Lead · Los Angeles & Orange County
Lead Testing
Lead testing identifies lead-based paint, lead dust, and lead in water in homes built before 1978 — the year residential lead paint was banned in the United States. We combine non-destructive XRF surface analysis with paint-chip and dust-wipe lab sampling under EPA RRP firm certification and California CDPH Lead-Related Construction Inspector protocols.
What is Lead Testing?
Lead testing in a California home is a regulated inspection activity that requires both federal EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) firm certification AND a California CDPH Lead-Related Construction Inspector or Risk Assessor certification. The process combines three independent data sources: a portable XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyzer that reads paint composition through the surface non-destructively across every room, paint-chip samples sent to an accredited laboratory for layered cross-section analysis (lead-based paint is often buried under newer non-lead layers), and dust-wipe samples from window sills, floor edges, and stairwell treads — the surfaces where lead-dust accumulates and creates the primary exposure pathway for children. Water samples drawn at multiple fixtures complete the picture when older galvanized or pre-1986 copper plumbing with lead solder is present.
When You Need It
Any time you're under contract to buy a California home built before 1978, before any renovation that will disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home (federally required RRP rule applies), when a young child has a confirmed blood-lead level above CDC guidance, when state-mandated abatement is triggered by a Title 17 enforcement action, and as part of a real-estate disclosure exchange where the seller has reported known lead-based paint. Los Angeles' significant pre-1978 housing inventory — Spanish Colonial bungalows, mid-century ranch, and craftsman homes are particularly common in our service area — makes lead testing a routine step in any inspection contingency on those properties.
Signs to Watch For
- Home was built before 1978 (federal residential lead-paint ban)
- Planned renovation that will disturb painted surfaces
- Young child in the home with elevated blood-lead level
- Visible chipping or peeling paint on door jambs, window frames, or trim
- Real-estate transaction in a pre-1978 LA neighborhood
- Older galvanized plumbing or pre-1986 copper with lead solder
- Title 17 abatement order or local health-department notice
Our Lead Testing Process
1. Pre-inspection review
Review the home's build year, renovation history, and any prior lead testing or abatement records. Identify rooms and surfaces most likely to retain original (pre-1978) paint layers — typically door jambs, window frames, baseboards, exterior trim, and older built-ins.
2. XRF surface analysis
Portable XRF analyzer scans every painted surface in every room — reads through up to a quarter-inch of newer paint to detect underlying lead. Each reading is documented with location, layer count, and lead concentration in milligrams per square centimeter. EPA action level: 1.0 mg/cm².
3. Paint-chip + dust-wipe sampling
Targeted paint-chip samples from suspect surfaces sent to an accredited laboratory for layered cross-section analysis (XRF reads the surface only — chip samples confirm interior layers). Dust-wipe samples from window sills, floor edges, and high-traffic surfaces measure ongoing exposure risk in micrograms per square foot.
4. Water sampling (when warranted)
First-draw and flushed water samples drawn from kitchen and bathroom fixtures, sent to a state-certified drinking-water laboratory. Indicated when the home has galvanized or pre-1986 plumbing, or when a child has confirmed elevated blood-lead with no paint source identified.
5. Written report + protocol
Comprehensive report listing every surface tested, lead concentration, EPA classification (lead-based, lead-containing, or non-lead), and California CDPH-aligned recommendations. If abatement is required under Title 17, we provide the written protocol for a licensed abatement contractor to follow.
What to Expect
A standard pre-1978 California home lead inspection runs $400-650 for surface-only XRF analysis with a written report; comprehensive inspections that add paint-chip, dust-wipe, and water sampling typically run $650-1,200. Inspections take 2-3 hours on-site for a typical single-family home; the lab turnaround for chip and dust analysis adds 3-5 business days. If abatement is required under California Title 17, costs are highly variable — surface-encapsulation projects can run $1,500-4,000 per room, while full removal-and-replacement of original lead-painted trim and door jambs in a craftsman home can exceed $25,000. We coordinate the inspection report directly with abatement contractors and with your transaction's title and escrow team.
Common Questions
How much does mold inspection and removal cost?
What is EPA RRP certification and does my contractor need it?
How is lead-based paint tested in a California home?
Do you offer radon, lead, and home inspection in addition to mold services?
Areas We Serve
Lead Testing is offered across the Los Angeles Westside, San Fernando Valley, and Orange County. Click your city for local details:
- lead testing in Beverly Hills
- lead testing in Santa Monica
- lead testing in Malibu
- lead testing in Brentwood
- lead testing in West Los Angeles
- lead testing in Pacific Palisades
- lead testing in Calabasas
- lead testing in Encino
- lead testing in Sherman Oaks
- lead testing in Studio City
- lead testing in West Hollywood
- lead testing in Burbank
- lead testing in Glendale
- lead testing in Newport Beach
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