ClearGuard Environmental San Francisco · San Francisco County
Lead paint testing in San Francisco — from $425, accredited lab result
Lead paint testing in San Francisco costs $425. Any building painted before 1978 is assumed to carry lead, and San Francisco's Victorian and Edwardian stock usually carries many layers of it on sash, trim and exterior siding. We collect paint-chip samples and return an accredited laboratory result in writing before anyone sands, scrapes or replaces windows.
ClearGuard Environmental San Francisco · 580 California St, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94104 · (415) 592-6414
Instant estimate · about 60 seconds
What your test will cost
What do you need tested?
Choose the concern at this property.
Testing only. We report what the accredited lab finds and never bid the removal or remediation work.
Accredited lab
Third-party analysis
Testing only
No removal sales, ever
Same-day visits
Fast written results
Chain of custody
Tracked from start to finish
What we sample in San Francisco
- Paint chips from each distinct painted component and colour layer
- Window sill, trough and floor dust wipes at EPA clearance locations
- Exterior siding, trim, porch and railing coatings
- Soil near a repainted or scraped exterior wall
- Repainted cabinets, doors and stair components in pre-1978 housing
- Post-renovation clearance wipes after a disturbance
Why San Franciscans call us
- The building was permitted before 1978 and is about to be sanded or cut
- A child's blood lead level came back elevated
- A landlord, buyer or housing program needs documentation
- An RRP-certified contractor needs a component list before work
- Paint is chalking, chipping or peeling where children play
What the written report contains
- Lead result per component and per layer
- Dust-wipe results in µg/ft² beside the EPA clearance level
- A clear positive or negative call for each surface sampled
- Laboratory accreditation, analyst signature and chain of custody
Other tests on the same visit
- Asbestos testing — from $425
- Mold testing — from $395
- Indoor air quality testing — from $445
Structured summary
Lead paint testing in San Francisco — the facts
| Service | Lead paint testing in San Francisco — sample collection, accredited laboratory analysis and a written result. We never sell removal or remediation. |
|---|---|
| Price | From $425, laboratory analysis included, quoted before dispatch. |
| Laboratory method | Paint-chip samples analysed by flame AAS or ICP (EPA SW-846 3050B) and dust-wipe samples reported in µg/ft² against the current EPA clearance levels |
| Turnaround | Same-day or next-day collection, written laboratory result within 24–48 hours |
| Coverage | All 34 San Francisco neighbourhoods plus Daly City, South San Francisco, Brisbane and Pacifica. |
| Rating | 5.0 out of 5 from 76 verified customer reviews. |
| Local office | 580 California St, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94104 · (415) 592-6414 |
The steps
How a San Francisco sampling visit runs
01
Tell us what you're about to disturb
Call, text a photo, or fill out the form. We identify the suspect materials, estimate the sample count, and lock in your flat price before anyone is dispatched.
02
A certified inspector collects the samples safely
Each distinct material is wetted down, a coin-sized piece is cut, sealed, labeled and logged under chain of custody. The mark left behind is smaller than a light-switch plate, and the space is left clean.
03
An accredited lab runs the PLM analysis
Samples are examined by Polarized Light Microscopy with dispersion staining — the EPA-recognized method for bulk building materials — with point counting available for borderline results.
04
You get a written report within 24 hours
A PDF lists every sample location, the analytical method, the fiber type detected and the reported percentage.
Lead paint testing by San Francisco neighbourhood
The city's building stock changes block by block, so the materials we end up sampling change with it. Each neighbourhood below has its own page with local detail, pricing and booking.
Just over the county line
Independence
A company should not test the material it hopes to remove.
We collect and test material. ClearGuard does not sell removal work, keeping the finding independent. An abatement crew offering a "free inspection" is running a sales call with a lab form attached. We only sell the test, so a clean result and a positive result pay us exactly the same.
- No removal bids, no upsell, no referral kickback
- Every sample goes to an independent, accredited laboratory
- You get material names and percentages, not a vague pass or fail
- If a result is positive, we point you to licensed local abatement crews and exit the job
FAQ
Lead paint testing in San Francisco — questions
How much does lead paint testing cost in San Francisco?
$425, laboratory analysis included, quoted before anyone is dispatched. Optional 4–8 hour expedited handling adds $99.
How fast can a sampler reach a San Francisco address?
Usually the same day for requests placed early, otherwise the next morning. Our San Francisco office at 580 California St, Suite 1200 runs daily routes through every neighbourhood, and the written accredited result follows within 24 hours.
Which San Francisco neighbourhoods do you cover?
All of them — from the Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond through the Mission, Castro, SoMa, Bayview and Visitacion Valley, plus Daly City, South San Francisco, Brisbane and Pacifica just over the line.
Do you also do the removal or remediation work?
No, and that is deliberate. ClearGuard only collects samples and reports laboratory results, so the finding is never attached to a removal sale. If work is needed, you take our report to any licensed contractor you choose.
Can you test an occupied flat or a rent-controlled building?
Yes. Sampling is wet-method and contained, every point is photographed and patched before the sampler leaves, and visits are scheduled around tenant notice periods.
What do I get at the end?
A written accredited laboratory report with sample locations, photographs, the method used and a plain-language result you can hand to a contractor, a landlord, a buyer or an insurer. We provide the test and the report — not permits, surveys or removal scopes.
How much does lead paint testing cost?
Lead paint testing starts at $425, which covers the visit, the laboratory analysis of the first paint-chip or dust-wipe set and the written report. Extra components are quoted before the visit.
Is a laboratory lead test better than a swab?
A hardware-store swab only reacts to the top layer and produces false results on dark colours. A laboratory result gives the lead concentration per layer, which is what a contractor, landlord or housing program can actually act on.
Which buildings need lead testing?
Anything permitted before 1978 is treated as suspect until a laboratory says otherwise. Federal RRP rules apply to renovation in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities.