Structural Repair
- Joist, beam, and rim replacement
- Ledger board reinforcement and re-flashing
- Connection hardware upgrades
- Support post and deck footing reconstruction
★ 1,000+ Inspections
15+ Years
CSLB #1060736
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Daly City, CA — Deck & Balcony Inspections
San Mateo County · SB 721 & SB 326 specialists
Daly City is one of the most densely populated large cities in the country, built on hills that face the Pacific and sit in fog through spring and summer. Balconies, decks, and exterior stairs here stay damp for long periods in every season. Our team inspects apartment buildings under SB 721 and condominium associations under SB 326, then repairs what the inspection finds, in Westlake, Serramonte, St. Francis Heights, Top of the Hill, Bayshore, and along Mission Street, Skyline Boulevard, and John Daly Boulevard.
- SB 721 Inspections
- SB 326 Inspections
- Repair & Reconstruction
- Waterproofing
What We Do
Inspection & Repair Services in Daly City
Inspection, compliance, repair, and reconstruction for Daly City apartment owners, HOA boards, and property managers — handled end‑to‑end by one licensed team.
Waterproofing
- Walkable deck membrane systems
- Flashing detail correction
- Drain, scupper, and threshold rework
- Sealant and caulking refresh
Compliance
- SB 721 reports for Daly City apartment buildings (3+ units)
- SB 326 reports for condominium HOAs
- City of Daly City permit submittals for deck and balcony repair
- Engineer-signed final compliance letters
Safety Inspections
- Load-bearing assessment
- Moisture probes & infrared scanning
- Railing and guardrail load testing
- Deck footing inspection and flashing integrity checks
Free Compliance Check
Does Your Daly City Property Need an Inspection?
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Construction Types
We Work With Every Type of Daly City Deck & Balcony
Wood Decks
Almost every balcony, deck, and exterior stair in Daly City's multifamily stock is wood-framed, and in this climate wood gets very little time to dry. Winter brings rain, and spring and summer bring fog, so framing on the ocean side of a building can stay damp for months at a time. During a deck inspection here we take moisture readings on every element in the sample, including those that look sound, because decay in a damp climate often starts inside the wood before it shows on the surface.
Concrete Balconies
Concrete balconies make up a small share of Daly City's elevated elements and are left out of both state laws when the concrete itself carries the load. Another case is concrete used as a finish over wood: tile or mortar beds laid on wood-framed balconies. Under the law these count as wood-supported elements. Tile and mortar hide the membrane and the framing completely, so on these balconies we test the surface for hollow areas and inspect the framing from below or through the soffit.
Composite Decks
Composite boards hold up better than wood decking in wet weather, which is why many owners in Daly City use them when they replace a deck surface. The framing underneath is usually the original wood and stays as damp as before. Damp joists under composite boards can also grow mold and decay out of sight. We lift boards at the ledger and along the outer edge to check the joists and the flashing behind them.
Not sure what your Daly City property needs?
A 30-minute on-site walkthrough tells you exactly what's required.
Local Expertise
Why Daly City, Specifically
Daly City grew from 15,191 residents in 1950 to 66,922 in 1970. Much of that growth came from Westlake, the planned suburb that builder Henry Doelger started on former sand dunes and farmland and that was annexed to the city in 1948. About 40% of the city's housing was built before 1950, on small lots close together, and a 2015 analysis ranked Daly City sixth in population density among U.S. cities with more than 100,000 residents. In 2020 the city had 104,901 residents and 33,444 housing units, and 46% of occupied homes were rented.
The city lies on the San Andreas Fault. The 1906 earthquake began just offshore near Mussel Rock, and a magnitude 5.3 earthquake in 1957 damaged buildings in Westlake. Along the coast, more than 20 homes on Westline Drive were red-tagged for landslide risk and demolished in 2000. For multifamily owners, this means two things: the climate keeps exterior wood wet, and on some sites the ground itself moves. Our balcony inspection and deck inspection in Daly City account for both.
Neighborhoods & corridors we cover
- Westlake
- Westlake Palisades
- Serramonte
- St. Francis Heights
- Top of the Hill
- Hillside
- Crocker
- Southern Hills
- Bayshore
- Mission Street
- Skyline Boulevard
- John Daly Boulevard
- Southgate Avenue
- Lake Merced Boulevard
- Gellert Boulevard
- Hickey Boulevard
- Junipero Serra Boulevard
- Geneva Avenue
Climate Note
Daly City has cool, dry summers and mild, wet winters, but fog covers the city through spring and much of the summer, and July and August temperatures rarely rise above 75°F. Most cities in California have a dry season when exterior wood can dry out. Daly City largely does not: fog and mist keep wood, coatings, and sealants damp in summer, and rain does the same in winter. Wind off the ocean also pushes rain sideways into door thresholds and wall joints on the west side of buildings.
Common Problems
What We See Most Often in Daly City
Issues that repeat across the local building stock — from climate, construction era, or common materials in this area.
Decay on younger buildings, not only old ones
Because wood here rarely dries, fungal decay can appear on buildings that are relatively new, especially on the west and north sides. Owners of newer complexes are often surprised by this. We treat building age as only one factor and base the sample and the testing on exposure.
Rot at guardrail post tops and top rails
Water collects on the flat tops of wood guardrail posts and rails and soaks into the end grain and the joints between pieces. In fog, these spots stay wet almost continuously. A railing can look painted and intact while the post is soft at the top or loose at its base. We load-test guardrails and probe post tops and rail joints in the sample.
