Residential

Testing & Inspection for Homeowners

Whether you're remodeling a kitchen, converting a garage, or preparing a pre-1978 home for sale, an independent test tells you what's actually in your walls, floors, and ceilings before a crew starts cutting into them.

What to Know

  • Popcorn ceilings, vinyl floor tile, and stucco are common suspect materials in homes built before the 1990s.
  • Many California cities require an asbestos survey before issuing a demolition or major renovation permit.
  • Pre-1978 homes are subject to federal lead paint disclosure requirements at time of sale.

Before You Open a Wall, Know What's Inside

Many Southern California homes built before the mid-1980s contain suspect materials in places you would not expect: textured "popcorn" ceilings, vinyl floor tile and the mastic beneath it, drywall joint compound, stucco and its base coat, HVAC duct insulation, and tar paper under roofing or siding. A renovation that disturbs these materials without testing first can turn a routine remodel into an unplanned cleanup project.

Testing before work starts answers three questions: what is present, where it is, and how it should be handled. Our inspector collects representative samples, submits them to an accredited laboratory, and summarizes the results in a report your contractor, lender, or real estate agent can rely on.

California homeowners also face specific triggers: many cities require an asbestos survey before issuing a demolition or major renovation permit, and homes built before 1978 carry federal lead-paint disclosure obligations at sale. An independent inspection up front protects your family, your timeline, and your budget.

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