- Typical cost
- Varies widely, scoped after an engineer's assessment
- Typical timeline
- 2 weeks to 4 months depending on scope
- Permits through
- City of Malibu Building Safety
- Service area
- Malibu, Westside
What We Handle
Engineered structural work coordinated with a licensed structural engineer, permitted and inspected.
- Seismic retrofits and soft-story bracing
- Foundation repair and replacement
- Load-bearing wall removal with beams and posts
- New foundations and slabs
- Engineered framing and shear walls
- Hillside caissons and grade beams
Structural, Foundation & Framing Conditions in Malibu
Most Malibu properties are not on a sewer, so wastewater treatment is a design constraint rather than a detail: the system size affects where the house and the yard can go. Slope stability, brush clearance and fire hardening shape the rest. Getting all of this settled before plan check is the difference between one submittal and a year of correction cycles.
- City permits plus coastal review on most properties
- Onsite wastewater systems that influence siting and layout
- Geology and slope stability reports for hillside and bluff lots
- Fire hardening and brush clearance requirements
- Long lead times on approvals, which we schedule around rather than fight
Seismic Retrofits
If your house was built before 1980 and sits on a raised foundation, bolting the frame to the foundation and bracing the cripple walls is one of the highest-value things you can do. Some LA properties are also under a mandatory soft-story ordinance.
- Foundation bolting and cripple wall bracing
- Soft-story ordinance compliance
- Engineering, permits and inspection sign-off
Why Engineering Comes First
We won't quote structural work off a walkthrough. An engineer assesses the condition, specifies the fix, and the plans go through plan check, then we build exactly to those plans with inspections at each stage.
- Licensed structural engineer on every scope
- Soils reports for hillside and unstable sites
- LADBS permits and staged inspections
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you do structural, foundation & framing in Malibu?
Yes. Malibu is part of our regular service area. We'll come out for a free on-site consultation, walk the property, and tell you what's realistic before you spend anything on design.
What does structural, foundation cost in Malibu?
Varies widely, scoped after an engineer's assessment. Site conditions in Malibu and your material selections move the number, which is why we price after walking the property rather than over the phone.
Who issues the permit in Malibu?
Permits for this work go through City of Malibu Building Safety. We handle the submittal, plan check corrections and inspections as part of the project.
How much does a seismic retrofit cost in Los Angeles?
Cost depends on the size of the house, the foundation type and access under the floor. We scope it after an engineer's assessment so the number reflects the actual work, not a guess.
Can you remove a load-bearing wall?
Yes, with engineering. A structural engineer specifies the beam and posts, the plans go through plan check, and the work is inspected. Removing a load-bearing wall without a permit is a serious problem at resale.
Do you work on hillside properties?
Yes. Hillside work in LA involves soils reports, caissons or grade beams, and a more involved plan-check process, all of which we coordinate.
Do you offer foundation repair near me in the greater LA area?
Yes. Our foundation repair, seismic retrofit and structural framing crews work across Los Angeles County and neighboring counties within roughly 100 miles of our Woodland Hills office, including hillside communities from Glendale to Malibu.
Similar Projects We've Built
DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH 1 SMART BUILD
Licensed, bonded and insured design-build general contractor serving Los Angeles County and Southern California. Tell us about your property and goals, and we'll walk you through feasibility, permitting and a clear plan.