Older-home lead & asbestos checklist

What to do first

If you suspect lead paint or asbestos, do not disturb it. Keep children, pets, and other people away from the area, and pause any renovation work until it has been checked by a certified professional.

This checklist is meant to help you notice where risk may be hiding, not to confirm whether a material is safe. For any suspected lead or asbestos in a home, the safest next step is testing first by a qualified pro or accredited lab.

If a child may have been exposed to lead, contact a doctor or your local health department. Abatewell is a free matching and directory service, not a contractor, lab, or law firm, and we do not test or remove anything.

What’s inside the checklist

The checklist is a plain-language guide for older homes, especially homes built before 1978 or homes that may be undergoing repair, remodeling, or a real-estate sale. It points out common places lead paint and asbestos may hide, such as painted trim, windows, doors, ceilings, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and some textured materials.

It also helps you decide what information to gather before you call a pro: the home’s age, the rooms involved, what kind of work is planned, and whether anyone in the home has health concerns or is more vulnerable, such as young children.

Use it as a planning tool before you search for a certified tester, learn more in our guides, or ask for local help.

How to use it safely

Walk through the home room by room and note anything that looks old, damaged, crumbling, peeling, dusty, or likely to be disturbed by work. Do not sand, scrape, cut, drill, or tear out suspicious material just to “check” it.

1. Mark the areas that may need testing.
2. Stop work in those areas until a certified pro evaluates them.
3. Ask for written scope, testing, containment, and disposal details before any abatement or renovation begins.
4. Verify the person’s license or certification yourself with your state or the EPA.

For lead work in pre-1978 homes, look for EPA Lead RRP certification when paint will be disturbed. For asbestos, state licensing rules apply, and the job may require containment and proper disposal.

Who this checklist helps

This resource is helpful for homeowners, renters, buyers, sellers, landlords, and family members who want a simple way to think through older-home risks before starting work. It can also help new immigrants and non-native English speakers who want clear next steps without technical language.

It is especially useful if you are planning repairs, a kitchen or bathroom update, window replacement, or any project that could disturb painted surfaces, floor materials, insulation, or dust.

If you already know you need a certified lead or asbestos professional, use this checklist to organize your concerns before you request help through Get Matched.

What the checklist is not

This checklist does not test for lead or asbestos, and it does not say whether a material is safe. It is not legal, regulatory, or medical advice, and it does not replace state rules, local rules, or professional judgment.

Costs, timelines, and required steps vary by state, city, material, home age, access, and how much testing, containment, or disposal is needed. Any price you hear should be treated as a range, not a quote, until a certified professional inspects the job.

Watch for red flags like no license or certification, no containment plan, “we’ll just scrape it off,” cash-only demands, scare tactics, or pressure to sign right away. Get the scope and price in writing and verify credentials before work starts.