Is the paint on my 1920s Ottawa trim likely lead-based?

Health Canada states that homes built before 1960 probably contain lead-based paint, and that interior paint in homes built after that date may contain smaller amounts as well. A house from the 1920s falls well within that range, so lead in the trim paint is a real possibility, not a remote one.

The concern with trim specifically is that it gets handled, repainted and scraped over decades. Layers build up. When a carpenter sands, cuts or removes old trim, that paint can become dust or chips. Health Canada advises against sanding, using a heat gun or using a blowtorch on lead-based paint. The practical step before any trim work begins is to have the paint tested. You want to know before the first piece of trim comes off the wall.

If testing confirms lead, the work does not stop, but it changes how the carpenter approaches it. The contractor has worker-safety duties under Ontario law regardless of what the homeowner decides about their own exposure. Ask any carpenter you hire what their process is when lead paint is confirmed, and get that answer in writing before work starts.

One more layer worth knowing: Health Canada lists plaster, paint, putty, caulking and spackling among older materials that may contain asbestos. In a 1920s house those materials can sit right behind or beneath the trim. Testing for asbestos before disturbing plaster or old filler is the same sensible step as testing for lead.

On an individually designated heritage property in Ottawa, the designation by-law may protect original interior features such as trim. If your house carries a heritage designation, check with City heritage staff before removing or altering original millwork, even for repair.

Before you choose between two written quotes, look at whether each one spells out exactly which trim is being replaced or repaired, who is responsible for any design work and who pulls any required permit, what species or profile of wood (or alternative material) is specified, and whether patching the surrounding wall surface and site clean-up are included or billed separately.