Asbestos is one of the most serious environmental hazards in old buildings. Whether you’ve recently purchased a home or are opening a brick-and-mortar business space, you must check for this toxic material as soon as possible. That means partnering with a reliable California asbestos testing service.
Many companies offer asbestos testing and abatement, but not all are equally beneficial. Here’s a look at 10 of California’s best providers of asbestos testing to help you get started.
1. A-Tech
A-Tech has over 20 years of experience testing and managing asbestos and other environmental risks. The firm will guide you through every step, from researching your building’s history and conducting lab tests to developing and monitoring a removal plan.
A-Tech’s asbestos testing covers a lot of ground, including multiple types of testing and air quality monitoring. This coverage ensures the team doesn’t miss anything, giving you more assurance that your building is safe. After abatement, A-Tech will continue to inspect your space to verify it’s clear of hazards.
You can also get asbestos awareness training from A-Tech, which is ideal if you’re running a business and plan on expanding. In addition, the company can test for lead, combustion by-products, mold and other contaminants. Its massive range of industrial and environmental testing and management and engineering services is also worth considering.
2. Benchmark Environmental Engineering
San Jose-based Benchmark Environmental Engineering is another one of the best asbestos testing services in California. Benchmark boasts several state and federal certifications, allowing it to provide reliable insights and action in many areas of building safety.
Like A-Tech, Benchmark’s analysis follows multiple steps, starting with a visual inspection before moving on to collecting samples and testing them in a lab. Upon finding asbestos or other contaminants, employees will help you develop an abatement plan, including choosing a contractor and verifying the removal’s effectiveness after the fact.
Benchmark also provides training programs for asbestos awareness, abatement certification and more. It can test for various other risks, too — including lead, mold, fungus and radon — which is especially beneficial if your building is especially old or covers a large area.
3. Nielsen Environmental
Those in the greater LA, Malibu or South Bay regions may consider Nielsen Environmental for their asbestos testing needs. Nielsen started as a construction contracting firm and still does a lot of construction work but also provides leading asbestos remediation services.
In addition to testing for asbestos, Nielsen is a certified abatement contractor. That means it can remove the material in question without turning to a third party, which streamlines and simplifies the process.
As with many others on this list, Nielsen also provides lead and mold remediation services. Its construction work sets it apart, though. You can turn to the firm for demolition, general contracting services and even earthquake damage prevention strategies, which is a major concern throughout much of California.
4. JP & Sons
JP & Sons serves the southern end of the state. While it promotes itself mostly as a demolition company, it also has some of the most extensive asbestos inspection and removal processes available.
After performing high-tech lab inspections and a visual analysis, JP & Sons offers multiple removal and management options. The team can use specialized tools to remove all asbestos-containing materials from the property or — if that’s not possible — encapsulate them to stop fibers from entering the air.
Most importantly, JP & Sons’ processes are tailored to the specific customer, so you’ll get whichever services are most helpful to you. The family-owned business also provides free estimates, so you know what you’re getting into each time.
5. So Cal Abatement
Another southern California option is So Cal Abatement, which covers just three counties but deserves attention for its customer-centric approach. The firm focuses on keeping its services environmentally friendly and accessible to a wide range of clients in both commercial and residential circles.
On the surface, So Cal may not stand out from other companies, as its range of services is relatively small. However, its inspections and quotes are entirely free and it promises a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which is not necessarily common in this industry.
So Cal also operates around the clock, so you can contact it and get help at any time. As a certified abatement contractor, the company will remove any asbestos, lead or mold it finds during the inspection.
6. NORCAL Environmental Management
While So Cal Abatement is a good option for those in southern California, you may consider NORCAL Environmental Management if you live or work on the opposite end. This provider covers a large service region across the northern half of the state and boasts quick turnaround times and reliable results.
NORCAL offers same-day service and results for most projects. Despite that speed, it’s highly accurate, as it relies on advanced third-party labs to get detailed results from various testing methods. You also don’t need to pay extra for those streamlined processes.
Unlike some others, NORCAL does not perform its own abatement or manage the removal process. However, it will write a recommended plan for remediation and can perform additional tests to verify that all asbestos, mold and other hazards are gone.
7. Ellis Environmental Management
With clients like UCLA and NBC News, Ellis Environmental Management is another leading option for asbestos testing in California. Ellis mainly serves the greater LA region and provides an impressive amount of additional construction and environmental services you can take advantage of.
After performing its initial testing, Ellis will accept and review bids from contractors for abatement. This hands-on management makes it easier to find the right removal service for you. The team will also oversee the abatement — even if they don’t handle it themselves — and regularly monitor it to ensure complete remediation.
