Building Requirements for Decks: California Building Codes Explained
California designs decks for 60 psf, not the 40 psf every national span table assumes. Here are the permit, footing, framing, and ledger rules…
Founder & Lead Inspector · CSLB #1060736
Igor Kurliak is the founder and lead inspector at ABD Inspections, where he has spent over 15 years assessing and rebuilding the exterior elevated structures — balconies, decks, walkways, and stairways — that California's SB 721 and SB 326 laws are designed to keep safe. His background bridges hands-on construction and code-level compliance: before founding ABD, he worked across framing, structural repair, and waterproofing on multifamily and commercial buildings throughout Northern California, which is exactly why his inspections go beyond a checklist.
Igor's philosophy is simple — an inspection is only useful if it leads to the right decision. He has personally inspected or overseen the assessment of 1,000+ elevated structures, and he delivers every report in plain language, backed by photo documentation and defensible findings that hold up with property owners, HOAs, and city inspectors alike. Because ABD handles both inspection and repair, Igor stays accountable from the first walkthrough to the final waterproofing coat.
Written and reviewed by the author — 8 published.
Deck Safety
California designs decks for 60 psf, not the 40 psf every national span table assumes. Here are the permit, footing, framing, and ledger rules…
Deck Safety
National guides say 36 inches. Build to 36 in California and the inspector sends you back. Here is where the 42-inch figure comes from…
Deck Safety
A bottom step three-quarters of an inch shallow can fail an entire flight. Here is what California’s deck stairs code sets for rise, run,…
SB 721 Compliance
A balcony can look flawless and still be failing inside. Here is the complete SB 721 balcony inspection checklist California owners need to catch…
Deck Safety
The 15 structural and safety points every homeowner and inspector should check on a deck, grouped by system from the house connection to the…
Deck Safety
Your deck inspection report is a safety roadmap, not paperwork. Here is how to read every severity rating and finding, and exactly what to…
Deck Safety
Most deck failures start out of sight, in the framing. Here is how a deck framing inspection finds hidden rot in ledgers, joists, and…
Guides
Two laws, two sets of rules. SB 721 and SB 326 explained in plain English so you know which California balcony and deck inspection…
Work directly with Igor and the ABD Inspections team on your SB 721 or SB 326 compliance. Free quote, no obligation.