Water at doors facing the ocean
On west-facing walls, wind-driven rain is pushed under door thresholds and behind trim at the edges of balcony doors. The damage often shows up first inside the unit, as stained flooring or swollen baseboards near the balcony door. We check threshold flashing and the membrane turn-up at every balcony door in the sample.
Enclosed spaces under elevated elements
Owners sometimes enclose the space under a balcony or stair to add storage, a room, or a laundry area. The enclosure blocks airflow, hides the framing, and can trap moisture against the joists. We note every enclosed area, open access points where possible, and include these elements in the sample even when they are hard to reach.
Movement on hillside and bluff-top sites
On steep lots and near the coastal bluffs, slow ground movement can pull stair landings away from buildings, crack footings, and tilt posts. Each of these is documented with photos and measurements in the report. Where movement appears to be continuing, we recommend a geotechnical or structural engineering review before repair work begins.
Who We Serve
Property Types We Work With
Apartment Buildings
SB 721 reaches every Daly City apartment property of three units or more. We inspect apartment buildings in Westlake, Serramonte, Top of the Hill, and along Mission Street and Skyline Boulevard every 6 years, with tenant entry notices arranged through your manager and repairs carried out by the same licensed team.
Condominiums
Condominium associations in Daly City inspect under SB 326 every 9 years. A licensed structural engineer or architect inspects a randomly chosen, statistically valid share of the elevated elements the association maintains. We confirm the association's maintenance responsibility from the CC&Rs before the sample is selected.
HOA Communities
For Daly City HOA boards, we present findings by building and orientation, so the board can see whether problems concentrate on the ocean side. The package includes repair pricing, permit filings, and a compliance letter for reserve studies, insurers, and lenders.
Multi-Family Housing
Former single-family houses now holding three or more units, small apartment buildings on narrow lots, townhomes, and apartments above storefronts on Mission Street and Geneva Avenue.
Schedule a free on-site assessment
Serving all of Daly City with fast response times. Most assessments within 3 business days.
What You Get
Project Deliverables
After the work is complete, you walk away with a full archive package — ready for your HOA board, insurer, city, or next property sale.
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Photo Journal
Before, during, and after photos tagged to every structural element inspected.
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City Permits & Acceptance
Full permit package, inspection card sign-offs, and city correspondence archived.
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Material & Workmanship Warranties
Manufacturer warranties plus our labor guarantee in writing.
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Work Summary Report
Detailed scope-of-work summary covering every repair and reinforcement.
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Final Compliance Letter
Engineer-signed SB 721 / SB 326 letter for your HOA archive, insurance, and lender.
For Daly City properties, the package also includes the moisture readings for each inspected element and a recommended schedule for checking coatings, sealants, and drains between SB 721 or SB 326 cycles, based on how exposed each side of the building is.
How It Works
Our 5-Step Process
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01
Initial Assessment
We walk the property, identify scope, and flag any urgent safety items. No cost, no obligation.
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02
Detailed Scope & Estimate
Full proposal with line-item pricing, material specs, and a realistic timeline.
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03
Permits & Scheduling
We handle city permits and coordinate tenant notices with property management.
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04
Execution
One licensed crew, start to finish. Daily photo updates and clean worksites.
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05
Final Inspection & Handoff
City sign-off, warranty package, and compliance letter delivered to you.
Proof
Trusted by Property Managers in Daly City
Our building in Westlake is not that old, so we did not expect much. ABD's moisture readings showed wet framing on every balcony on the ocean side and dry framing on the other side. The repair was planned around that, and we did not pay to open up balconies that did not need it.
Tenants kept reporting stained floors by the balcony doors. ABD traced it to the thresholds on the west wall, not the balconies themselves, and the fix was smaller than we feared.
- CSLB #1060736CA Licensed Contractor
- NADRADeck Industry Association
- CREIAReal Estate Inspectors
- $1M+ InsuredGeneral & Workers' Comp
FAQ
Questions from Daly City Property Owners
Why do balconies in Daly City wear out faster than inland?
Because wood here seldom dries. Inland cities have a long dry summer when moisture leaves the framing. In Daly City, fog keeps exterior wood damp through spring and summer, and winter rain follows. Decay fungi need moisture to grow, so they have more time to work each year. The result is that membranes, sealants, and framing on exposed sides of a building often need repair sooner than the same materials would in an inland market.
We rent out a house that was split into three units. Does SB 721 apply?
Yes. Three dwelling units is the threshold, and the law then covers any wood-supported balcony, deck, stair, landing, or walkway whose floor is higher than six feet off the ground. In converted houses, this is often an exterior stair to an upper unit or a rear deck. SB 721 does not apply to a house with one or two units.
Should we check anything between the 6-year inspections?
SB 721 sets the minimum, but in Daly City's climate a yearly visual check of coatings, sealant joints, door thresholds, and drains is worth doing, especially on the ocean side of the building. Our report lists which elements to check and what to look for, so a maintenance crew can do it without a full inspection.
Nearby
Other Cities We Serve Near Daly City
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Get Started
Book a Free Assessment in Daly City
Tell us about your property and we'll come out, walk it, and give you a written plan — free of charge, no obligation.
- 916-269-5277
- Info@abdteam.com
- 191 Lathrop Way, Suite N, Sacramento, CA 95815
- CSLB #1060736