Saunders Construction Blog
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Building Basics, Types of Buildings & Causes of Structural Failure (Animation Video)
Sometimes a simple video is worth a million words. For a complete understanding of a sometimes-over-complicated explanation of building basics and how structural failures occurs, please view the following video:...
January 17th marked the 30-Year Anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake
“What would have happened if the Earthquake struck during normal working hours?” Fortunately, it was a holiday in 1994 and the notorious Northridge quake struck at 4:31 AM PST. It was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake and the shaking lasted 10–20 seconds. The quake’s...
Why Choose Saunders? We are the Seismic Solution Specialists!
Saunders Construction Inc., is a commercial industrial contractor specializing in seismic solutions. We pride ourselves on being the go-to “seismic solution specialists” for every type of building. Ultimately, we perform seismic retrofits and structural repairs to...
2024 Top Predictions for Commercial Real Estate Compared to 2023 Predictions
Let us compare the top predictions from 2023 to 2024. Last year there was a lot of speculation regarding a recession on the horizon which could still holds true for 2024. The top factors in 2023 to influence commercial real estate are geopolitical issues, inflation...
California Balcony Inspections, What to Know!
In California, there is a mandatory safety inspection and must be performed before January 1, 2025. According to SB-721, this bill would require an inspection of exterior elevated elements and associated waterproofing elements, as defined, including decks and...
Pre-construction Planning is Key to Completing Successful Seismic Retrofit Projects
We specialize in seismic solutions and provide efficient services from start to finish on each project. Our estimating bids set the standard for being precise, detailed, and technical with our specialized processes down to the phase of the final daily routine,...
Did you participate in the “Great California Shakeout” this year?
The Great Shakeout is where you have a one-minute earthquake drill to prepare for proper emergency protocols during an earthquake and it takes place the third Thursday every October. This year the Shakeout drill took place October 19th at 10:19AM. 10.2 million...
Another Successful Safety Training with American Scissor Lift Inc. and Guardian Fall Protection
Another year and another safety training. Thank you to American Scissor Lift Inc., https://www.americanscissor.com/ and Guardian, https://guardianfall.com/ for hosting and providing equipment & harness safety training. And, boom/scissor and forklift training with...
What are 6-Major Benefits to performing seismic retrofits?
What are the top benefits seismic retrofitting your commercial building? 6-Major Benefits of Seismic Retrofits 1. Mitigate Risk & Liability: Seismic retrofits significantly mitigate risk and liability associated with earthquake damage. By proactively strengthening...
NAIOP-U: Alternative Development Uses/Considerations& CREW’s Industrial Summit
Saunders attended NAIOP’s Alternative Development – Uses/Considerations Program as well as CREW’s Industrial Real Estate Summit last month. There was a plethora of insightful and informative information shared at each event. The Alternative Development program...
Value Engineering & Budgets
Saunders Construction has over four decades of experience performing seismic retrofits. We have completed thousands of projects on every type of building with our top management logging thousands of hours of field experience. As a result, we have encountered countless...
Is “Hurriquake” a real thing?
In mid-August, California was on watch of Hurricane Hilary which by the time it hit land would be downgraded to a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center said, it had potential for “life-threatening” floods and debris flow warnings which remained in effect...
What is Functional Recovery?
According to Ryan Kersting,(Associate Principal, Buehler Engineering) Functional recovery is a post-event (e.g., post-earthquake) performance state in which a building or lifeline infrastructure system is maintained, or restored, to safely and adequately support the...
What is the buzz in the Industrial sector of Commercial Real Estate?
Ever since the pandemic which was the primary factor that brought about hybrid and work-from-home flexibility companies have been relying on special resources and building amenities to lure employee back to the office. However, industrial and warehouse building...
Structural Risks to Commercial Buildings in Extreme Heat
Summer has just begun and according to recent news outlets, millions of people and structures across the country are experiencing severe weather including thunderstorms and a deadly heat wave that is sweeping the South. Just as the heat takes a major toll on us,...
