WATERPROOFING CONSULTING, ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECT COORDINATION & COORDINATING SB 326 INSPECTIONS THAT ARE PERFORMED BY INDEPENDENT STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Professional Inspections & Informed Maintenance Planning Help Maximize the Service Life of Your EEE’s!
We’re the E3 Coordination Experts Who Bring Together The Independent Engineering Expert with the Independent Waterproofing Expert and Makes Your Inspection as Easy as and Painless as Possible! Accurate Reporting, Clear Traceable Photographs, Independent Structural Engineer – zero doubt!
WLWC Has Coordinated Over 150 HOA SB326 Inspections With Independent Engineering Experts!
Known as the Deck Expert, Bill Leys has Been Inspecting Waterproofing Systems on EEEs since 2007!
Our rigorous and time tested waterproofing inspection methods have been helping to protect property and save lives since 2007!
Our role in SB 326 inspections is simple—we provide specialized waterproofing consulting and project coordination of your required SB 326 inspections independently performed by licensed structural engineers or architects.”
Our waterproofing reports address the waterproofing systems and associated waterproofing conditions within WLWC’s non-engineering scope and are provided to the licensed engineer or architect for their independent review and use in preparing the SB-326 report.
The engineer shall at all times maintain independent and separate roles, at all times exercising responsible control of all engineering responsibilities and requirements.
Call today 805-801-2380 to learn more.
NOTICE OF SEPARATE PROFESSIONAL ROLES
William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC (WLWC) is a waterproofing consulting & project-coordination firm and does not offer or perform structural engineering services. The Engineer of Record shall be an independent California-licensed structural engineering firm responsible for all professional engineering services provided in connection with your inspection project.
The inspection required by Civil Code 5551 shall be performed under the Engineers independent professional responsibility. The Engineer retains the responsible charge of its engineering services and independently determines the required inspection sample, inspection methodology, necessity and scope of further investigation, structural condition, safety determinations, expected future performance, and remaining useful life, and recommendations concerning structural repair or replacement. The Engineer of Record prepares, signs and seals the statutory SB 326 inspection report.
WLWC’s services are limited to waterproofing consulting, supplemental waterproofing observations, site documentation, administrative coordination and other non-engineering services expressly identified in this agreement. WLWC does not direct or control the Engineers professional judgement.
Read our latest blog post about SB 410 here. SB 410 requires that associations must do certain things with SB 326 inspections, reports and requires disclosures of the report.
William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC is considered one of the best firms performing the highly specialized inspections of waterproofed decks for independent licensed structural engineers and architects in the SB 326 industry. Bill Leys was a licensed deck waterproofing contractor who over 15+ years sold, installed, troubleshooted and diagnosed 1000’s of decks all over California.
Engineers who hire us to perform waterproofing inspections for their SB 326 inspection reports appreciate our deep knowledge and years of experience!
Since 2022 we have performed observations of the waterproofing elements on over 150 Associations with independent architects and engineers who performed the SB 326 structural inspections. We provide specialized waterproofing inspection and consulting services in support of SB-326 Exterior Elevated Element inspections performed by independently retained licensed engineers or architects.
Bill Leys has written groundbreaking articles for numerous magazines in the HOA industry, has spoken at numerous CAI and APRA events in California. Bill has also spoken at national construction related trade shows (JLC Live) numerous times.
Our goal is not to “sell you”, but instead to give you the tools to learn about what we do and how we do it in order to educate you and then you can make a good decision selecting the right company to coordinate your SB 326 inspection. Ask as many questions of us that you’d like.
We’re different from all the other companies advertising SB 326 inspection coordination services.
Bill Leys has a unique understanding of HOA’s and their needs. As a former CMCA certified HOA manager of 20 +HOA’s in San Luis Obispo for 3+ years, Bill understands reserve studies, maintenance requirements of building components and the unique needs of HOA’s better than his competitors do. This unique experience we have provides value to HOAs that other firms don’t possess.
The biggest thing that sets us apart from the competition is that we have actual experience in installing waterproof decks, fixing them, trouble shooting them and most importantly investigating and testifying in courts of law on why a deck failed and they don’t. Waterproofing is my expertise.
Make Sure You Thoroughly Vette Your Inspection Company
The way the balcony bill is written, it leaves HOA’s vulnerable to unethical companies taking advantage of them. THE BIGGEST WEAKNESS IN SB 326 IS THAT IT DOES NOT BAN INSPECTORS FROM BIDDING ON REPAIRS TO DEFECTS THEY FIND. Always vet your inspection company, ask them to guarantee that they will not bid on any work that may find to be needed, whether emergency repairs or non-emergency repairs. Be sure to get them to guarantee in writing that an Engineer or Architect will personally perform the inspection.
NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST GUARANTEE Download our free copy of a guarantee of no conflicts of interest and insist any bidders must sign it in order for their proposal to be considered. If they won’t, you may wish to move on from them. SB 326 does not protect HOA’s from so called “deck inspectors” that are actually contractors from bidding on repairs. We feel that is unethical and 100% of our clients do too.
INSURANCE- William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC carries General Liability Insurance with 3 Million Dollar Limits, Workers Compensation & Errors and Omissions Insurance. These policies help protect your HOA from damages or injuries that may occur on your property. We can name your HOA and Management Company as additional insureds to our policy at no extra charge.
PRELIMINARY EEE INVENTORY FOR PROPOSAL PURPOSES
(AND WHAT’S EXEMPT)
Before preparing the proposal, WLWC performs a preliminary site walk to inventory apparent EEEs for estimating and project planning purposes. The structural engineer independently reviews and determines which EEE’s are subject to statutory inspection requirements of Civil Code 5551. WLWC assists in planning site access. The Structural Engineer retains authority over the manner and scope of its professional inspection.
NOTE-due to insurance companies limitations on ladder use, only a ladder 24 feet or less can be used. EEE’s over 20’ in height from the ground must be accessed through the unit.
We also count how many EEEs there are. The preliminary inventory assists the structural engineer in determining the random and statistically significant sample required by Civil Code 5551.
For preliminary estimating purposes, WLWC may identify apparent construction types; however, the Structural Engineer makes the final professional determination regarding which elements fall within the statutory inspection scope of Civil Code 5551.
A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW MANY EEE’s MUST BE INSPECTED FOR THE ENGINEER TO MEET THE BALCONY BILL’S REQUIREMENT THAT THEY MUST DETERMINE WHAT THE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT SAMPLING TO REACH A 95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL
Stairs, extended balconies, walkways and wood fire escapes are generally the most common types of EEE’s. Each of these types of EEE’s must be counted separately from other types of EEE’s on your building. The structural engineer independently identifies and categorizes the types of exterior elevated elements and determines the random and statistically significant sample required for the statutory inspection.
For example, if your HOA has 3 different balcony styles on your building, second and third floor walkways and 2 sets of stairs, that adds up to 5 different EEE’s that each must be sampled to meet the criteria. so if you have 20 of each size deck, statistically 19 of each type/style must be inspected. If you have 2 sets of stairs, both will need to be inspected. If you had 200 decks that are all the same size, 132 of those would need to be inspected to meet the bills minimum requirements.
The Structural Engineer determines the inspection sample required by Civil Code 5551. WLWC may inventory & categorize the property’s apparent exterior elevated elements for estimating and planning purposes. The structural engineer reviews the inventory and independently determines the exterior elevated element categories, the random inspection list and statistically significant sample required for the statutory inspection. . The table below will help you to better understand sampling and statistically significant percentages.
ILLUSTRATIVE STATISTICAL SAMPLING EXAMPLES- THE FINAL SAMPLE TO BE INSPECTED IS DETERMINED BY THE ENGINEER
Stairs, extended balconies, walkways and wood fire escapes are generally the most common types of EEE’s. Each of these types of EEE’s must be counted separately from other types of EEE’s on your building. The Structural Engineer independently identifies and categorizes the types of exterior elevated elements and determines the random and statistically significant sample required for the statutory inspection.
For example, if your HOA has 3 different balcony styles on your building, second and third floor walkways and 2 sets of stairs, that adds up to 5 different EEE’s that each must be sampled to meet the criteria. so if you have 20 of each size deck, statistically 19 of each type/style must be inspected. If you have 2 sets of stairs, both will need to be inspected. If you had 200 decks that are all the same size, 132 of those would need to be inspected to meet the bills minimum requirements.
The independent structural engineer determines the inspection sample required by Civil Code 5551. WLWC will inventory & categorize the property’s apparent exterior elevated elements for estimating and planning purposes. The independent structural engineer then reviews the inventory and independently determines the exterior elevated element categories, the random inspection list and statistically significant sample required for the statutory inspection. . The table below will help you to better understand sampling and statistically significant percentages. please note that this is not to be construed as an absolute. The independent engineer is responsible for final determination.
Call 805-801-2380! We're The Experts in Coordinating Your SB 326 EEE Inspections * Waterproofing Consultants * Leak Investigations 