Houses built in the 1940s
National checks that apply to at least one year in the 1940s: Lead paint, Knob-and-tube wiring, Asbestos. Worth checking for this era. A year page has the list for that year.
- Lead paint
Federal law requires a lead-paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978. Worth checking for this era.
- Knob-and-tube wiring
Active knob-and-tube in houses built through the 1940s is commonly reported, verify. HUD’s appraisal guide says it can remain if it is in good condition and the service is at least 60 amps. Worth checking for this era.
- Asbestos
EPA’s home guide says sprayed or troweled ceilings in homes built or remodeled between 1945 and 1978 may contain asbestos, and that EPA prohibited spray-applied asbestos insulation in 1973. Intact material is not, by itself, a project. Worth checking for this era.