Forensic Leak Detection in West Los Angeles
Forensic leak detection finds where water is getting into a building and documents the cause in a written report. You need it when the cause of a leak matters to an insurance claim, a dispute or a repair that keeps failing. Absolute Maintenance & Consulting provides forensic leak detection in West Los Angeles, Culver City and nearby communities, for homes and commercial buildings.
Call (310) 678-4345 or schedule a forensic leak investigation.
CSLB #998184 · IICRC-certified · 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB
Quick links: What it involves Who uses our reports Our process Cost FAQs
Need forensic leak detection? We prove where the water gets in and put it in writing.
What Forensic Leak Detection Involves
Forensic leak detection is a leak investigation that proves the cause and puts it in writing. It’s the documentation side of our water intrusion work, and it goes further than a standard leak inspection:
| Leak detection | Forensic leak detection | |
|---|---|---|
| Question it answers | Where does the water get in? | Where, how, what failed and how far the damage spread |
| Evidence | Photos and moisture readings | Recorded test conditions, photos, thermal images and readings behind every finding |
| Result | A repair plan | A written report others can rely on |
Every test gets its conditions recorded, and every finding gets a photo, a reading or both. Our guide on how water intrusion testing methods compare explains the tools behind that evidence.
When You Need Forensic Leak Detection
You need forensic leak detection when the question isn’t just where the leak is, but why it happened and who should fix it. That goes for single-family homes as much as condos, apartment buildings and commercial property. Common situations:
- An insurance claim depends on the cause of the water damage
- A leak keeps coming back after repairs
- Contractors, owners or neighbors disagree about where the water comes from
- Leaks in a multi-unit building cross units, and responsibility isn’t clear
- A public adjuster or attorney needs a documented finding of cause
Leak keeps coming back? Book forensic leak detection to find the real cause.
Who Uses Our Reports
Insurance adjusters, public adjusters and attorneys use our forensic leak detection reports to establish the cause of water damage. Property owners, HOA boards and property managers use the same findings to decide who repairs what. The insurer decides the claim. A documented cause just means everyone works from the same facts. If you’re filing a claim, our water damage insurance claims support pairs the report with the photos and readings adjusters ask for. The same diagnostics drive every building envelope inspection we do, where the goal is to find weak points before they leak.
Our Forensic Leak Detection Process
We review the history, document conditions, reproduce the leak with testing and then write up the cause. How long it takes depends on the building and the number of possible entry points: water testing takes the most time, and the report follows the site work.
1. Review the History
We gather past repairs, photos, leak dates, weather during leak events and any earlier reports or claim notes, so have those ready.
2. Document Existing Conditions
Before we touch anything, we photograph the damage and the building exterior.
3. Diagnose and Test
We chart the wet area with thermal imaging and moisture mapping, then reproduce the leak with controlled water testing. For windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls, that can include ASTM E1105 water testing.
4. Targeted Openings When Needed
We open a wall or ceiling only when that’s the one way to confirm the path, keeping the opening small and photographing what we find.
5. Written Report
The report covers our methods, test conditions, photos, thermal images, moisture readings and findings, and it ends with the cause of the water intrusion.
Forensic leak detection with a written report adjusters and attorneys use.
How Much Does Forensic Leak Detection Cost?
Forensic leak detection is priced from our inspection and water testing rates: inspections run $375 to $1,500, and water testing runs $1,275 to $2,600+.
| Service | Price | What it covers | Credited toward the work? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Inspection | $375 to $575 | About 15 to 20 minutes with an infrared camera, priced by size and time | Yes |
| Detailed Inspection | $575 to $775 | Up to about 1 hour, one household or unit up to 3,000 sq. ft. | Yes |
| Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection | $975 to $1,500 | Up to 5 units or properties, 3,500 to 10,000 sq. ft. | No |
| Water Intrusion Testing | $1,275 to $1,850+ | Integrated water testing performed with our crew | No |
| Complex Water Testing | $1,950 to $2,600+ | More extensive testing, depending on conditions | No |
The final price depends on the size of the property and how many possible entry points need testing. Water testing isn’t included in inspection prices. When we do the work, the fee for a Basic or Detailed Inspection is credited toward the cost of the work. Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection fees and water testing fees are not credited.
Book a forensic leak investigation: call (310) 678-4345 or request one online.
Why Choose Us for Forensic Leak Detection?
Reports Adjusters and Attorneys Use
Insurance adjusters, public adjusters and attorneys use our forensic leak detection and ASTM E1105 reports to establish cause.
Complex Leaks Are Our Specialty
Cameron Figgins, our founder and principal, has more than 30 years of hands-on experience identifying complex water intrusion issues in Southern California homes. From 2008 to 2014 he provided water intrusion consultation for entertainment industry clients in Hollywood Hills, Bel Air, Beverly Hills and Studio City, covering water damage, weatherproofing and mold remediation in custom homes.
One Team From Finding to Fix
Absolute Maintenance & Consulting is a licensed California contractor (CSLB #998184), an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676) and a MICRO Certified Firm, so the team that proves the cause can make the repair.
Your inspection fee counts toward the work when you hire us.
Forensic Leak Detection FAQs
Why did my previous leak repair fail?
Often because the repair treated the spot where water showed up, not where it got in. Water can enter well above or beside the stain. Other repairs seal the surface, like caulking over stucco cracks, without fixing the flashing or membrane behind it. A forensic investigation tests the actual entry point before anyone repairs it again.
Can I hire you for the investigation only?
Yes. Inspections and water testing are priced as their own services, so you can book the investigation and decide on repairs later. If we do the work, a Basic or Detailed Inspection fee is credited toward it. Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection fees and water testing fees are not credited.
Book a forensic leak investigation: call (310) 678-4345 or request an inspection online. Tell us who needs the findings, and we’ll plan the investigation around that.
We find where the water gets in, repair it and document the work.