When a visual report isn't enough, smoke damage testing puts lab proof behind it. We pair a full inspection with two tape-lift samples analyzed for combustion byproducts at BTLS (ASTM D6602-13), and offer an optional TEM Soot Confirmation at Eurofins for the highest-stakes disputes. You get documentation built to hold up to scrutiny - adjuster-ready, with lab results, within 48 hours. For homes and commercial buildings across LA, Ventura, and Orange Counties.
Smoke damage testing is the lab-verified upgrade from a visual inspection: instead of documenting what soot looks like, it confirms what the residue actually is - and where it came from.
A smoke damage testing visit starts with the same full inspection as our $399 visual service - a certified inspector walks the property, assesses surfaces and contents, checks the HVAC system for smoke migration, and documents everything with dated photos. The difference is what happens next: we collect two tape-lift samples and send them to BTLS for combustion-byproduct analysis under ASTM D6602-13. The lab identifies char particles, soot density, and ash residue, turning "this looks like smoke damage" into a measured, method-backed finding.
That distinction matters most when a claim is contested. Insurers, public adjusters, and attorneys work from evidence, and a lab result tied to a recognized ASTM method carries weight that a visual opinion alone may not. People come to this page in active situations: a denied or disputed smoke damage claim, a file headed toward litigation, a post-fire real estate disclosure, or a restoration contractor documenting conditions before and after the work.
For the highest-stakes disputes, we offer a TEM Soot Confirmation upgrade. Eurofins (AIHA-LAP accredited, ID #173068) performs Transmission Electron Microscopy on the samples to confirm combustion-source soot at the particle level. Industry guidance notes that TEM is what most insurance companies look for when a claim reaches formal review, so it is the right call when your case is in dispute, headed to litigation, or your adjuster is questioning whether the residue is truly soot. It adds $449 to the base service.
A smoke damage inspection is the visual service for $399 - a thorough on-site assessment and an adjuster-ready report, which is enough for many straightforward claims. Smoke damage testing adds the laboratory layer - two tape-lift samples and ASTM D6602-13 analysis at BTLS, with the optional TEM confirmation at Eurofins - for $899. Start with the inspection when a documented visual record settles the matter; choose testing when you need lab-verified proof of soot and char.
| Smoke Damage Inspection ($399) | Smoke Damage Testing ($899) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full visual inspection + HVAC check + photos | Yes | Yes |
| Adjuster-ready written report within 48 hours | Yes | Yes |
| 2 tape-lift samples analyzed (ASTM D6602-13, BTLS) | No | Yes |
| Lab-verified char, soot density, and ash residue | No | Yes |
| Optional TEM Soot Confirmation (Eurofins, +$449) | No | Yes |
| Best for | A documented visual record | Disputed claims and litigation |
Comparing options? See every service side by side on our services page.
Every $899 test pairs the full on-site inspection with two lab-analyzed tape-lift samples and a documented report.
Time on site: 60 to 90 minutes for most homes.
Lab: BTLS (ASTM-standard methods, Tarzana).
Best for: Disputed claims, litigation, and formal review.
Your test is run by a certified inspector who works to a recognized industry standard, and your samples are analyzed by Eurofins (AIHA-LAP accredited, ID #173068) and BTLS (ASTM-standard methods, Tarzana). BTLS handles the ASTM D6602-13 tape-lift analysis; Eurofins performs the TEM Soot Confirmation upgrade. You get documentation built to hold up to scrutiny.
$899 flat for standard smoke damage testing - the full inspection, two tape-lift samples, ASTM D6602-13 lab analysis, and the adjuster-ready report are all included. The price you're quoted is the price you pay.
The smoke damage testing cost is $899 for a standard home, covering the on-site visual inspection, HVAC check, two tape-lift samples, BTLS combustion-byproduct analysis under ASTM D6602-13, and your written report with lab results within 48 hours. Additional samples are $199 each when more areas need coverage - the higher per-sample cost reflects the specialized lab work behind each tape lift. Larger homes and commercial buildings are quoted before you book.
TEM Soot Confirmation is a Eurofins special order added to the base $899 service.
Same-Day subject to lab capacity and scheduling. Available inside our 25-mile core.
Visual assessment and adjuster-ready report when documentation is enough.
Learn morePost-remediation verification that confirms the cleanup actually worked.
Learn moreFor when fire-related water damage raises mold concerns alongside the smoke.
Learn moreA smoke damage testing visit takes about 60 to 90 minutes on site, then the samples go to the lab. Here's the whole process, start to finish.
Tell us what happened. We confirm a time - same day inside our 25-mile core, next day everywhere else - and lock in the $899 flat rate.
We walk every affected area, check the HVAC for smoke migration, document with dated photos, and collect two tape-lift samples for the lab.
Before we leave, we walk you through what we saw on site - in plain language - while the samples head to the lab.
BTLS (ASTM-standard methods, Tarzana) runs the tape lifts under ASTM D6602-13 for char, soot density, and ash residue. Add TEM Soot Confirmation at Eurofins for evidence-grade proof.
Within 48 hours you'll have the complete written report, with lab results, photos, and conclusions ready for your adjuster, public adjuster, or attorney.
Based in Woodland Hills, we provide smoke damage testing services across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange Counties - including the wildfire-affected communities of Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Calabasas, and Agoura. Same-day appointments inside our 25-mile core, next day everywhere else, with no travel fees within county lines.
Response: Same day across the core San Fernando Valley.
Response: Next-day appointments countywide.
Response: Next-day appointments countywide.
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Tell us about your claim and we'll lock in a time - same day inside our core, next day everywhere else. Quick, straightforward, and on your schedule.