Ellis is most valuable for commercial projects, given its extensive list of construction and environmental site management offerings. However, only operating in the wider LA area makes it inaccessible to some would-be customers.
8. 3West Environmental
Another reliable option in the LA area is 3West Environmental, which promises fast and personalized asbestos services. In addition to testing for the dangerous material, 3West offers consulting if you need more information on analysis and remediation workflows or want advice on general environmental management.
3West provides two types of asbestos testing — limited sampling and pre-demolition surveys. The former is a smaller, faster method targeted at homeowners or renovation projects, while the latter is a more in-depth and comprehensive material testing process to clear a property for safe demolition. After either test, 3West will follow up to verify that the abatement was successful.
Aside from asbestos testing, 3West can look for mold, dangerous bacteria strains and lead paint. The company also offers drone photography and video services, which may seem unusual but can be helpful for some construction projects or newly renovated businesses.
9. Environmental Remedies
Those near San Diego or the Bay Area may look to Environmental Remedies, more often known as ERI. While its range of services is admittedly smaller than many others on this list, its asbestos and lead inspection and abatement are top-notch.
ERI offers same-day or next-day inspections for most customers, so you can get the service you need as quickly as possible. It also remains in constant communication throughout the abatement process so you know what’s happening and can learn more about these risks and how to manage them.
Estimates for asbestos and lead remediation are free, and ERI is committed to environmentally friendly solutions. Unfortunately, it’s only available in three metropolitan areas — San Diego, San Francisco and the Inland Empire — making it inaccessible to many.
10. Asbestos Removal Los Angeles
Another more focused business to consider is Asbestos Removal Los Angeles, which only provides asbestos testing and removal services. However, what it lacks in variety, it makes up for in reliability.
Asbestos Removal LA performs air quality monitoring on top of its lab tests to gauge whether materials have already frayed and entered the air. It also follows up on its own abatements or those done by other companies to verify that there are no more hazards present.
The company offers surveys to determine your building’s asbestos risks based on its history. Its scheduling is flexible, and its quotes are free, too, but its limited range of offerings and minimal footprint make it less ideal than some alternatives.
California Asbestos Testing Companies Compared
Here’s another look at how the top-rated California asbestos testing businesses compare to one another along several key considerations.
| Company | Service Area | Follow-Up | Additional Services |
| A-Tech | Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco | Abatement management, post-abatement monitoring, scheduled re-inspection | Asbestos awareness training, lead testing, mold testing, combustion by-product testing, industrial hygiene and safety, water quality monitoring, environmental engineering |
| Benchmark Environmental Engineering | Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Silicon Valley | Abatement management, post-abatement monitoring | Asbestos abatement training, project bid writing, maintenance planning, lead testing, mold testing, radon testing, pathogen testing, air quality testing, hazard communications |
| Nielson Environmental | Los Angeles, Malibu and South Bay | Abatement, post-abatement monitoring | Lead testing, mold testing, demolition, earthquake protection, general contractor work |
| JP & Sons | Anaheim, Colton, Corona, Fontana, Highland, Palm Springs, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino and Yucaipa | Abatement, post-abatement monitoring | Lead testing, mold testing, demolition, water damage services |
| So Cal Abatement | Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties | Abatement | Lead testing, mold testing |
| NORCAL Environmental Management | El Dorado, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Tehama and Yolo Counties | Remediation protocol writing, post-abatement monitoring | Lead testing, mold testing, bacteria testing, fire and smoke damage testing |
| Ellis Environmental Management | Greater Los Angeles area | Abatement management, post-abatement monitoring | Lead testing, mold testing, air quality monitoring, moisture and water testing, fire damage testing, HVAC inspections, demolition management, contract management, industrial hygiene and safety, environmental site assessments |
| 3West Environmental | Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties | Post-abatement monitoring | Lead testing, mold testing, bacteria testing, drone photography, consulting |
| ERI | Inland Empire, San Diego and San Francisco | Abatement | Lead testing |
| Asbestos Removal LA | Greater Los Angeles area | Abatement, post-abatement monitoring | Asbestos surveys |
What to Look for in an Asbestos Testing Service
The best asbestos testing in California depends on your needs. However, you can look for a few important signs to determine if a provider is reliable.
Up-to-date certification is the most critical aspect of a trustworthy asbestos inspection or abatement service. California requires licensure for all asbestos work, and these registrations are valid for one year. You can verify a potential inspector or abatement contractor by finding their certification number on their website and looking it up with the Asbestos Contractors’ Registration Unit to ensure it’s still active.
The best inspections use various monitoring and testing tools to offer more comprehensive results. Related services — like in-house abatement, remediation planning and management for other environmental hazards — may make a contractor more useful to you but aren’t strictly necessary.
