Senate Bill SB-721 (commonly referred to as California Balcony Law), requires inspection of Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE) of residential apartment buildings with 3+ units.
SB (Senate Bill) 721, signed in 2018, refers to apartment buildings.
Exterior Elevated Elements or EEEs are building components that are exposed from the building and are elevated 6 feet or more from the ground. EEEs include balconies, decks, porches, exterior stairways, walkways, landings and any entry structures extended beyond exterior walls. Railings, supports and waterproofing surface of the elevated elements as well are subject to inspection.
Inspections must be completed by licensed professionals, such as architects, engineers, building inspectors, or general contractors with class “A,” “B,” or “C-5” license. For SB-721, a minimum of 15% of each type of EEE is required to be inspected. The inspection report will include thorough information on the condition, functionality, service life expectancy and repairs (if required).
As the law requires, the first SB-721 Inspection must be performed by January 1st 2025, with re-inspections every subsequent 6 years. The owners / managers must keep the reports for two inspection cycles, 12 years.
BALCONY INSPECTION SB-721
DEADLINE FOR BALCONY AND DECK INSPECTION IS ALMOST THERE!!!
To comply with SB-721, property owners/ managers are obliged to have their Exterior Elevated Elements inspected by January 1st 2025.
LA DECK AND BALCONY team are experts in inspection of decks, balconies, walkways and other types of EEEs of residential apartment buildings with 3+ units.
To evaluate the defects of the Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE), LA DECK AND BALCONY inspectors use three general methods of inspection:
Visual, during which the inspectors conduct a preliminary assessment of all exterior elevated elements, their integrity and accordance with the existing requirements.
Endoscopic, during which the specialists make a 1⁄2 '' -1'' hole underneath the EEE and examine it with an endoscope, moisture sensor, or infrared camera without harming the structure. After the inspection is completed, special caps are installed in the holes to allow access at future inspections.
Destructive, during which a small portion of the exterior finish (such as stucco) is removed to expose the wood framing and to see the extent of damage (if any) and define the repairs needed. We use destructive method only when endoscopic method indicates to dry-rot or other serious damages.
The Inspectors inspect and report on the following areas of the EEE, if applicable: balconies, walkways, elevated decks, stairways, stairsteps, stairway landings and railings. The Inspector evaluates the condition, appropriacy, functioning and service life expectancy of the structural and load bearing components (and various elements) of the EEE (along with their connections to the buildings and their waterproofing systems), identify presence or absence of any immediate threat(s) to the health and safety of the residents, recommend, if needed, any necessary repair(s) or replacement(s).
The following parts of the EEEs are subject to inspection and evaluation: framing, joists and beams, sheathing, surface and waterproofing, flashings (deck-to-wall, edge), drainage, railing (height, baseplates, bolting), staircase connections, stucco. The Inspectors reserve the right to define the most probable damaged areas to be inspected.
The inspection report is submitted to the Client within two weeks of the inspection day. Inspection reports must be kept for two cycles, 12 years for SB-721.
The inspection report will provide information on:
immediate safety threat conditions / non-immediate safety threat conditions,
current and future serviceability of the elements,
recommendations / requirements on repairs and replacements.
When immediate safety threats are revealed to the life of the occupants, the area should be closed off for public access and occupancy. The inspector will notify the owner /manager within 15 days of the report issuance, and repair actions should be taken within approximately 8 months after the inspection.
LA DECK AND BALCONY INSPECTIONS
BALCONY AND DECK REPAIR
LA DECK AND BALCONY licensed professionals provide high-level repair for any type of Exterior Elevated Elements. We can repair, strengthen and replace your decks, balconies, walkways, stairways, stairsteps, stairway landings, and railings to make them secure and compliant with SB-721.
Our team is accomplished and enthusiastic in helping you whether:
you have recently had a balcony inspection and received a report on issues at your exterior elevated wood-framed elements (EEEs); or
you simply need your deck or balcony get repaired, to mitigate the possibility of accidents, or to make it look neat and tidy.
The following elements of your decks and balconies may need repair or replacement: framing, joists and beams, sheathing, waterproofing, drainage, flashings (deck-to-wall, edge), railings (height, baseplates, bolting), staircase connections, stucco.
LA DECK AND BALCONY team is here to make your decks and balconies satisfy California Balcony Bills. Our company provides PROMPT and FREE site visits and assessment. Our PROMPT and FREE estimates indicate all the necessary repairs required for your EEE. We complete the projects from demolition to surfacing.
LA DECK AND BALCONY carries out a complete management of the whole construction process, from ENGINEERING (PLANS and PERMITS) up to CONSTRUCTION and FINAL INSPECTION.
With LA DECK AND BALCONY, your decks and balconies are safe and secure, aesthetically pleasing and compliant with SB-721.
BALCONY AND DECK WATERPROOFING
Exterior Elevated Elements (EEEs), such as balconies, decks, walkways, stairways, stairsteps, landings, are constantly subject to wear and tear and damages due to weather conditions and exploitation. Negligence of proper maintenance of the surface may result in serious damages and unpleasant consequences.
Waterproof surfaces of the EEEs can have a wide scope of issues, like membrane cracks, surface bubbling, moisture and soft spots, loosened deck-to-wall flashing, drainage errors etc. Surface damages can lead to more serious problems, like structural (wood-framing, joists) and railing damages, wood rot and termite contamination.
LA DECK AND BALCONY team is always here to help you whether:
your recent balcony inspection revealed waterproof issues at your exterior elevated wood-framed elements (EEEs); or
your balcony needs a substantial structural repair to comply with California Balcony Laws, or
you simply need your deck or balcony surface get improved, to decrease the risk of further damages, and to make it look nicer.
LA DECK AND BALCONY's licensed and experienced professionals will handle the waterproofing works of your decks and balconies with care and responsibility. You will have PROMPT and FREE site visits and assessments by our accomplished specialists. Our PROMPT and FREE estimates will indicate all the necessary repairs to make your deck and balcony surface exempt from wear and tear, cracks, stains and other damages.
LA DECK AND BALCONY carries out a complete management of the whole construction process, from ENGINEERING (PLANS and PERMITS) up to CONSTRUCTION and FINAL INSPECTION.
With LA DECK AND BALCONY, your decks and balconies are safe and secure, aesthetically pleasing and compliant with SB-721.
