Lead Paint Inspection & Testing
Lead Paint Testing in San Diego
Component-by-component lead testing for pre-1978 homes and buildings — paint-chip and dust-wipe sampling, accredited laboratory analysis, and a report your contractor can actually work from.
Independent testing
Which components actually contain lead — and which don't
Assuming every painted surface in an old house is a lead hazard is expensive. Assuming none of them are is worse. Testing replaces both assumptions with per-component results.
Do I need lead testing before renovating a pre-1978 home?
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978. If your building predates that and the project will sand, scrape, cut or demolish painted surfaces, testing identifies exactly which components require lead-safe work practices — and lets the rest of the project proceed normally.
What we test
- Window sashes, sills, casings and troughs
- Doors, jambs and thresholds
- Painted interior trim, baseboards and stair components
- Painted exterior siding, fascia, eaves and railings
- Painted cabinetry and built-ins
- Settled dust on floors and window surfaces (dust-wipe sampling)
Our process
- 01
Confirm the year of construction and the scope of work that will disturb painted surfaces.
- 02
Identify distinct painted components and substrates in the authorized areas.
- 03
Collect paint-chip samples, and dust-wipe samples where surface dust is the concern.
- 04
Photograph and key every sample location.
- 05
Submit samples to an accredited laboratory for analysis.
- 06
Report results component by component, with plain-language explanation of what they mean for the planned work.
Limitations
Results apply to the specific components and locations sampled on the day of the inspection. Painted surfaces that were inaccessible, concealed or outside the authorized scope are not represented. Origin does not diagnose health effects or blood-lead levels; those are medical questions for a physician.
Open 24 hours
Request Lead Testing
Tell us what you are seeing, when it began and which areas are involved. Requests route to our scheduling inbox and you receive an immediate confirmation.
Who requests lead testing
Renovation, rental and real-estate driven
Owners renovating pre-1978 homes
Contractors scoping lead-safe work
Property managers and landlords
Home buyers and sellers
HOAs and multifamily owners
Commercial property owners
Regulatory reference
Lead-based paint requirements are administered federally by the U.S. EPA and in California by the California Department of Public Health. Worker protection falls under Cal/OSHA. Confirm current requirements for your specific project with the applicable agency.
Common questions
Lead testing questions we're asked
Direct answers before you schedule.
If the home was built before 1978 and the work will disturb painted surfaces, testing tells you which components actually contain lead-based paint. That determines where lead-safe work practices are required, instead of assuming the answer either way.
High-friction and impact components — windows, window sills, doors, jambs, stair treads and painted trim — generate the most dust when disturbed, so they are usually the first components sampled.
An inspection identifies whether lead-based paint is present on specific components. A risk assessment additionally evaluates the condition of that paint and the presence of lead hazards such as deteriorated surfaces or settled dust. Tell us which one your project or agency requires.
Paint-chip and dust-wipe samples are submitted to an accredited laboratory. Results are reported per component and per sample location so the findings can be acted on precisely.
No. Origin Environmental performs inspection and testing only. Abatement and lead-safe renovation are separate, licensed work — which keeps our findings independent of any removal proposal.
Related services
Local inspection coverage
Lead testing across San Diego County
Component-focused lead testing is available for older homes, rentals, commercial properties and renovation projects throughout San Diego County.
View All Service AreasKnow which components contain lead before work starts.
Tell us what is happening, when it began, and which areas are involved. Serving San Diego County.