- Josh Nelson
- Apr 8
- 5 min read
TexPro is Certified To Test Lead & Asbestos
Transforming and updating your home with remodeling can be exciting and beautiful however, if your home is over 45 years old you’ll need to proceed with a bit of caution. The reasoning for that is because most homes built before 1980 contain lead paint and/or asbestos. While newer homes have lower risk even new construction builds as recent as 2024 have had positive tests depending on where the materials were manufactured.
Protecting you and your family from the potential health risks of these materials is one of the most important steps in the remodeling process. This section we will elaborate more on the reasons you should be cautious of these substances, how remodeling can cause exposure and testing procedures. If you think your home may contain lead or asbestos, and a remodel is in your future, we strongly recommend you consider testing before doing any work.
Common Lead & Asbestos Questions
How do I know if my house has lead?
All homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Testing is the only way to be 100% certain. Flaking, chipped or otherwise deteriorating lead-based paint can cause lead poisoning if accidentally ingested. Lead poisoning is potentially very dangerous, especially in children who could be exposed while crawling on the floor or by chewing on something with lead-based paint.
What does lead in a house look like?
There are a few possible visual signs of lead-based paint including a cracked and wrinkling appearance (think alligator skin) and chalky residue. Remember that lead-based paint may be covered by a layer of newer paint.
How do I test for lead in my home?
You can purchase a DIY lead test kit from your local hardware store or hire a professional to send samples to an accredited lab for testing. Home test kits are relatively cheap and reliable. You can also test your water for lead contamination, since homes built before 1986 may have used lead pipes.
Does my house contain asbestos?
If your home was built before 1980, it’s likely some of the materials in your home contain asbestos. The only way to be certain is to have suspected materials professionally tested in a specialized lab before disturbing them in a home remodel. At TexPro Home Solutions we are licensed in the State of Wisconsin for Asbestos Inspections.
What does asbestos look like?
Asbestos is a thin, fiber-like, raw material. It has three different color variations: crocidolite (blue), amosite (brown), and chrysotile (white). Because asbestos was often used as a binding agent, it’s difficult (and sometimes impossible) to identify visually if it’s not in it’s raw form. If you suspect a material is or contains asbestos you should not touch it.
How do I identify asbestos?
You can’t. Unfortunately asbestos is a material that was used, in various forms, in many different products. Identifying asbestos visually is not possible. DIY asbestos testing and removal is never recommended, so seek out a qualified specialist to test before working on any project that has suspect material.
Why is asbestos so dangerous?
Microscopic particles of asbestos can stay airborne for days, and when breathed in will attach themselves to your lung walls for a long period of time. Repeated exposure has been proven to cause lung, chest, and other cancers. Asbestos when left undisturbed is not likely to impact your health. Only when particles of asbestos are airborne can they be inhaled and cause lung damage.
What kinds of products contain asbestos in a home?
Asbestos was also common in popcorn ceilings, insulation products, joint compounds, ceiling and floor tiles, vinyl backing, plasters, wallboards, cement roof and siding shingles, steam pipes, boilers, adhesives and more.
What Is Lead?
Lead is a naturally-occurring heavy metal found within the earth’s crust. It is sometimes present in soil, water, pipes and older buildings. Lead was widely used as an additive in industrial materials, house paint and gasoline. By the mid-1970s researchers linked lead poisoning to various health problems. The United States government banned the manufacturing of lead-based house paint in 1978, and additional restrictions were made in 1986 regarding pipes and similar construction materials.
Health Problems Caused by Lead Poisoning
Lead can accumulate in nearly every organ of the human body and induce lead poisoning. Young children and pregnant mothers are the most susceptible to lead poisoning. Even trace amounts of lead in a child’s bloodstream can end up causing problems such as hearing loss, anemia, behavioral and learning difficulties, low IQ and hyperactivity. Lead can also be passed from a mother to her baby while it’s still in the womb or during breastfeeding.
During construction, lead can get into your body by breathing fumes or dust that contain lead, or by accidentally digested lead-containing material. According to the National Institute of Health, “children under the age of 6 years old are at an increased risk for lead exposure, due to their rapid rate of growth and their tendency to place toys and other objects in their mouths that could contain lead or leaded dust.”
Does My Home Contain Lead?
Any home built before 1978 could contain lead-based paint. If yours was constructed prior to 1940, the odds are very high.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral substance composed of thin fibers. It is mined from the ground. Until the 1990’s asbestos was widely used in building materials, particularly insulation, because of its tensile strength and resistance to heat, fire and electricity. Researchers later discovered that when tiny airborne asbestos fibers were inhaled, they eventually caused serious health problems such as persistent wheezing, asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Eventually, new standards and laws were put in place, and the most common asbestos products were banned in the 1970s. Now a variety of insulation, siding and paint alternatives have taken over the market as safer options. However, while asbestos is restricted in the United States, it is not yet fully banned.
Finding Asbestos
In an older home, typically built before the 1980s, you may find asbestos in (but not limited to):
Wall and attic insulation
Ceiling and floor tiles
Exterior siding (cement asbestos board a.k.a. CAB)
Roofing shingles
Window glaze
Old appliances (stovetop pads)
Textured paint, popcorn ceilings and plaster
Artificial logs and embers in gas fireplaces
Caulking and patching compounds
Mastics and Adhesives
Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets
Health Problems Caused by Asbestos
When inhaled, microscopic asbestos particles can cause lung scarring, decreased lung functionality and even cancer. Typically symptoms will take many years after exposure to become evident. Frequency and amount of exposure are important risk factors to consider. Not everyone exposed to asbestos develops health problems, but remodeling (the more material being disturbed the higher the potential risk) could cause heavy exposure when asbestos materials are damaged or disturbed. Existing asbestos material that is in good shape is not much of a concern because it is unlikely to be inhaled.
Before remodeling an older home, you should consult with a contractor or licensed asbestos inspector for your area.
The Asbestos Testing & Removal Process
Before doing any work TexPro Home Solutions will test your home for the presence of asbestos by sending samples to a professionally accredited lab to be analyzed. Due to the potential health risks associated with sanding for your family an licensed professional will review the scope of work with you, determine the number and location of the materials to be tested and send the samples out for analysis. If fibers are detected they will then recommend safety protocols for your family, starting with the licensed removal of any asbestos-containing substances.
A DIY asbestos removal is a bad idea because you must wear special personal protective equipment (PPE) and dispose of the hazardous material properly. Federal and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services govern removal and disposal. A certified asbestos worker should preform all abatement work.