Summer is the ideal time for home maintenance projects, especially exterior painting. The warmer, drier weather creates the perfect conditions for paint to cure properly and for homeowners to tackle overdue improvements. However, if your home was built before 1978, you should take special precautions before scraping, sanding, or repainting. That’s because many homes constructed before this time were painted with lead-based paint—a serious health hazard if disturbed.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the importance of summer paint maintenance and why lead paint testing should be your first step before lifting a paintbrush.
Warm, dry conditions make summer the best season for:
Paint adhesion and durability – Paint sticks best when applied in temperatures between 50–85°F with low humidity.
Efficient drying and curing – Summer sun helps paints dry faster, reducing the risk of bubbles, cracking, or peeling.
Surface preparation – Scraping, washing, and priming surfaces is easier and more effective when the weather is dry.
Routine summer paint maintenance helps protect your home from:
Moisture damage
Wood rot
UV degradation
Fading or chipping paint
Mold and mildew buildup
But if your home predates 1978, you can't just dive in. First, check for lead paint.
The U.S. banned the residential use of lead-based paint in 1978. But homes built before then—especially those from the 1940s–1970s—may still have layers of lead paint beneath newer coats. If this paint is disturbed, it can release toxic dust and chips into your home environment.
Health effects of lead exposure include:
Brain and nervous system damage (especially in children)
Developmental delays and learning issues
High blood pressure and kidney problems in adults
Reproductive issues and miscarriage risks
That’s why federal law requires lead-safe practices during renovation, repair, and painting (RRP) in homes built before 1978.
Before beginning any painting or surface preparation, test for lead paint with our Leadr Certified Risk Assessor using leading XRF tech. Call us to schedule your XRF lead paint test today.