If you received a notice from the Los Angeles Building and Safety about a soft story retrofit, you are probably wondering what the engineering plans are going to cost. This article will give you some guidelines on what you can expect to pay for architectural and engineering plans. We have also published a number of Soft Story related articles that you may find of value as you research your options. It is our intention to help building owners get their buildings compliant with the new soft-story retrofit ordinance.
What is the process of getting the plans drawn and approved?
Interview potential Engineers
Job walk at the buildings
Sign Design agreement
Building is measured
Plans created
Preliminary meeting with City Plan Checker
Formal Submittal to the city 30-day plan check period
Plan approval
Tenant habitability plan filed and approved by the City of Los Angeles Housing Department
Tenants notified of pending construction
Contractor pull permit
20 days after notification construction starts.
Cost of the plans
The cost of the plans will determine the amount of work it will take to design an engineering solution for the structure. You should know that the engineers are trying to design a retrofit solution that will resist the seismic forces that a building will experience during an earthquake. Engineers have to consider the weight of the building, building size, existing building construction, proximity to the closest earthquake fault and other geological factors.
(Small Apartment Building in West Los Angeles, CA)
Small Apartment Building
Approximate Cost: $5,000-$7,500
Building Profile:
Size 4-8 Units
- Single
story above tuck under parking.
Level lot with easy access to
affectedarea.
No need to relocate any plumbing or major infrastructure.
Just shear walls and small grade beams.
Perhaps a single moment frame.
Some stucco repair due to diaphragm plywood installation.
(Medium-Sized Apartment Building in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, CA)
Medium-Sized Apartment Building
Approximate Cost: $6,000-$7,500
Building Profile:
- Size 10-15 Units.
- Two stories, Single story above tuck under parking.
- Level lot with easy to moderate access to the affected area.
- Single Moment with full-length grade beams.
- Shear walls and small grade beams on the return side walls or another part of building.
(20-Unit Apartment Building in Sherman Oaks, CA)
Large Apartment Building
Approximate Cost: $12,000-$15,000
Building Profile:
- Size 20-30 Units.
- Two stories above tuck under parking.
- Level lot with easy to moderate access to the affected area.
- Single Moment with full-length grade beams.
- Shear walls and small grade beams on the return side walls or another part of building.
(Apartment Complex near USC, in Los Angeles, CA)
Apartment Complex
Approximate Cost: $20,000-$35,000
Building Profile:
- Size 50+ Units.
- Two and Three story above tuck under parking.
- Level lot with easy to moderate access to affected area.
- Multiple Moment frames with full length grade beams.
- Multiple Shear walls and small grade beams on the return side walls or other part of buildering.
- Plumbing or major infrastructure relocated.
- Stucco repair needed at new shear walls.
- Framing labor with new hold downs and hardware between floors.
(Don’t waste your time at city hall, we take care of all the paperwork and submittals)
Helpful Facts
You should consider hiring an engineer/designer that collaborates with a licensed contractor. The retrofit design has a direct impact on all of your construction costs.
If you need a moment frame Use a Simpson Strong Frame, no welded frames.
Interview the Person, not the cost estimate. Make your hiring decision on who you have the most confidence will get the job done.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to learn everything there is to know about soft-story retrofits you'll want to check out our most in-depth article What is a Soft-Story Retrofit? Everything You Need to Know About Retrofits on our new website. There, you'll be able to access all of our retrofit blog articles, case studies, our retrofit gallery, short videos, and enjoy free access to our full-length soft-story webinars. Our team has developed all this content for property owners like you. It is your destination to learn all about the retrofit process. Bay Cities Construction and Soft-Story Retrofit Pros is here to help answer any questions you may have about your retrofit project. Our team has the experience to Engineer & Build a Cost-Effective Retrofit Solution for your property. Get started today by visiting our website at www.softstoryretrofitpros.com to schedule a free assessment.
About Us
For over 15 years Soft-Story Retrofit Pros has helped hundreds of homeowners with their projects. When you hireRetrofit Pros you don’t just hire a contractor, you hire an entire team of Pros. With several years of experience, our team has the expertise to help you Design, Engineer, and Build Your Retrofit Solution. We also represent you City Representation when submitting your plans and ensuring they are approved, and we handle all the Permit Processing so you never miss a day of work. If you think Retrofit Pros is the right team for you, contact us today. We have the experience, knowledge, and know how to help you save time & money on your seismic retrofit.
Ready to take the next step? We’re certain that Soft-Story Retrofit Pros is the best general contractor for your project, you can Schedule an Appointment by clicking HERE. We offer a complimentary One-hour consultation & assessment, so you can meet our team and we can discuss your Soft Story Retrofit project. If you have been disappointed by other contractors, it's time to call one of the best seismic retrofitters in Los Angeles.