Saunders Proud Sponsor of SEAOSC Technical Summit & President’s Luncheon
SEAOSC Technical Summit took place on June 22nd this year and the focus was on three important topics that are defining the current landscape of structural engineering and seismic safety. The philosophy of Functional Recovery which the industry codes are shifting...
Seismic Retrofits for Occupied Buildings!
Performing seismic retrofits on a building can be a daunting and intimidating project for commercial building owners and real estate professionals to take on and manage. And, then add to the mix the building is occupied with tenant(s) operating thriving businesses. It...
Will AI (Artificial Intelligence) Impact the Construction Industry?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is expected to play an increasingly significant role in the future. So yes, AI is expected to have a major impact on every industry including the construction industry. One of the key areas where AI is being used in construction is in...
What are the main methods of seismic strengthening in soft-story buildings? (Multi-family Commercial Real Estate Sector)
A soft-story retrofit refers to a building that is a multi-story structure built with a first floor that is open in nature, much less rigid than the floors above. For example, multi-family apartment buildings with tuck-under parking or subterranean parking and retail...
What is the future for the office sector in commercial real estate?
Office assets have been a sure thing in commercial real estate for a long time and considered a reliable source of revenue for owners and lenders. However, since the pandemic the future of the office sector in commercial real estate is unclear. While industrial assets...
Are you located in an area with hazard-resistant building codes?
HAZARD-RESISTANT building codes are designed for buildings to be constructed to withstand earthquakes, flooding, and high winds. According to FEMA, they conducted an analysis based on 18-million actual buildings, the frequency of hazard events in each area and the...
10 Industrial Insights from I.CON West 2023 -NAIOP’s Industrial Conference
Below are the key takeaways from I.CON West 2023: The outlook for the U.S. economy is closely tied to the labor market, which is historically tight. Industrial absorption is cooling but demand remains strong overall. The COVID-19 pandemic upended the supply chain and...
Important Factors to Consider when Deciding on a Structural Engineer and Why Costs May Vary
It is time your building needs to be brought up to Life Safety standards and reduction of PML (SEL and SUL now) or for your peace of mind. It is time for a seismic upgrade and/or structural repairs, the first step is to find a structural engineer to complete the...
Do you have a PML rating for your commercial real estate assets? What is PML?
PML or Probable Maximum Loss is a term the insurance industry created decades ago to reference the maximum loss an insurance company should expect to pay for a claim based on the seismic assessment of a property / building. PML, SEL and SUL are defined below. Due to...
JOIN US for a WEBINAR hosted by NAIOP featuring Steven Saunders – Earthquake Retrofits for Industrial Assets
NAIOP will be hosting a webinar featuring Steven Saunders Date: Tuesday, March 14th 2023 Time: 11:00AM (PDT) – 45 minutes Topic: Earthquake Retrofits for Industrial Assets NAIOP Members – FREE Non-members – $49 Register Here:...
What are the benefits of performing a seismic retrofit sooner than later?
Are seismic retrofits mandatory for commercial real estate assets? What if the properties are not located in a known earthquake region? Short answer is, no, seismic retrofits are not mandatory. However, the old saying pay now or pay later applies here! Many people...
Is the West Coast ready for the big one? Earthquake that is!
Experts predict the West Coast should be prepared for the next big earthquake to hit very soon, as early as tomorrow! Are you ready? Mid-December of 2022, USA Today released the article, ‘It could happen tomorrow’: Experts know disaster upon disaster looms...
2023 Commercial Real Estate Outlook
There is a lot of speculation regarding a recession on the horizon in 2023. And, if true high interest rates and a potential recession will make 2023 a challenging year for commercial real estate. The top factors in 2023 to influence commercial real estate are...
Common Structural Repairs
Structural repairs consist of any repairs to structural members of a building. Structural repairs mean repairs or replacement to the roof, foundation, floors, and permanent exterior walls and support columns of the building. The repairs can be made on any type of...
Structural Engineers Association Southern (SRAOSC) California Risky Business Breakfast
Saunders Construction took advantage of the opportunity to sponsor the “Risky Business Breakfast” hosted by SEAOSC. The morning discussion focused on risk management and protecting the future of engineers’ careers. The speakers consisted of Jeff Crosier (Senior...