When Should You Test For Lead And Asbestos In Your Home?

When you're in your house, you expect to be safe. If your home was built before 1980, though, it's possible that you have dangerous materials in place that were used as part of home construction before they were banned, such as lead paint and asbestos. The federal government banned lead-based paint for consumer use in 1978. Even though the federal government didn't fully ban construction materials featuring asbestos until 1989 and then had to fight battles over the decision in court, most home builders had stopped using these materials by 1980.

When should you test your home to see if you have these materials in place? Some states recommend testing for lead paint and asbestos before beginning a renovation of an older home. It's one of the key things to do before remodeling. If you notice materials crumbling that could contain asbestos, such as insulation or drywall, get it tested. Test for lead paint in an older house before renovations, repainting, or when existing older paint is chipping or peeling. The chance of inhaling asbestos fibers is significantly higher when someone disturbs this material, which is likely to happen when renovating an older home. Renovations that disturb layers of lead paint can cause people to inhale lead dust, exposing them to this toxic material.

Exposure to asbestos and lead paint can cause negative health effects, hence the bans. Inhaling or swallowing the microscopic fibers from asbestos can cause internal inflammation and scarring, potentially leading to cancer. Exposure to lead in paint can affect mental and physical development of children. Adults with lead exposure may notice increased physical pain, difficulties with memory, and mood disorders.

Asbestos materials are not worrisome for homes built in the 1980s and later. In older homes, though, asbestos may appear in cement board siding, attic insulation, pipe insulation, drywall, felt backing in roofing or flooring, subfloors, and popcorn ceilings. If you believe you might have these materials in an older home, you can hire a licensed asbestos testing company to determine whether they have asbestos or whether the fibers are already airborne.

Do you need to remove all asbestos from your home? Merely finding asbestos in your home does not mean you and your family are in danger of an exposure. As long as the material is in good condition and you are not renovating, you can leave it alone. However, if it has signs of damage or if you plan to tear out the suspected material for a renovation, professional removal is the safest option. If the material needs removal, many testing companies can also safely remove any asbestos they find.

Some people consider the best method for testing an area for asbestos is using a DIY kit. You'll mail a sample of your material to a remote laboratory for testing. Take multiple safety precautions, like wearing protective gear and using plastic sheeting, to protect yourself if you choose to use a DIY testing kit. The cost to hire an asbestos testing company averages about $500. DIY kits usually cost significantly less, but they might not be completely accurate. 

Many states have laws that force homeowners to assume that lead paint is present if the house was built before 1978. If you're unsure how to tell if your home contains lead-based paint, know that as the paint ages, it may show cracks that resemble the scaly skin of an alligator. However, no one can just look at old paint and absolutely determine whether it contains lead. Older homes may have many layers of lead-based paint, which makes testing important before remodeling or when peeling or flaking is occurring. You can hire a certified lead paint testing company to check for this material. A professional inspection has an average cost of $600. You can also use a DIY testing kit for far less money, but it doesn't offer the same level of quality or accuracy. 

Homeowners in the past may have used lead paint in areas like window sills, window frames, doors, floors, stairways, and cabinets. Children are especially at risk for exposure because they might chew on window sills when teething, touch flaking paint and put their fingers in their mouths, or inhale dust from chipped paint.

If testing shows that your older home has this toxic material, you can hire a professional to strip or scrape it to remove it. If you're planning a renovation anyway, professionals can remove the wood that contains lead-based paint and dispose of it safely. Encapsulating it with a special sealant material is another option.