Safe Certified. When working on pre-1978 homes, we follow all RRP Rule requirements: containment with plastic sheeting, HEPA-filtered equipment, wet sanding and scraping methods, and post-job cleaning verification. Your family's safety comes first.