Your balcony has to be safe. Ever since a balcony collapsed in Northern California, resulting in the deaths of six students and injuring seven others, balconies and decks have to be officially inspected to check they meet safety standards. Inspecting your property for early signs of structural failure can save you costly repairs in the future and protect the safety and wellbeing of your tenants.
ARM Builders have over 15 years' construction experience building wood-framed properties from the ground up. We can identify early signs of building failure and bring the practical knowledge you need. We will complete your inspection and at an affordable price to get your building in compliance with the law.
‘The Balcony Law’ (California Senate Bill 721) was passed in September 2018, and it requires the inspection of all multifamily properties with three or more units. The law requires a written report be filed with each property conducted by a licensed inspection company.
A prompt inspection can detect problems that will lead to a failure of the balcony that cost lives, money, lawsuits. If you take care of the problem now, you can save yourself a much bigger problem later. The balcony inspection report from ARM Builders at this stage will save your expenses further down the line.
‘We heard a crack, and I literally saw all my best friends and my girlfriend fall 15 feet to the rocks,’ said a witness.
Four people were hospitalized with moderately serious injuries from a balcony collapse at a rented home that spilled out onto a Malibu beach.
We run a 6-point strength test of the balcony deck (four edges and two center points), perform a moisture meter test in two areas of the deck and check it for acceptable moisture content standards for wood construction. We also check the balcony ceiling moisture level, railing posts, guard rails, hand rails, decks, landings, railings, stairways, and walkways, and create a report with the inspector’s findings along with photos. 15% of each external element needs to be inspected, which means individual inspections of the parts rather than 15% of the property as a whole. ARM Builders will get you through the inspection with ease, efficiency and peace of mind.
The new law states that all external elements have to be inspected, which includes balconies, decks, stairs and other load-bearing structures. Your first inspection has to be performed on or before January 1st 2025. Safety is paramount, especially with the serious risk to wood-framed buildings. At ARM Builders we want to ensure your building is safe, your tenants are secure and your property successfully meets the city’s new building code requirements.
Step 1: Call ARM Builders, who have experience in constructing multi-story wood frame buildings.
Step 2: Book your inspection on a day and time that is convenient for you.
Step 3: Once your inspection has taken place, you will receive a written report within 14 days.
The California Senate Balcony Law (Statutes 721 Chp. 445 and 326 Chp. 207) looks at the structural integrity of external load-bearing components that use wood or wood-based products for support. This applies to buildings with three or more units that are two or more stories high.
The first step is to hire a contractor with experience in constructing multi-story wood frame buildings. ARM Builders are a great choice, since we have the expertise you need. Once your inspection has taken place, you will receive a written report within 14 days. If your balcony and elevated external elements require any modifications in order to pass your inspection, we can help you get the changes completed.
Find out about booking your balcony inspection