If your home was built before 1978, you may want to schedule lead testing for your home. Before 1978, lead was a common ingredient in household paint. Once the dangers of lead poisoning were realized, this toxic substance was banned for residential and commercial use. During a lead test, a technician will look for areas of peeling paint where lead could potentially be exposed to the air. A company offering lead testing in San Francisco can help you determine whether your home or rental property poses the threat of lead poisoning. To take a look at the steps behind lead based paint detection procedures, be sure to watch this video from HowStuffWorks.