Short answer
You need the inspection first. A test tells you what spores are floating in one room at one moment; an inspection tells you where the water is coming from, which is the only information that leads to a fix.
Air samples taken without a moisture investigation routinely come back 'normal' while a wall cavity six feet away is soaked. Coastal San Diego makes that worse: marine-layer humidity keeps baseline spore counts elevated countywide, so a single number without context proves very little.
Our sequence is always the same — locate moisture with thermal imaging and meters, then sample the specific areas that the moisture data justifies. Testing is a confirmation tool, not a search tool.
Why it matters in San Diego
San Diego's coastal humidity raises background spore counts, so a test without an inspection can mislead you in either direction.
How we handle it
We inspect first, then test only if it helps you — for a sale, landlord dispute, insurance or a doctor.
Signs it's time to call us
- You need written proof
- You suspect mold but can't see it
- Clearance after removal
Mistakes to avoid
- Testing before inspecting
- Relying on a single air sample
Related questions
What does testing cost?
$195 for 2 samples, $295 for 3, $75 per additional sample, with lab analysis and a report.