Questions

If your rental was built before 1980, has two or more units, and is in the City of Kingston, it falls under New York's Lead Rental Registry. Those properties must be registered, inspected for lead hazards, and certified every three years. Requirements depend on the property and the current program, so check yours with the county health department or with us.[L-05][L-06][L-07]

A lead inspection tells you where lead-based paint is, surface by surface. A risk assessment tells you where lead hazards are: deteriorated paint, lead-contaminated dust, and lead in soil. We confirm which one fits your purpose before scheduling.[L-02][L-10]

For housing built before 1978, federal law gives a buyer a 10-day opportunity to have a lead-based paint inspection or risk assessment done before being obligated under the contract.[L-04]

Since January 12, 2026, the federal dust-lead action levels after abatement are 5 micrograms per square foot on floors, 40 on window sills, and 100 in window troughs. A dust-lead hazard is now any level a laboratory recognized by EPA's NLLAP program can report.[L-03]

Yes. A survey by a New York State certified asbestos inspector is required before demolition, renovation, remodeling, or repair work. Without one, the building must be assumed to contain asbestos and handled as an asbestos project.[A-02][A-03]

Not by its construction date. Under New York's rule, a building that would otherwise be exempt must still be assumed to contain asbestos unless a survey documents otherwise, and state exemptions do not override federal EPA or OSHA requirements.[A-02]

Mold assessment done for others requires a license from the New York State Department of Labor. Exemptions include projects with less than 10 square feet of mold-impacted material and owners working on their own residential property.[M-01][M-04]

Not on the same project. New York's mold law (Labor Law §936) doesn't allow the same company or person to perform both the mold assessment and the mold remediation on the same project. Keeping them separate means the assessment has no stake in the cleanup work. We assess and test; we don't do remediation. After your assessment, you'll receive our findings and a remediation plan to share with the licensed remediation contractor you choose.[M-03]

No. OSHA has no permissible exposure limit for mold, and there's no federal numeric standard for mold in indoor air. New York's mold law covers who can do assessment and remediation work, but it doesn't set a numeric limit either. That's why an assessment starts with moisture and visible conditions, and uses sampling to answer a specific question. When we take air samples, we compare the results to control samples taken outdoors and in an unaffected area of the building, so the numbers are read in context rather than against a single "safe" number.[M-09][M-05][M-08]

The licensed assessor's plan covers the project scope, work-area preparation, the remediation and cleaning methods, personal protective equipment, and the clearance requirements the work will be judged against.[M-02]

They describe two different things, using the terms from the restoration industry's standard for water damage (IICRC S500).

Category is about how contaminated the water is: Category 1, clean water, such as a broken supply line. Category 2, water with significant contamination, such as a washing machine or dishwasher overflow. Category 3, grossly contaminated water, such as sewage or floodwater. A category can change over time: clean water that sits, warms up, or soaks through building materials can become Category 2 or 3. That's one reason it pays to act quickly.

Class is about how much water there is to dry out, and how hard the materials are to dry: Class 1, a small area with little water absorbed. Class 2, a whole room, with water wicked into walls and carpet. Class 3, the most water, often from above, soaking ceilings, walls, and floors. Class 4, specialty drying for hard-to-dry materials like hardwood, plaster, or concrete.

Our water damage inspection identifies the category and class, and documents the conditions so you and your insurance adjuster have a clear record.[W-01]

It depends on the scope, the property's size or number of units, the samples needed, travel, and timing. Your quote shows the included scope and any optional work, and we confirm any additional charge with you before doing extra work.

Most reports are ready within about a week.

Lab results: samples go to an accredited lab; standard turnaround is typically 3–5 business days. Rush turnaround (typically 12–48 hours) is available at an additional cost; we can talk through options during your inspection, depending on how quickly you need results.

Your report: we generally complete and review your report within 24–48 hours of receiving the lab results.

Release: payment is required before the report is released.

These are typical timeframes, not guarantees. Lab schedules and holidays can affect them, and we'll keep you posted if anything changes.

Payment is due before the report is released. A late fee of 2% per month applies after 15 days. Cancellations within 24 hours of the appointment incur a $75 rescheduling fee.