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If your home was built before 1978, there’s a chance that any paint on your hardwood floors could be lead paint—especially if it was already there when you moved in. Because lead is toxic, hiring a licensed pro to remove it is mandatory. The average price for professional lead paint removal ranges from $1,500 to $5,300 and depends on the scope of the project.

The biggest issue with painting your interior walls with exterior paint isn’t the way the paint looks or performs—it’s the lack of ventilation. The higher quantities of VOCs in exterior paint will have a harder time dispersing in an enclosed space, so do everything you can to direct them out—like turning on a fan and opening your windows and doors. Afterward, you can simply prime and redo your walls with interior paint, and no one will know the difference.

There are times when you should remove all exterior paint before repainting. This includes when you need to get rid of lead-based paint (which should be done by a pro), or if you need to apply a different finish than what’s already there. Your house may also have too many pre-existing layers of old paint, in which case you’ll be better off getting rid of the old layers first.

Some homeowners have luck using pressure washers, but this only works for old or weaker concrete sealants and with very powerful pressure washers. You’ll get better results by pressure washing water-based sealants. However, it’s worth trying on any sealant if you’re hoping for the least toxic, least expensive, and most DIY-friendly option. To try this method, rent or buy the most powerful pressure washer you can find and take several passes at the concrete, completely pressure washing the entire area. You may need to repeat the process multiple times to see results.