We appreciate the outreach from so many people around the state who are appreciative of what we’re doing here at William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC!
If you don’t trust your balcony inspection report, if your balcony inspection company is pressuring you to take out special assessments, if your balcony inspection company also does repairs, you need to reach out to us today to help you defend against unethical immoral tactics designed to separate your HOA from its money. We perform second opinion inspections that can help an HOA determining if they got a good report or not.
Call today, I answer the phone personally! Bill Leys 805-801-2380
Recently one of our clients who we have a proposal out with to perform their deck inspections under SB326 reached out with some follow-up questions. They wanted to know if we were going to use a boroscope camera and if we were “certified deck inspectors”. Our answer is no, we are not “certified”. Allow me to explain.
A quick search on Google showed us that there are several companies that advertise they are “certified deck inspectors”. Diving deeper, it seems all these unscrupulous inspection companies claiming they are certified inspectors are directly affiliated or owned by contractors. By claiming they are “certified inspectors” they seek to elevate their bonafides by saying they’re something that doesn’t exist in the SB326/SB721 inspection field. Continuing our search, the legitimate companies that we compete with make no such claim that they are certified. They make statements that they are architects or engineers, which is readily confirmed via the Board of Engineers and Board of Architects.
There are two non-profit national organizations that have deck inspection training courses and they then issue a certificate after the course is completed saying in essence that the person has successfully completed a training seminar. Inter-NACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) and NADRA (North America Deck & Railing Association) offer extensive courses for inspectors to take online. One other entity online purports to train people to be “certified” SB721/SB326 inspectors specifically related to California. None of these entities mentioned above can make an individual qualified to perform inspections under SB326 or SB721.
We explained to the client that the qualifications to do balcony inspections under SB326 is quite clear; an engineer (licensed as a civil, PE, or structural engineer) or a licensed architect are the only individuals qualified to do the inspection. We explained to our client that the companies advertising that they are “certified deck inspectors” are exaggerating at best and committing fraud ( in our opinion) at worst.
We further explained that these companies claiming to be “certified” only hold contractor’s licenses and that review of their personal and corporate held CSLB licenses showed that they have complaint disclosures against them by the contractor’s state license board.
Naughty boys in the inspection industry include: One unscrupulous contractor has a long list of lawsuits (over 100!) against his company by unsatisfied clients, complaint disclosure on his license for multiple violations of contracting laws, including taking a deposit over $1,000, while another “inspector” has a complaint disclosure showing they hired non-licensed sub-contractors and failed to complete the job for the contract price, while yet another inspector/contractor was forced to disassociate from a licensed contractor for conspiring to defraud the CSLB!
Our client appreciated the information and has hired us to do their SB326 inspection for them as they didn’t appreciate one particular braggart puffing themselves up while denigrating William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC.
Our client also appreciated our written guarantee that a structural engineer will personally perform the inspection, that we have no conflicts of interest and that we are humble and no-spin (their words) when it comes to approaching our solemn duty in performing inspections.
Reach out today for a conversation on how we can help you with our expertise, professionalism and integrity for your SB326 inspection needs. No nonsense, no inflated claims, just honest ethical practices to serve our industry and save lives.
Bill Leys on a balcony repair project in Alameda CA.
Condominiums with EEEs and are turning 6 years old will need to do inspections.
In all of the rush to get older condominiums in compliance with SB 326, what’s been forgotten is the section in SB 326 that requires condominiums that are turning 6 years old to do an inspection.
Watch our video instead here-
Closed caption for your convenience
That’s right, when your condominium turns 6 years old from the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy, the board of directors will need to commission a SB326 inspection. We’ve found that many management companies aren’t paying attention to this requirement or don’t know about it.
HOA managers will need to figure out their HOA/Condo clients buildings age and get them bids for balcony inspections as they turn six years old. Reserve study companies will need to incorporate into the reserve study the anticipated costs for their SB326 inspection ASAP so that the association can set aside cash for their inspection costs.
