Guides / Decision guide
Plan a door replacement in an older home or for easier access
When lead-safe work rules can apply to replacing a painted door, and what the ADA door guide can and cannot tell a homeowner.
What is not established
- Whether lead-safe work rules apply depends on the home's age and the painted area disturbed; this guide does not decide it.
- The ADA guide does not address patio or sliding doors specifically and does not govern private homes.
- No contractor certification or accessibility outcome is established.
Homes built before 1978
The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting regulation defines renovation to include modification of painted doors, and the pre-renovation pamphlet must be delivered within 60 days before work, with acknowledgment. Whether a door job exceeds the minor-repair threshold depends on the painted area disturbed, so ask the contractor how the rule applies to the scope.
Easier access
The U.S. Access Board's guide to the ADA standards sets out minimum clear width, maximum threshold height, maneuvering clearances, opening force and operable hardware height for doors. The standards do not cover private single-family homes, so treat them as an aging-in-place reference when describing what you want, not as a requirement for your house.
Original paraphrase of the EPA program page and the Access Board guide.
Sources: EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting program; U.S. Access Board guide to ADA standards chapter 4
Sources
External references are provided for research context. A source link does not indicate enrollment, endorsement, or availability in your area.