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
NADRA · CREIA
24h Response
San Rafael, CA — Deck & Balcony Inspections
Marin County · SB 721 & SB 326 specialists
San Rafael's apartment and condo buildings sit at two extremes: low-lying blocks in the Canal District, parts of which are below the level of the bay, and hillside neighborhoods inside the wildland-urban interface. Water reaches balconies and stairs from the ground up in one, and fire rules shape repairs in the other. We carry out SB 721 inspections on rental buildings and SB 326 inspections for condo associations across the city, from the Canal District and downtown along Fourth Street to Gerstle Park, Terra Linda, Peacock Gap, and the communities off Point San Pedro Road, When repairs are needed, the same licensed crew carries them out.
- SB 721 Inspections
- SB 326 Inspections
- Repair & Reconstruction
- Waterproofing
What We Do
Inspection & Repair Services in San Rafael
Inspection, compliance, repair, and reconstruction for San Rafael 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 San Rafael apartment buildings (3+ units)
- SB 326 reports for condominium HOAs
- City of San Rafael 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
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Construction Types
We Work With Every Type of San Rafael Deck & Balcony
Wood Decks
Wood carries almost every elevated element in San Rafael, but the two main settings put very different loads on it. In the Canal District, apartment buildings stand close together on flat, low ground, and their exterior stairs and walkways are exposed to floodwater at the bottom and rain from above. On the hillsides of Terra Linda, Peacock Gap, and the neighborhoods around downtown, decks stand on posts above steep slopes and often face long views and open weather. Our deck inspection and balcony inspection are planned around which of these settings a building is in.
Concrete Balconies
On hillside properties, wood decks and stairs usually stand on concrete pier footings set into the slope. The wood above the piers falls under both state balcony laws, and the piers matter because they carry it. In heavy winter rain, soil can wash away from around piers on steep ground, leaving them partly exposed or tilted. We check each footing in the sample for exposure, cracking, and movement, and record its condition with photos.
Composite Decks
Hillside decks in San Rafael are frequently resurfaced with composite boards. In San Rafael, many hillside properties lie within wildland-urban interface boundaries where specific building code requirements already apply, and new decking near a building may need to meet ignition-resistance standards. Product listings vary, so we confirm the requirements for the parcel and check the material before it is installed, and we inspect the framing beneath any existing composite surface.
Not sure what your San Rafael property needs?
A 30-minute on-site walkthrough tells you exactly what's required.
Local Expertise
Why San Rafael, Specifically
San Rafael has been the seat of Marin County since 1851 and grew up around Mission San Rafael Arcángel, founded in 1817. The population nearly doubled in the 1960s, from 20,460 in 1960 to 38,977 in 1970, and reached 61,271 at the 2020 Census. The city has 24,502 housing units, and 49.2% of occupied homes are rented. Since 2017, SMART trains have stopped at two San Rafael stations, the first passenger rail service in the city since 1958.
The Canal District is one of the lowest parts of the city. More than 10,000 people there live below the level of the bay, and in some areas the ground is sinking several times faster than the sea is rising. During king tides and storms in January 2026, residents reported floodwater up to 10 inches deep inside apartments, and the City is studying protection options that could each cost up to $2 billion. On the hills, the City's 2025 wildfire prevention season included 3,712 property inspections, more than 2,000 of them at homes in high fire severity zones. Both conditions affect how balconies, stairs, and decks are inspected and repaired here.
Neighborhoods & corridors we cover
- Downtown San Rafael
- Canal District
- Gerstle Park
- Terra Linda
- Peacock Gap
- Dominican
- Glenwood
- Loch Lomond
- Sun Valley
- Fourth Street
- Second Street
- Lincoln Avenue
- Bellam Boulevard
- Kerner Boulevard
- Point San Pedro Road
- Freitas Parkway
- Las Gallinas Avenue
- Del Presidio Boulevard
Climate Note
San Rafael is wet by Bay Area standards, with more than 30 inches of rain falling on 64 to 68 days each year, January afternoons near 57°F, and September afternoons near 81°F. The heavy winter rain does two kinds of damage. On flat ground it collects at stair bases and on walkways, and in the Canal District it can combine with high tides. On slopes it runs fast, carries soil away from footings, and pushes debris against deck framing. Long, warm summers then dry the wood out before the next season.
Common Problems
What We See Most Often in San Rafael
Issues that repeat across the local building stock — from climate, construction era, or common materials in this area.
