If you think you may have a soft story building but have not received a notice from the city, it is important to take action and determine whether or not your building is, in fact, a soft story building. A soft story building is a type of building that has a weak or vulnerable ground […]
One of the most challenging parts of establishing an ADU is getting permits. It can be overwhelming to determine whether limitations and rules are relevant to your location, including specific balcony rules and regulations if your ADU includes a balcony. The laws and norms governing ADUs and ADU types are improving all the time. Six […]
How can an ADU be beneficial for the future? These compact areas, known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), are incredibly practical, cozy, and convenient if you need more space but don't want to move entirely to a new location. Here are a few good reasons to add an ADU to your home if you've been […]
An apartment with tuck-under parking is an example of a soft story building, which is a multi-story building with a first floor that is significantly less rigid (soft) than the floors above. Due to unreinforced openings on the ground floor that produced considerably more movement than the soft story building could handle, the upper floors […]
Los Angeles passed a law requiring the retrofit of soft stories in November 2015. Depending on the structure's number of stories and housing units, the city determined which buildings were the most at risk and issued rolling orders to comply. A structure with a weak first floor frequently has a garage, a wide overhang or […]
Concrete balconies can tragically collapse, despite the fact that they shouldn't. Over time, balconies can rot or even develop termite damage, requiring immediate balcony repair. California law now mandates balcony inspections of balconies and "exterior elevated elements" on multifamily structures. For residents in Los Angeles, it’s crucial to arrange balcony inspections in Los Angeles as […]
ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units) are a residential unit that adds to the usable area of a property and has its own door, kitchen, and bathroom. An ADU may occasionally stand alone from the primary residence on the land; in other instances, they may be attached yet have their own outside entrances. Some houses may allow […]
Thousands of residential homes and buildings in Los Angeles suffer from a fundamental structural weakness, particularly in their balconies and tuck under parking areas. Large, unreinforced spaces on the ground floors as well as the wood-frame structure make them particularly vulnerable. A new Retrofit Grant, known as the Earthquake Brace and Bolt Grant, is being […]
Before January 1, 2025, property owners must finish their initial SB-721 and SB-326 inspections. Building owners are required to participate in follow-up inspections under SB-721 every six years after the original inspection. When SKS Construction does an SB-326 or SB-721 inspection, we follow a step-by-step procedure to provide a thorough, trustworthy examination. Balconies, support rails, […]
California law requires that specific balconies be inspected everywhere. The primary distinction between the two laws is that SB326 inspection relates to condominium owners while SB721 applies to apartment owners. Senate Bill 721, which is applicable to structures with three or more linked units, was enacted in 2018 and is now codified as Section 17973 […]
