Avant‑Garde Construction Enterprise is a Bay Area seismic retrofit and foundation contractor. We keep homes safer, drier, and structurally stronger in real earthquakes.

We’re a second‑generation retrofit and foundation company with more than 3,000 projects completed in Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, San Leandro, San Francisco, and nearby cities.

We focus on six main service areas:

• Seismic audits and evaluations
• Seismic retrofit construction
• Foundation and structural work
• Drainage and moisture control
• Construction and permit support
• Disputes, claims, and expert witness work

First, we help you understand what is under and around your home. Then we design practical, phased solutions that match your risk level, budget, and timeline.

Below is an overview of each service category with direct links. You can click any bullet to open the full service page, or simply scroll down on this Services page to read a short description of each service in turn.

First, we help you understand what is under and around your home. Then we design practical, phased solutions that match your risk level, budget, and timeline.

Below is an overview of each service category with direct links. You can click any bullet to open the full service page, or simply scroll down on this Services page to read a short description of each service in turn.

Seismic Audits & Evaluations

Diagnostic visits and written reports that tell you what you really have before you commit to major work, a purchase, or a claim.

• Earthquake Safety Audit™ – Whole‑home seismic risk assessment for houses that have never been retrofitted, with photos, red / yellow / green priorities, and realistic cost ranges.
• Seismic Truth Audit™ (Existing Retrofit Reality Check) – Deep evaluation of existing retrofit work to see if it actually meets plans, codes, and best practices.
• General Foundation Evaluation Report – Stand‑alone written opinion on foundation condition for owners and buyers who need clarity, not a sales pitch.
• Foundation Escrow Evaluation Report – Fast, transaction‑focused foundation opinion to keep a deal moving or clarify when to walk.
• CEA / Earthquake Insurance Evaluation & Retrofit Verification – Field verification and documentation so your retrofit story matches what insurers and the CEA actually require.

Seismic Retrofit Services

Construction work that strengthens the specific weak stories, crawl spaces, and frames that tend to fail first in Bay Area earthquakes.

• Soft Story Retrofits – Ground‑story upgrades for living‑over‑garage and multifamily soft‑story buildings under local ordinances.
• Crawl Space & Cripple Wall Retrofits – Brace‑and‑bolt style work for raised‑foundation homes using Plan Set A / FEMA P‑1100 concepts.
• Basement Retrofits & Conversions – Structural, seismic, and drainage upgrades for basements, including dig‑outs and conversions.
• Program-Based Earthquake Retrofits – EBB, ESS, Plan Set A, and FEMA P‑1100 prescriptive retrofits done to a high standard, not just “check the box.”
• Engineered Frames & Structural Steel – Moment frames, collectors, and structural steel packages that tie into engineered seismic designs.

Foundation & Structural Work

Repair, replace, or reinforce the structure your house actually sits on, from perimeter walls to posts, beams, and framing.

• Foundation Repair & Replacement – Localized repair through full or partial replacement for tired or failing foundations.
• New Foundations & New Framing – Full structural packages for additions, major rebuilds, and “take it down to the studs” projects.
• Home Leveling, Shoring & Elevation Surveys – Elevation mapping, temporary support, and targeted re‑leveling for sloping or moving homes.
• Dry Rot & Termite Structural Repairs – Structural wood repairs after rot or termite damage, tied in with seismic and foundation work where needed.

Drainage & Moisture Control

Water and soils often drive the movement that later shows up as “structural problems.” These services deal with that system.

• Drainage & Moisture Control – French drains, sump pumps, waterproofing, and moisture‑control plans that protect foundations and crawl spaces.
• Excavation, Grading & Site Prep – Site work that supports foundations, drainage systems, basements, and new structural work.

Construction & Permit Support

Help for owners who already have engineers, plans, or bids and need a contractor’s eyes on constructability, scope, and permits.

• Plan Review, Value Scope & Bidding Support – Contractor‑side review of plans and bids to align scope, cost, and real‑world conditions.
• During Construction Support & Owner’s Rep Evaluation – Field checks and owner’s‑rep style support while work is underway.
• Permit Strategy & Procurement – Help sequencing, packaging, and pulling permits so structural and seismic work moves through cities efficiently.

Disputes, Claims & Expert Witness

When things have already gone wrong, we provide the technical backbone for claims, disputes, and litigation.

• Bond, CSLB & Insurance Claim Assistance – Construction‑side documentation and scopes to support CSLB, bond, and insurance claims.
• Construction Expert Witness & Litigation Support – Means‑and‑methods, standard‑of‑care opinions, and testimony for active or anticipated cases.
• SB800 Construction Defect Evaluation & Technical Mapping – Field investigation and SB 800 performance‑standard mapping for Right to Repair claims.

Below this overview, you can scroll down to see each category again with its own on‑site summary. When you’re ready for site‑specific answers, the next step is to schedule the service that best fits your situation, starting with an audit or evaluation.