Environmental testing in Santa Cruz County

Older than the state average

Close to 63 percent of Santa Cruz County's approximately 107,000 homes predate 1980, against about 55 percent statewide, the American Community Survey shows, and about 12 percent were built in 1939 or earlier. Only around 13 percent were built in 2000 or after, and the county's median year built is 1974.

With so much older housing, a pre-remodel test is common sense here. Asbestos can turn up in ceiling texture, pipe wrap and the backing of old sheet flooring, and lead-based paint is common under the newer coats on pre-1978 trim and siding.

Rain and damp walls

The Santa Cruz station's 1991-2020 NOAA normals come to about 31 inches of rain annually, nearly all between November and March, with January the peak month.

Winter nights there average about 41°F in January, and cool, wet months slow the drying of anything that got soaked. When a musty smell lingers after the rainy season, a partner can sample for mold or map moisture in the walls.

Smoke and fire testing

If smoke or ash reached a home in Santa Cruz County, you can request smoke and fire testing. A partner can sample soot and ash on surfaces and have their lab analyze it.

Which district handles asbestos notices

CARB places all of Santa Cruz County in the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, which also covers Monterey and San Benito counties. Before a demolition, NESHAP can require an asbestos survey plus a filing with that district.