If your HOA is turning 6 years old from the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy, reach out for a bid on doing your first SB-326 inspection. We’ll lead you through the inspection process and get you in compliance fast with our proven inspection methods.
Given that the association is fairly new and hopefully you have been doing your maintenance, the only inspection that should be necessary on newer newer buildings is a stage 1 visual inspection.
We check off all the boxes for our clients! No conflicts of interest, a structural engineer inspects the EEEs, and fast report turn around!
January 1st is almost upon us and every year in California we see new laws come into effect on the first of the year and this year is no different.
You can watch our video here if you prefer
Deck Expert Bill Leys Discusses SB 410 & How It Effects HOAs & Deck Inspection Firms Reports
Notably for HOAs and balcony inspection companies SB 410 will take effect on January 1st and impose certain requirements on HOAs and on balcony inspection companies.
For HOA Boards of Directors, you are affected in several ways; the first being that SB326 reports are now considered to be HOA records, which means an owner can request and review them at any time. Secondly, reports cannot be withheld or redacted and third sellers of a common interest development property now must provide buyers with the most recent SB326 inspection report.
In regards to inspection companies, their reports must include as of January 1st, the date of the inspection, the total number of units in the community. How many exterior elevated elements there are? And I think it would be a good idea to break down how many of each type there are IE stairs versus balcones versus walkways. How many units have exterior elevated elements? How many exterior elevated elements were inspected and whether any safety concerns were identified.
Our engineering partner is already in compliance with these requirements and so we are ready to forge ahead and set the bar with our superior inspections and inspection reports.
Lastly But probably the most important part of sb410 is the requirement for HOAs to have an engineer issue a final report after repairs are made to life safety issues. This final report is needed to be able to enable buyers of property obtain mortgages and sellers of properties to be able to sell without undue delay. Personally, I expect that we will see legal claims brought against HOAs that fail to obtain final inspection reports and unnecessarily delay there homeowners to be able to close a sale.
As always, this is not legal advice. Please obtain the advice of your HOA attorney related to SB 410 sb326 and any other bills that may affect common interest developments related to balcony inspections.
Please contact us for a quote on a final inspection to be able to close out your documents related to your 326 inspections.
I keep seeing some firms offering 20% off a competitors lower price to steal the deck inspection job away.
That should not inspire confidence in their capabilities as inspectors, in fact it should cause your board concern.
We allow ample time to perform the on-site balcony inspections, giving ourselves the ability to really stop and review EEEs that raise our suspicions that something maybe ain’t right as we say in these parts lol. This method has proven to us over and over that careful Inspections take time and by taking our time, we often find hidden problems that a cursory inspection would miss.
Your balcony inspection is not something you should take lightly; there’s a lot of liability and if something goes awry, selecting the wrong deck inspector company with a contract that heavily favors them with clauses that excludes them for their errors and omissions will cause your HOA to assume liability.
I’ve heard of one company that has a forty page contract; ours is nine for comparison. A forty page contract sounds like a nightmare that no average consumer can reasonably understand in my opinion.
Don’t rush to the conclusion that all balcony inspection companies are the same; they aren’t. Let us show you why we are setting the bar in performing #SB326 inspections in Southern California. Reach out for a free proposal and a conversation on how we approach this critical inspection with you.
We’re pleased to announce that we were awarded the contract to perform a SB 326 inspection for a condominium complex on Pacific Street in Santa Monica. The three story building with decks stairs and walkways requiring inspection received several bids from competitors.
The Board after reviewing the bids and each firms credentials, selected our bid over the others, citing that our bid included a guarantee that our engineer will personally inspect the EEEs, that we don’t perform repairs and that our inspection team’s bonafides gave them the confidence in awarding the job to William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC.
These walkways and stairs are EEEs as defined in SB 326 and will be inspected by the best inspection team in the industry.
Of course it might also have helped that the Associations Board has an engineer serving as president and recognized that qualifications matter. Our engineer is an award winning structural engineer with years of experience doing structural inspections.
