Notes from under the floor
Plain explanations of foundation repair, seismic retrofits and hiring a builder, written for owners getting ready to ask for a quote.
Notes from under the floor
Earthquake Brace and Bolt: What the Retrofit Involves
Which houses need bolting and bracing, what the crew does in the crawlspace, how the state program fits in and how a retrofit is quoted.Read the note
Foundation Repair in Los Angeles: Signs, Fixes and How Quotes Differ
Which cracks are worth an inspection, how the fix changes between a raised floor and a slab, and what to compare when two quotes look nothing alike.Read the note
Hiring a General Contractor in Los Angeles: License Checks and Bid Comparison
Look up the license, confirm the insurance, compare the bids line by line and know the payment rules before you sign.Read the note
Soft-Story Retrofit in Los Angeles: An Owner's Checklist
A checklist for owners of wood-frame buildings with parking or open fronts at ground level: the ordinance, the fixes, tenants and the quote.Read the note
Questions about structure and remodeling
No. We build additions, ADUs, kitchens, baths and full remodels too. The difference is that we check the structure under them first and include any structural item in the same quote.
A raised floor with short walls between the foundation and the first floor is the first thing to check. We look at whether the frame is bolted down and whether those walls are braced, and tell you what we find.
Usually it can, with a beam sized by an engineer, posts under each end and a footing where the load lands. We plan all three before the wall comes down.
Fill in the form, or have us phone you. We arrange a visit, look at the structure and then send a written quote broken out line by line.
Start with what holds the house up
Tell us about the project and we will plan the inspection. The quote comes in writing after we have seen the structure.