If your Omaha home was built before 1978 — and most of the homes in this area were — there is lead paint somewhere in the layers. I bring this up not to scare you, but because lead safety is something every homeowner and DIY painter needs to understand before scraping, sanding, or tearing into walls.
The Numbers
About 87% of homes built before 1940 contain lead-based paint. About 24% of homes built between 1940 and 1959 do. About 12% of homes built between 1960 and 1977 contain lead.
If your home was built before 1978, assume lead paint is present until you have tested and confirmed otherwise.
Why It Matters When Painting
Lead paint is only dangerous when it becomes lead dust or fumes. Sanding, scraping, torching, or sanding lead paint creates airborne particles that settle on floors, windowsills, counters, and toys. Children and pregnant women are most at risk — lead exposure causes developmental and neurological harm.
The EPA has federal regulations (called the RRP Rule — Renovation, Repair, and Painting) that require anyone disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes to be lead-safe certified. This is the law. It is not optional and it is not just for professionals.
How to Test for Lead Paint
DIY test kits: Home Depot and hardware stores sell EPA-recognized lead test kits for about $8–$15 per kit. They swab a small area of painted surface and the solution changes color if lead is present. These are screening tools — they tell you lead is present or not, but they do not tell you how much lead or how deep in the layers.
Professional lead inspection: For a definitive reading — including how much lead and how deep in the paint layers — hire a certified lead inspector. Your county health department may have low-cost or free testing options. Contact Douglas County Health Department for Omaha-area resources.
If You Are Doing DIY Work on Pre-1978 Walls
If you know you have lead paint and you want to DIY, here are the safety rules I follow even as a professional:
NEVER dry-sand or use a heat gun on lead paint Dry sanding creates the highest concentration of airborne lead dust. Heat guns above 1100°F create lead fumes. Both are dangerous and in many jurisdictions illegal for DIY work.
Wet-scrape instead Keep the surface moist while scraping. Use a spray bottle with water and a wide scraping tool. Wet lead dust does not become airborne as easily.
Contain the work area Close off the room with plastic sheeting. Seal HVAC vents in that room. Put plastic over any furniture you cannot remove. Work in one direction — from clean to dirty.
Clean with HEPA only Regular vacuums spread lead dust through the exhaust. Use a HEPA vacuum designed for lead dust, then wet-wipe all surfaces with disposable wipes.
Dispose of waste properly Lead-contaminated debris — paint chips, dust-covered drop cloths, used wipes — must be disposed of as hazardous waste. Contact your local waste authority for disposal sites.
When to Call a Professional
If the home was built before 1960, if lead is confirmed but not tested for concentrations, if there is extensive lead paint, or if you have children or pregnant women in the home — hire a lead-safe certified professional like Deden Contracting. We follow full containment protocols, HEPA filtration, and post-work clearance testing.
Call (402) 915-2661 for a free estimate and lead-safe project planning.
Lead paint does not need to keep you from refreshing your home. It needs you to work safely and know what you are dealing with.