Don’t leave your critical inspections to the lowest priced inspection company, there’s too much risk in thinking all inspectors are the same. They are not.
Our team has a waterproofing expert with over 20 years of experience in waterproofing and inspections. We guarantee in writing that an engineer will perform the inspection personally and that we don’t bid on any repairs as it’s a conflict of interest. Call today and ask for Bill Leys 805-801-2380.
We aren’t the biggest inspection company, but we are rated highly by our clients and peers as being one of the most diligent.
Termed controversial by one well known attorney in the HOA industry, Bill pulls no punches when it comes to seeing what’s going on and calling out the grifters that flooded the inspection market. We’ve made multiple complaints to state agencies, pissing off the bad apples, been sued to shut us up by POS pretend deck inspectors who use the bill to sucker HOAs into expensive repairs, we’re going to remain controversial and wear that label as a badge of pride.
Watch our video on our thoughts on CLACs plans to fix SB326. We’ve seen so many issues, from insurance companies denying associations insurance coverage if they have structural issues with their EEEs, to banks denying buyers mortgages on condos with EEE issues to the grifters plaguing the balcony inspection industry using the bill to literally steal from HOAs.
Had enough of the companies that are unethical, devious and sordid? Find out why William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC gives written guarantees that our award winning structural engineer will inspect the EEEs, that we will not bid on any repairs because that’s unethical and why with our experience and professionalism your HOA will be in good hands.
Call today 805-801-2380 and start your SB 326 inspection with William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC.
Our Expertise & Guarantee That Our Structural Engineer Performs the Inspection Stands Out Over Other Firms
We’re happy to announce that we were selected to perform balcony inspections at a mid rise HOA in Signal Hill by the Board of Directors. Our detailed proposal and years of experience gave the Board of Directors the confidence that we were the best choice out of the five firms bidding.
Cantilevered Balcony at A Signal Hill Condo Association
We are so happy to hear strong praise like this as it reinforces our belief that we are one of the best qualified firms in the balcony inspection industry. Our guarantee of no conflicts of interest, our guarantee that a structural engineer personally performs the inspection and that our 20+ years of prior experience in waterproofing as deck contractors is a deciding factor, along with competitive rates for Boards faced with enormous pressure to get in compliance with SB326’s requirements to inspect.
Let us show you why we are one of the best firms in the balcony inspection industry and let us earn your business with our professionalism and expertise. Get in touch today by calling 805-801-2380 and talk to Bill Leys with no obligation.
Here’s why William Leys Waterproofing Consultants, LLC stands out as your best choice for balcony (SB-326) inspections:
What Makes Us the Ideal Choice
1. Strong Experience & Genuine Expertise
A deep background in waterproofing. Bill Leys brings more than two decades of hands-on experience, beginning in 2003 as a waterproofing contractor and working for a leading engineering/architect firm- Allana Buick & Bers in Palo Alto.
2. Trusted Bill has been a licensed deck waterproofing contractor since 2007, actively installing waterproof deck coatings across California for HOAs, apartment complexes, and residential projects. Hundreds of clients over the years have trusted Bill to waterproof their decks.
3. Extensive deck inspection history Since 2007, Bill has conducted deck inspections for HOAs, apartments, and real estate transactions—bringing 17+ years of field knowledge to each inspection.
4. Ethical Integrity & No Conflicts of Interest
5. Strict ethical standards We guarantee in writing that there are no conflicts of interest—we do not bid on repair work, nor are we tied to any alternative revenue streams.
6. Transparent and fair bidding Instead of pushing repair contracts, William Leys encourages clients to obtain three competitive bids, maintaining the free market and transparency.
7. Compliance with SB-326 Requirements
8. Engineer-led inspections We require that a licensed structural engineer be physically present during inspections—this ensures full compliance with SB-326, which mandates a qualified professional conduct the inspections.
Supplemental waterproofing reports While the structural engineer handles the official inspection and report, we provide a supplementary waterproofing report that is appended to the engineer’s sealed report—creating a comprehensive and technically rigorous report.
