Lead-Safe Paint Removal in San Francisco
Almost every San Francisco home built before 1978 contains lead-based paint — and SF's housing stock skews older than almost any major US city. According to HUD, 87% of homes built before 1940 contain lead paint, and a majority of SF's residential buildings were built well before that cutoff. Federal law (EPA's RRP rule) requires firms doing renovation, repair, or painting on pre-1978 housing to be certified, to use lead-safe work practices, and to dispose of debris properly. We're certified. Most painters working in SF are not — and the consequences of unsafe lead work fall on your family, your kids, your neighbors, and our crews.
Why it matters
What changes a lead-safe removal job in SF
It's the law on pre-1978 housing
EPA RRP covers all renovation, repair, and painting work on pre-1978 homes. Non-certified work is illegal — and EPA enforcement is real.
Children and pregnant women are at highest risk
Lead dust from sanding or scraping is the primary exposure pathway. Even small amounts of lead exposure can affect a child's brain development. There is no safe level of lead in blood.
Most painters skip it
RRP certification, containment setup, HEPA equipment, and proper disposal all add cost. A bid 20–30% lower than a certified contractor usually means the painter is ignoring lead — illegal and dangerous.
Process
Our process for lead-safe removal
- 1
Lead testing
Confirm presence with EPA-recognized test kits. For documentation or real-estate disclosure we refer to a certified lead inspector.
- 2
Containment setup
6-mil poly sheeting on ground (exterior) or floor (interior), taped seams, signage. HVAC sealed off where required.
- 3
Safe removal
Wet scraping and wet sanding only. No open-flame burning (vaporizes lead). No power sanding without HEPA-shrouded equipment. Chemical strippers or infrared paint removers for heavy buildup.
- 4
HEPA cleanup
HEPA-vacuum the containment area at end of each work day. Wet-wipe surfaces. Final clearance wipe-down.
- 5
Disposal & documentation
Bagged debris sealed, transported, and disposed at approved facility. Records retained 3 years per federal requirements. EPA Renovate Right pamphlet provided to homeowner.
Materials
What we put on your home
- 6-mil poly containment sheeting
- HEPA-filtered vacuums and shroud sanders
- Chemical strippers (Peel Away, SmartStrip) for heavy buildup
- Infrared paint removers for high-temperature areas
- Encapsulating primers where stripping is impractical
Pricing
What it typically costs
Lead-safe work adds 15-30% to a standard paint job depending on containment scope and the amount of stripping needed. On most pre-1978 exteriors and Victorians, lead-safe prep is built into our pricing rather than billed separately.
Related
Other services we offer
FAQ
Common lead-safe removal questions
RRP covers disturbing lead paint safely during normal work — painting, renovation, repair. Abatement is permanent removal of lead paint and requires a separate California state certification. Most SF homes need RRP work, not full abatement.
Yes — exterior containment keeps lead dust outside the building envelope. Children and pregnant women should avoid the immediate work area until clearance is complete.
Built before 1978 = likely yes. Built before 1940 = almost certainly. Test kits give a quick positive/negative. Certified lead inspectors give legally documented reports for real estate disclosures.
EPA Renovate Right pamphlet before work begins, containment and disposal records retained for 3 years per federal requirements, optional clearance testing on completion.
Ready for lead-safe removal?
Free on-site estimate within a week. Fixed written quote within 2 business days.