If you’re a Bay Area property owner or manager, you’ve likely come across seismic retrofit mandates—and felt the weight of the price tag. But what actually determines the cost of a seismic retrofit?
According to Connor Daly, founder of Connor Daly Construction, the biggest factor in pricing isn’t what most expect: “The factor that influences the cost of a seismic retrofit the most is the original construction of the building,” he explains. “The cost of the retrofit is the cost to bring the building up to current code today.”
Let that sink in: it’s not just the size of the building or even its age—it’s how it was originally built and how far it needs to go to meet today’s structural standards. “If the building was built with lots of grade beams and shear walls and was built in the more recent years, it’s going to be less construction,” Daly says. “If the building’s 120 years old, we’re looking at more major renovation in order to complete the retrofit.”
This hits especially hard for Bay Area owners managing older multifamily properties. Many of these buildings were constructed before seismic codes were established. As Daly puts it, “Retrofitting means adding the strength the original build didn’t include, and that’s where both cost and complexity rise.”
Beyond age, building material and configuration matter too—wood-framed soft-story apartments pose unique challenges, while larger buildings with outdated infrastructure often require more reinforcement and lengthier permitting processes.
This can be overwhelming for owners who know they need to comply with city ordinances but don’t know what questions to ask or where to start. Daly encourages property owners to reach out early: “When someone’s calling and saying, ‘Hey, I know I need to do this. I don’t want to do this—help me,’ that’s where we step in.”
Connor Daly Construction acts as a partner from start to finish: helping clients self-qualify based on building size and type, guiding them through permits and materials, and offering realistic expectations based on hundreds of successful retrofits.
If your building’s older or you’re unsure what your retrofit might entail, don’t wait for mandates or insurance hikes to force your hand. The earlier you understand your building’s needs, the better prepared you’ll be to protect your investment—on time and on budget.
Need help understanding your building’s retrofit cost? Reach out to Connor Daly Construction for a custom evaluation and expert insight from a team that does it right the first time.
CA License #546425
