Lead-safe work comes first
Anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be EPA lead-safe certified. The rule covers firms and sole proprietors. It generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own home.
The EPA says nine in ten homes built before 1940 have lead-based paint, and about two in three homes built between 1940 and 1960 do. Much of the housing in New Haven and the towns around it was built long before 1978, so this question usually applies.
Where surprises tend to appear
Every house is different, so this is a list of places to look and questions to ask, not a forecast. An older house is more likely to hold surprises, and the way to handle them is to ask about them before the walls are open.
| Place | What may be there | Ask |
|---|---|---|
| Walls and ceilings | Plaster over wood lath, painted many times, possibly with lead paint. | How will dust be contained, and who repairs the plaster? |
| Wiring | Older wiring from before modern circuits, and a panel sized for fewer appliances. | Will the electrician check the panel and the circuits, and is there enough capacity for the new kitchen? |
| Plumbing | Supply and drain pipes in older materials that corrode or narrow with age. | Will the plumber inspect and replace the lines the work exposes? |
| Floors | Layers of old flooring, and a subfloor or joists that sag or were notched for old pipes. | What is the plan, and the price, if the subfloor needs repair? |
| Walls | A wall that looks like a partition may carry load or hide a duct, a pipe or a chimney flue. | Who checks whether a wall is structural before it is opened? |
| Old flooring, adhesives and insulation | Some older materials contain asbestos. | How are suspect materials tested and handled before they are disturbed? |
Historic districts
New Haven has local historic districts, including Wooster Square, Quinnipiac River and City Point, where the Historic District Commission reviews exterior architectural changes. A range-hood vent through the wall, a new window or a changed door is an exterior change, so ask the commission before you order anything. Work that stays inside the house is a different matter, but the commission can tell you what applies to your address.
Other parts of the city are recognized at the state or national level, among them Suburban Westville, Upper Davenport, Beaver Hills and Edgewood. Recognition is not the same as local review. The city’s interactive map shows district boundaries, and its staff can say which applies to your street.
Near the shore
New Haven is a coastal city and its flood information pages describe a floodplain development permit and a flood damage prevention ordinance. If your house is near the water, check the FEMA flood hazard layer and the coastal area boundary on the city’s interactive map, and ask the building office whether your work triggers either one.
Plan for what you cannot see
Even a careful inspection cannot see inside a wall. What you can do is agree in advance how surprises will be handled:
- A written change order, with the price and the schedule effect, signed before extra work starts. See what the contract must say.
- A clear statement of who decides, and who pays, when something unexpected is found.
- Allowances that are realistic, and a reserve of your own for the unknown. See what drives the cost.
- A schedule that leaves room. Old houses rarely go exactly to plan.
Before demolition in an older house
- Find out the age of the houseIf it was built before 1978, ask for EPA lead-safe certification and a dust-control plan.
- Walk the basement and the attic with the remodelerThey can see wiring, pipes, framing and chimneys that you cannot see from the kitchen.
- Check the mapsLook up your address on the city’s historic district and flood layers, and ask the building office what applies.
- Agree the plan for surprises in writingChange orders, who decides and who pays, as above.
- Settle who pulls the permitsBoth parties must agree on who does it. See the permit guide.
Neighborhood pages
How do I find out whether my paint contains lead?
Ask your remodeler how the firm confirms it. The EPA’s renovation pages describe the options, and a certified firm will know them. Do not sand or scrape old paint yourself while you decide.
Is old wiring a problem?
It depends on its condition. What matters is what a licensed electrician finds when the walls are open, and what your insurer and the building office will accept. Ask the electrician to explain what they see and what they recommend.
Will an older house cost more to remodel?
It can, because unknowns are more likely. You manage that with a clear scope, a plan for unforeseen conditions and written change orders.
Do I need approval to remodel inside a historic district?
The commission’s role is to review exterior changes. Interior work is a different question, but a vent, a window or a door changes the outside. Ask the commission about your address before you order.