Lead Paint Screening in Boulder, CO
Older Homes. Hidden Risks. Smart Screening.
Many of Boulder’s most charming homes were built before 1978—the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. If your home was built before then, lead paint screening is a valuable way to check for the presence of lead on common painted surfaces before you renovate, rent, or buy. While useful, this screening is not a substitute for a full lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment.
How Our Lead Paint Screening Works
We use EPA-recognized 3M LeadCheck® swabs to perform lead paint screening. These swabs react with lead and change color when lead is present. We gently score through surface layers of paint in targeted areas—like window trim, doors, and baseboards—and apply the swab to detect lead.
- Surface-Level Screening: Results show if lead is present in the top layers of painted surfaces
- No Lab Testing Required: Instant results on-site using 3M LeadCheck® swabs
- Pre-Renovation Focus: Helps identify if safety precautions are needed before sanding, scraping, or demo
- Quick Reporting: You'll receive a summary of screened areas and results
Important: This is a limited screening process—not a full Lead-Based Paint Inspection or Risk Assessment. We do not use XRF analyzers or evaluate every painted surface in the home. Only a certified Lead Risk Assessor can determine whether an entire property is free of lead-based paint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between your screening and a full lead paint inspection?
Our service screens select surfaces for the presence of lead using EPA-recognized swab tests. A full inspection or risk assessment, usually done with XRF devices, checks every painted surface and is the only way to confirm a property is lead-free.
Can this screening be used for legal compliance?
Our screening can help inform your decision before renovation or purchase, but it is not a substitute for a certified lead-based paint inspection or disclosure documentation as required under federal law for homes built before 1978.
Will you test every room or painted surface?
No. We screen a sampling of high-risk areas—typically doors, windows, trim, and baseboards—where lead paint is most often found. This provides useful insight but does not confirm the full home is lead-free.
Should I get a full lead risk assessment instead?
If you need clearance for a child occupancy, are concerned about lead dust, or want whole-house confirmation, a licensed EPA Lead Risk Assessor with an XRF tool would be the right choice. Our service is intended for quick pre-renovation or due diligence screening.