Sacramento housing by decade
About 54 percent of the city's roughly 212,000 homes were built before 1980, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Around 11 percent date from 1939 or earlier, and the median build year is 1977.
That age profile matters for two tests. Lead-based paint shows up more often in pre-1978 houses, EPA says, while older textured ceilings, floor tiles and pipe insulation can contain asbestos. Samples taken by a partner and analyzed by the partner's lab are the way to know.
Winter rain, summer heat
January is the wettest month in NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the city's executive airport, when the average high is only about 56°F. By August, highs average around 92°F and rain is rare.
Cool, wet winters bring out roof and window leaks. When a stain appears overhead, mold testing or moisture mapping can come before you cut into drywall.
Mold testing in the city
If mold is your main question, our Sacramento mold page covers local moisture factors and renter questions in more detail.
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Questions
Is lead paint likely in my Sacramento house?
It depends on the year it was built and what has been done since. Much of the city's housing predates 1978, the cutoff EPA uses for higher lead-paint risk, and a partner's lead test gives you an answer for your own house.
What should I tell you when I request a tester?
Your ZIP, the test, whether it's a house, condo or rental, and the reason, such as a kitchen remodel or a leak repair. Those details help us find a partner who handles that kind of job.