Salt water at stair bases in the Canal District
Flooding from king tides brings bay water, not just rain. Salt left behind on wood and metal after the water drains keeps attracting moisture, so steel hardware at the bottom of stairs rusts faster than it would after a freshwater flood. We inspect stair bases and posts in flood-affected areas for corrosion and decay, and specify corrosion-resistant hardware for repairs.
Storage under decks and stairs
On both flat and hillside properties, the space under decks and exterior stairs is often used to store furniture, firewood, or building materials. This hides the framing from inspection, traps moisture, and adds fuel under the structure in a wildfire. We note every element with storage underneath and ask for it to be cleared before the inspection so the framing can be seen.
Debris packed between deck boards
Leaves and needles from the oaks and other trees around hillside properties collect in the gaps between deck boards and on top of the joists below. The debris holds water against the top of each joist through the wet season, where decay often starts out of sight. We check the tops of joists from below and by lifting boards where debris has built up.
Exposed beam ends
Many decks and balconies have beams that extend past the edge of the deck or roof, with their cut ends open to rain. End grain absorbs water quickly, and the beam can decay from the end inward while the visible sides look fine. We probe beam ends in the sample and recommend caps or flashing where they are missing.
Footings undermined on slopes
On steep lots, heavy rain can wash soil away from around concrete piers that support decks and stairs. A pier that loses soil on one side can tilt and pull its post out of line. We check footings on hillside properties for exposure and movement and recommend drainage or footing repairs where needed.
Who We Serve
Property Types We Work With
Apartment Buildings
San Rafael apartment properties with at least three units fall under SB 721 and need their elevated elements inspected once every six years. We work in the Canal District, downtown, and the apartment communities in Terra Linda and other neighborhoods, and we schedule entry through the owner or manager with written notice to tenants.
Condominiums
For condo associations in San Rafael, SB 326 means an inspection at least once every nine years, done on a random sample of association-maintained elements, with a licensed structural engineer or architect in charge. On hillside condos, we make sure the sample includes elements on the downhill side, where decks and stairs are usually tallest.
HOA Communities
San Rafael HOA boards receive findings grouped by building, with a separate section for footings and slope-related issues on hillside sites. The report prices each repair and includes permit work and a closing letter for the association's insurer and lender.
Multi-Family Housing
Fourplexes, older houses divided into apartments around downtown and Gerstle Park, closely spaced apartment buildings in the Canal District, townhomes, and apartments above shops on Fourth Street.
Schedule a free on-site assessment
Serving all of San Rafael 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 San Rafael properties in the Canal District, the package notes flood exposure at each stair base and the corrosion-resistant hardware used. For hillside properties, it records the material listings used for any decking or guardrails replaced within wildland-urban interface boundaries.
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 San Rafael
Our Canal District building took water at the ground floor during the January king tides. ABD checked every stair base afterward and found the post bases on the canal side already rusting. They were replaced with stainless hardware before the next winter.
Our hillside complex has decks over twenty feet tall on the downhill side. ABD made sure those were in the sample and found two piers with soil washed out from under them.
- CSLB #1060736CA Licensed Contractor
- NADRADeck Industry Association
- CREIAReal Estate Inspectors
- $1M+ InsuredGeneral & Workers' Comp
FAQ
Questions from San Rafael Property Owners
Our building in the Canal District took bay water during king tides. What should we check?
Check the base of every exterior stair, landing post, and walkway support that was in the water. Signs to look for: rusting hardware, a white crust of salt, and wood at the foot of stringers and posts that is soft or darker than the rest. Salt keeps drawing moisture after the water is gone, so damage can continue for months. After each high-tide flood, a short check of these points is worth doing, whatever year the next SB 721 inspection falls in.
Do we need to clear storage from under decks and stairs before the inspection?
Yes. The inspector needs to see the framing, connectors, and footings, and stored items often hide exactly those parts. Storage under decks and stairs also traps moisture and adds fuel close to the building, which matters on San Rafael's hillsides. We send a short preparation list before the inspection so items can be moved in advance.
Our hillside deck's footings are exposed after storms. Is that part of the inspection?
Yes. Footings and piers that support a covered deck or stair are part of what holds it up, so we inspect them along with the wood. Exposed or tilted piers usually point to drainage on the slope. The repair may involve resetting or adding footings and improving drainage so that soil stops washing away.
Nearby
Other Cities We Serve Near San Rafael
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Get Started
Book a Free Assessment in San Rafael
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