Living in a safe home should be the norm. When you buy a house to live in, whether it was last week or decades ago, you expect to make updates and repairs to minor wear and tear over time. What you do not expect is an infrastructure problem due to poor-quality work. When other contractors subvert the laws or fail to follow the best practices to keep homes and buildings safe, especially in an earthquake zone, your life and your bank account may be on the line.
If you notice cracks in your foundation, stuck doors, or shifting and slanted floors inside your home, you need to do something about it. Or maybe you are preparing to buy a new home. Regardless of what brought you to this page, you need to find a reliable and trustworthy contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area who is well-versed in what seismic activity can do to homes and how to properly bolster the structure and make repairs to keep buildings safe and sound.
The question remains, however, where do you turn for expert advice and service to bring your home up to code and ensure it is safe? If you are overwhelmed at the prospect of conducting research for qualified contractors, you can take a breath of relief and keep reading.
This short guide will review five different contractors so you can make an informed decision and find the right one for your location and needs.
1. Avant-Garde Construction Enterprise – The Best Contractor for Claim Support in the Bay Area
Avant‑Garde Construction Enterprise started out small with a focus on crawl spaces and under apartment buildings. Unfortunately, they quickly and consistently noticed that other companies’ retrofit work was not code-compliant or within the expectations of industry best practices. This did not sit well with their team since they knew that many homeowners falsely believed their homes were safe.
With that knowledge, they got to work expanding their business to help customers who previously worked with a different contractor or who need work done on their property, so they would not be taken advantage of by ensuring their buildings stand up to earthquakes.
Avant-Garde is the only seismic firm in the Bay Area that focuses on inspecting other contractors’ work. They independently audit the results and fix any problems with their earthquake retrofits that are found during the inspection process. By using photos taken on site and detailed code-backed reports, the Avant-Garde team helps homeowners recoup the expenses previously paid for unsatisfactory and unsafe work.
This company offers Seismic Truth Audits™ on current retrofits. The detailed audits include photos, documentation of problems, and easy-to-understand reports that point out the good, bad, and what needs to be done to correct the problems. They are a double-duty company since they are also contractors who can take on the corrective work after the audit is complete. All this is done while also giving homeowners the tools to help hold the original contractors accountable for their shoddy work. The reports are also designed to make your insurance claims easier to file, in addition to bond claims and CSLB complaints, as necessary.
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly specialized in earthquake retrofits | Only serves homeowners and small apartment buildings, not large complexes |
| Understand earthquake grant assistance programs | No home remodeling or cosmetic construction services |
| Provides thorough site clean-up | |
| Serves the entire Greater San Francisco Bay Area | |
| Online reviewers happy with timeliness and timelines | |
| Customers report satisfaction with pricing |
2. Bolt Down the Bay Area – Ideal for Quick On-Site Inspections
Bolt Down the Bay Area offers free 45-minute inspections at your property. This is generally considered to be enough time to fully inspect the crawl space and other areas for concerns, damage, or faulty repairs from previous attempts. They are usually able to complete their work within two days.
They have more than 20 years in the business and are FEMA trained and certified. They adhere to the Standard Plan Set A design standards for retrofitting. These plans are preapproved by FEMA and the Association of Bay Area Governments, or ABAG.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers a referral program | Some clients report long wait times |
| Well-versed in navigating the local permitting processes | May not be able to fix older foundations |
| Offers free inspections | |
| Has two locations |
3. 2K Builders LLC – Well-Suited for Commercial and Residential Clients
2K Builders LLC seems to be a Jack of all trades type of company. They provide a range of services to their clients, including homeowners and commercial entities with contracting and construction services. These services include seismic retrofitting, wooden decks with secure bracing, remodeling projects, and basement remodeling, etc.
They work with both homeowners and designers to help homeowners get the homes they want that are safe and comfortable. 2K Builders LLC offers services in the local San Francisco Bay Area
| Pros | Cons |
| Better Business Bureau accredited | Lackluster website |
| Works on renovations, decks, remodels, and seismic retrofits | Limited emergency home repair services |
| They can handle the entire lifecycle of a project | |
| Comfortable with occupied worksites |
4. Skybar Construction – A Good Choice for ADUs
Skybar Construction is a general contractor serving the San Francisco Bay Area. They provide a range of services that include seismic retrofitting, but also home remodeling. They shine with their accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. When homeowners have limited space within their homes and want more space, or simply want extra housing on their property, an ADU is a good idea to consider. These structures can be used as tiny homes, in-law suites, home offices, she-sheds, workout spaces, man caves, kids’ play areas, and the list goes on.
This company gets high marks for transparent communication from its owners. They offer in-house design services, as well. Skybar Construction offers 3D Visual Design services so their clients can see exactly what a completed project might look like.
| Pros | Cons |
| Holds an A+ from the Better Business Bureau | Some clients have reported budget fluctuations |
| High-quality work and attention to detail | Some project timelines extend beyond expectations |
| Operate with licensed in-house professionals | |
| Strong customer satisfaction ratings online |
5. Foundation Strategies and Construction – Strong Foundation and Elevation Repair Contractor
The name says it all. Foundation Strategies and Construction is known for its foundation work because that is what they do. Their team has expertise in dealing with different types of soil that might prove to be a challenge for other companies. They are skilled in foundation, crawl space, and commercial foundation repair.
Foundation Strategies and Construction also offers foundation waterproofing and retrofitting services. Other options for service include remodeling and building additions.
| Pros | Cons |
| Known for honest and thorough inspections | Potentially high up-front costs |
| Clients report fair pricing | Some reviewers have reported increased loud noises due to the nature of the heavy equipment involved |
| Provides quick turnaround times | |
| Can provide deep excavation support |
Final Thoughts
Protect your home from the potential for damage to occur by contacting one of the contractors on this list. While one stands above the rest, they all have their pros and cons, but are great options to consider when you need a contractor to rely on. Compare their policies, practices, and pricing, and then reach out right away to protect your home and the people in it.
