Soft-Story Retrofit Services

Strengthening Bay Area Buildings for Earthquake Resilience

Protecting Your Property from Seismic Risks

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area means embracing the beauty of the region—and preparing for its seismic realities. At Mulhall Construction, we specialize in soft-story retrofits, a critical upgrade for multi-story buildings vulnerable to earthquake damage. These structures, often characterized by open ground floors like tuck-under parking or large storefronts, face a higher risk of collapse during seismic events. Our expert team is dedicated to reinforcing your property, protecting lives, and preserving your investment against the next big quake.

Does Your Building Need a Soft-Story Retrofit?

Not sure if your building qualifies? Soft-story retrofits are typically recommended for multi-story structures with a weak or flexible ground floor compared to the levels above. In the Bay Area, this often includes:

Apartment Buildings: Complexes with tuck-under or subterranean parking built before 1978.
Mixed-Use Properties: Buildings with retail spaces or large glass storefronts on the ground floor and residences above.
Older Constructions: Structures predating modern seismic codes, especially those with 5 or more units and 3 or more stories (per San Francisco’s Mandatory Soft-Story Retrofit Ordinance).

If your property matches these traits, a retrofit could be essential—and possibly mandated by local regulations. Contact us for a free assessment to determine your building’s needs.

Why Choose a Soft-Story Retrofit?

Investing in a soft-story retrofit offers compelling benefits for Bay Area property owners:

Safety First: Reinforcing your building’s weak ground floor dramatically lowers the risk of collapse in an earthquake, protecting tenants, visitors, and your community
Value Preservation: Protect your property from costly quake-related damage, maintaining its market value and ensuring it remains a reliable asset in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Reduced Liability: A retrofit brings your building up to code, minimizing legal and financial risks tied to non-compliance with local seismic ordinances.
Insurance Benefits: Many insurers offer lower premiums for retrofitted properties, recognizing the reduced risk—a potential long-term cost saver.
Operational Stability: Without a retrofit, an earthquake could halt all operations—shutting down access, displacing tenants, and stopping income. A retrofit prevents this, keeping your building functional and your business running.

With Mulhall Construction, you’re not just retrofitting a building—you’re building resilience for the future.

Our Soft-Story Retrofit Process

At Mulhall Construction, we streamline the retrofit process to minimize disruption and maximize safety. Here’s how we bring your building up to seismic standards:

Evaluation: We analyze your building’s structural drawings to pinpoint any discrepancies or potential conflicts with mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems, as well as tenant activities. A detailed site visit follows, where we collaborate with engineers through requests for information (RFIs) to resolve any concerns.
Estimation: Using the refined plans, we develop a comprehensive cost estimate for your retrofit. Our team carefully reviews every detail to identify savings opportunities, ensuring an accurate budget that reduces the need for unexpected adjustments later.
Construction: We carry out the retrofit with precision, prioritizing minimal interruption to your property’s daily operations. Our experienced crew works efficiently to reinforce your building while keeping your tenants’ comfort and business needs in mind.