How old Sacramento County homes are
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey counts about 598,000 housing units in the county. Roughly 48 percent of them were built before 1980, and about 22 percent went up in 2000 or later, which puts the median build year at 1981.
According to EPA, a house finished before 1978 has a higher chance of containing lead-based paint. Textured ceiling paint, vinyl floor tiles and old pipe wrap are on EPA's list of products that may hold asbestos, and you can't confirm either by eye.
Valley weather and damp
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Sacramento Executive Airport show about 18 inches of rain a year, with roughly 15 inches of that falling from November through March. Summers are close to rainless, and the average July high sits near 93°F.
Because the rain comes in a few months, a leak from a winter storm can sit unnoticed in a wall until spring. If you smell something musty after the wet season, moisture mapping or mold testing can show where the water went.
Who to tell before demolition
Sacramento Metro AQMD is the air district for the whole county. Federal asbestos rules call for a survey before many renovation and demolition jobs, and some also need advance notice to the district. Ask your contractor what applies to your project.
Services
Nearby
- Sacramento Region
- Sacramento
- Placer County
- San Joaquin County
- Solano County
- Contra Costa County
- Yolo County
- El Dorado County
- Amador County
- Sutter County
Questions
Do I need an asbestos test before removing a popcorn ceiling in Sacramento County?
Popcorn texture is one of the materials EPA flags as possibly containing asbestos. If the house predates 1980, have a partner sample the ceiling before anyone scrapes it.
Can I get lead testing for an older home in the county?
Yes. A lead test can cover paint, dust or soil, and it's a sensible step before sanding trim or swapping out original windows in an older house.