9. Comprehensive, Client-Focused Service
100% sampling on EEEs (Exterior Elevated Elements) Unlike some providers meeting only minimum statistical thresholds, we inspect 100% of all categories (decks, stairs, walkways), delivering a thorough, confidence-building evaluation.
Specialized for HOA needs Bill’s previous experience as a CMCA-certified HOA manager gives him insight into reserve studies, ongoing maintenance concerns, and association priorities.
Relevant geographic coverage Serving a wide area—from Paso Robles to Bakersfield, Orange County, and Palm Springs—we’re locally accessible and familiar with regional building conditions.
Insurance and protection We carry robust General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and Errors & Omissions insurance—valuable safeguards for HOAs and associations.
10. Proven Reputation & Client Trust
Positive client feedback One HOA manager shared:
“I’ve received high praise from the Board that they really respect your findings and knowledge of the inspection process.”
Trusted repeat selection We’ve been chosen by multiple HOAs—such as in Santa Barbara and Palm Springs—because of our reliability, ethical stand, and expertise.
In Summary
Experience & Expertise 20+ years in waterproofing, licensed, deeply technical Ethical Integrity No repair bidding; transparent client-focused approach SB-326 Compliance Engineer on site; dual-report method for structural and waterproofing insights Thorough Service 100% EEE inspection; HOA management savvy; wide service area Client Trust & Reputation Praised by HOAs; chosen repeatedly for key projects
In short, William Leys Waterproofing Consultants excel through their blend of deep technical knowledge, unwavering ethics, regulatory compliance, and client-centric service. They provide both peace of mind and exceptional quality—making them a standout choice for balcony inspections under SB-326.
Reach out today for a free quote on your inspection.
Great question — SB326 inspections (balcony/deck inspections for multifamily housing in California) are a big deal, and unfortunately, not every company advertising them is legitimate. The biggest red flag consumers should watch for is:
🚩 If the company performing inspections also performs repairs.
Here’s why:
Conflict of interest – The law (SB326/SB721) was designed so that inspections are objective and not influenced by profit motives from repair work. If the same company inspects and repairs, they may be financially motivated to exaggerate problems or recommend unnecessary work.
At William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC we guarantee in writing that we do not have any conflicts of interest.
🚩 Compliance issues – The statute is clear: inspections must be done by a licensed architect, structural engineer, or a qualified building inspector who is not associated with a repair contractor. If someone is offering both, they may not be following the law.
Other red flags to watch for:
🚩No license disclosure (can’t prove they’re an architect, engineer, or building inspector). Who will be inspecting? An engineer or architect, or just some random people who may not be qualified in any way shape or form.
At William Leys Waterproofing Consultants LLC we guarantee that a structural engineer that we partner with will perform the physical inspection. Some companies flirt with danger by hiring subcontractors who do the inspection, and then those companies have an engineer robo sign your report.
🚩 Low-ball pricing far below market rates — often a sign they’re using inspections as a “loss leader” to sell repair work.
This is exactly right, and that’s what they are doing. We’ve done second inspections for clients and they were very happy to learn that the repairs the other company said had to be done in an emergency basis was exaggerated.
🚩Vague or incomplete reports — a proper SB326 inspection requires documented findings, photographs, and repair recommendations (if needed).
🚩 High pressure sales tactics — pushing you to sign a repair contract right after the inspection.
👉 Bottom line: Choose an independent, inspection-only professional who has no stake in whether repairs are needed. That independence is what protects you and your HOA from unnecessary costs.
At William Leys Waterproofing Consultants, as our client, we only work in your best interests.
Reach out today to get a quote and see the difference in our professionalism, due diligence and expertise. This is why we’re known as the deck experts.
SB 326 Deck Inspections & Building Envelope & Waterproofing Experts
SB 326 Deck Inspection Specialists * Building Waterproofing Consultants * Construction Defect Investigations By Bill Leys The Deck Expert 