Lead-based paint Q&A for Homeowners

Q: If my house was built before 1978 it's painted with lead-based paint, right?

A: Absolutely not! We've tested thousands of homes and have stopped guessing where we will and will not find lead. We rarely find lead-based paint in houses built in the 60's and 70's. The occurrence of lead-based paint in older homes is greater, but still varies widely on a case by case basis.

Q: I live in a 100 year-old brownstone so everyone tells me that all of my paint is definitely lead-based paint. Is this right?

A: No. We regularly inspect 100 year-old brownstones that have no lead-based paint. More commonly, we find that "some" components are painted with lead-based paint. Typical scenarios for encountering lead-based paint in these homes include: wood trim only, walls only, 1st floor only and lots of other scenarios.