A Trusted, Full-Service Construction Company!
Full Service
Soft Story
Retrofit Contractor
- Over 25 Years of Experience
- 700+ Projects Completed
- Value Engineering
- Design Minimization
- “White-Glove” Customer Care
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Save Your Property From Disaster!
Soft Story Retrofit
Recently Completed And In-Progress
Soft Story Retrofit Projects
We've retrofitted 100s of properties in your area. we get it!
Retrofit Projects
ADU Projects
You’ve Received the Order to Comply... What’s Next?
From the date on the order to:
Submit plans to retrofit
From the date on the order to:
Permit to retrofit or demolish
From the date on the order to:
Complete Construction
Don’t Compromise, Do It Once, Do It Right!
Mandatory Retrofit Program
What is this program about?
Why is my building affected?
Property Owner’s
Benefits
In the End, it’s all about ROI:
Property Owner’s
Responsibility
What do I need to do first?
Full Service. Full Satisfaction
Our Services
From engineering to execution
- Full Service Proposal
- Site Inspection Survey
- Remediation Design
If you’ve already obtained your structural engineering plans; send them over for a comprehensive construction bid and/or possible design minimization.
- Provide Structural Engineering
- Plan Check and Building Permit
Tenant Habitability Plan (THP)
CalRetrofit will prepare and submit the mandatory Tenant Habitability Plan as well as provide tenant notifications per HCID-LA regulations.
- The THP will only be accepted if it adequately mitigates the impact of seismic retrofitting and construction.
- Once accepted, a copy of the THP must be served on the tenants 30 days before construction begins.
- Tenants have 15 days to appeal the THP. If appealed, HCIDLA will conduct an appeal hearing to determine the next steps.
Construction
CalRetrofit will begin construction, providing all materials, labor, and equipment necessary to perform the job scope:
- Arrive at project site, mark and prepare work areas for demolition and excavation.
- Demolish stucco work areas where columns, beams and framing connectors are anchored.
- Saw cut and demolish concrete at work area locations.
- Excavate trench for pad footing placements and grade beam installations.
- Haul and dispose of demolished concrete slab and excavated soil.
- Provide temporary steel cover plates over open trench areas for parking ability and safety.
- Provide, fabricate, transport, erect and connect structural steel columns and members.
- Provide, fabricate and install structural rebar frames for pad footings and grade beams.
- Provide and install blocking, continuity drag, steel plates and straps per plans.
- Provide and pour concrete for pad footings and grade beams.
- Provide and install lath wire screen over the exposed portion of the ceiling and new steel beams.
- Provide and cover newly retrofitted areas with new fire rated stucco.
- Paint and color match to existing building color.
City Mandated Inspections & Compliance Certificate
Our team works hand in hand with the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) inspectors and deputy inspectors to ensure your building is in compliance with the Los Angeles Retrofit Ordinance. All retrofitting construction will adhere to a pre-approved set of plans and are subject to inspection by LADBS inspector and deputy inspectors.
Retrofitting construction is normally inspected and approved in phases/successions and, therefore, no construction can continue beyond the point indicated in each phase, without obtaining the prior approval of the inspector. The approved set of plans must be readily available and provided on-site. Cal Retrofit notifies the inspector as soon as each phase of construction is ready for inspection.
Cost Recovery
Over the course of ten years, up to half of the total seismic retrofit cost may be passed through to tenants if approved by HCID-LA, we will prepare and provide a cost recovery substantiation to be filed along with your application to the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department. These applications must be submitted within 12 months of completion of your retrofitting construction.
The following documents must also be submitted along with the application:
- A copy of the Tenant Habitability Plan (THP);
- Documentation that supports of the costs:
(e.g. contracts, invoices, proof of payments, etc.); and - Rent roll that includes tenants’ move-in dates and current rents.
Once the application has been submitted, a Case Analyst from HCIDLA will be assigned to review it. Landlords and tenants will receive notification that the cost recovery application has been filed. The Case Analyst will review the submitted documentation and determine the correct pass-through amount. Because both landlords and tenants have a right to appeal the decision, a final determination form and an appeal form will be mailed to both.
Already Have Plans?
Don’t Delay! Costs Increase When Demand Escalates
Retrofit Financing Made Easy
FEMA Soft Story Grants Are Now Available!
The City has received a grant from FEMA and Cal OES to assist eligible properties with the financial cost of retrofitting your building to comply with the City’s mandatory seismic retrofit ordinances. Any owners interested in having a significant portion of seismic retrofit costs reimbursed through this FEMA grant should apply.
West Hollywood
There are two grants available:
DESIGN GRANTS up to $5,000 to assist with your retrofit design. CONSTRUCTION GRANTS for up to $20,000 to assist with retrofit construction.
Santa Monica
There are two (2) types of grants available:
DESIGN GRANTS up to $5,000 to assist with your retrofit design. CONSTRUCTION GRANTS for up to $17,000 to assist with retrofit construction.
If you would like to apply for either of these FEMA soft story grants, we can assist you by filling out and submitting the necessary paperwork and overseeing the process which can take up to 3 months. This is an added value of over $1,000!
Retrofit, Then Add More Units To Your Property!
As of January 1, 2020, multifamily zoned properties, can add Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADUs”) to the property, which can substantially increase our annual rental income by adding more units and max-densifving our property. We can now integrate seismic retrofit reinforcement with the creation and buildout of additional units at less than 50% of the cost of purchasing comparable residential dwelling units.
As we combine exterior structural reinforcement and interior design-build services for dwelling spaces, we manage this process in association with our partner ADU Concepts, a full-service design-build engineering and construction partner to provide complete, concept-to-completion services all the way to receiving your keys.
- Expert Design-Build Contractor
- Convert Underutilized Areas
- Add Units, Income & Value
- Free Max-Density Report & Financial Forecast
- Minimized Engineering
- Financing Options Available
CalRetrofit & ADU Concepts
- San Fernando Valley
- West L.A/Simi Valley
- South Bay/Long Beach
- San Gabriel Valley
