Lakewood / WA

Exterior Lead Paint Removal in Lakewood, WA

Lakewood Lead Paint Removal provides exterior lead paint removal in Lakewood, WA for the parts of a pre-1978 house that take weather and wear head-on: wood siding, fascia and trim, porches, stairs, decks and railings. We scope each surface separately, because a railing worn bare by hands needs different treatment from a wall of siding that is merely chalking.

Exterior jobs in this climate are planned around the dry months, with containment that protects the yard as much as the house. We take on exterior work across Lakewood and in the nearby communities of University Place and Steilacoom.

Ask about your exterior project

Long wooden porch on an older house with paint peeling from its turned columns, balusters and ceiling

Exterior surfaces and project types

Siding, fascia and exterior trim

Wood lap siding and the boards along the eaves cover the largest painted area. Where boards are sound, loose and flaking paint is removed with wet scraping or low-dust tools rather than open-flame burning or uncontrolled power sanding, then primed and repainted. Where boards are split or rotted, replacing them can be simpler than stripping. That choice matters for permits: Lakewood’s B4 handout lists siding among projects that need a building permit, while painting and similar finish work does not.

Porches, stairs, decks and railings

These are the components the City of Lakewood names on its lead-based paint notification form, and for good reason. Treads and handrails are scuffed by feet and hands, balusters chip at every edge, and porch floors grind paint into dust that is tracked indoors. Turned balusters and posts take patient detail work; badly worn treads and rails can be replaced instead.

Window and door surrounds on the exterior

Exterior casings, sills and door frames sit between the siding and the moving parts of the window or door, so their paint can be badly broken. Paint removal on the surrounds can be part of an exterior job; replacing the window or door itself is a building permit project in Lakewood and is covered on our window and door page.

Bare soil and the drip line

Paint chips that fall during work land along the foundation, where children play and gardens grow. In Lakewood the soil may already carry lead from another source: the health department lists the city among communities most affected by Tacoma Smelter arsenic and lead fallout. That makes ground protection non-negotiable, but soil testing and yard cleanup are separate matters handled through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, not services we provide.

Scheduling exterior work around Lakewood weather

Lakewood shares the wet maritime pattern of nearby Tacoma, whose 1991–2020 normals show about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year. November, December and January are the wettest months; July and August are the driest. Wet scraping is part of lead-safe practice, but rain on open containment washes debris off the sheeting, and new primer needs dry wood to hold. Late spring through early fall is the realistic window for full exterior jobs, and a wet week can still pause one.

Abatement or renovation: which rules apply outside

Exterior paint work on a pre-1978 house that disturbs more than 20 square feet falls under the renovation, repair and painting (RRP) rules, which the Washington State Department of Commerce administers; federal RRP rules treat 20 square feet or less outside as minor repair. Above that line, certified renovators, containment and cleaning verification apply.

Abatement is a different decision. When the goal is to eliminate lead hazards permanently, for example after a child’s elevated blood lead result, the work is done by a Commerce-certified abatement firm, which notifies Commerce at least five business days before starting and finishes with a clearance examination.

Washington State Department of Commerce: Lead-Based Paint Program EPA: RRP rule for contractors Chapter 365-230 WAC (lead-based paint rules)City of Lakewood: Do I Need a Building Permit? (B4)

Painted lap siding, a porch post and railing beside a wood front door, with worn paint on a window sill

Exterior jobs can overlap with lead-painted window and door replacement, and sound siding can sometimes be treated with lead paint encapsulation and enclosure instead of stripping.

Your next step

Discuss your exterior lead paint project

Share the address and the approximate year the house was built, then list the exterior surfaces involved: siding, trim, porch, stairs, deck or railings. Mention any lead report you already have. We'll get back to you soon with an estimate or any questions we have. Estimates are free and there's no obligation.

Call (253) 201-4715