Seismic Retrofit & Foundation Repair in Seattle Structural upgrades that protect your home

Foundation, seismic, and structural — engineered to last.

Foundation repairs, seismic retrofits, beam replacements, and structural improvements that protect Seattle homes for decades.

Top-down view of anchor bolt template on a concrete footing with tape measure and laser lines
Worker with headlamp adjusting a steel jack post under a wood beam in a crawl space
Crew in hard hats installing foundation piers in an excavated trench beside a house

5 out of 5 stars

Our 1920s house had a cripple wall we'd been ignoring for years and I finally called to get an honest assessment. Marco walked the crawlspace with me, found a foundation crack we didn't even know existed, and laid out a plan that covered both issues within our budget. They got the retrofit and the crack repair done in three weeks and the house genuinely feels safer now.

Drew H.
Capitol Hill

What we do

Structural upgrade services

Protect what's underneath.

Seismic retrofits
Cripple wall plywood bracing and anchor bolting per engineer drawings to meet current earthquake standards for older Seattle homes. We do our own crawlspace assessment before any engineering — we won't scope work we haven't seen.
Foundation repair
Crack injection, underpinning, waterproofing, and interior drainage corrections for failing or compromised foundations. Foundation work is often scarier-looking than it is — we give honest assessments and scope only what actually needs to be done.
Beam & post work
Structural member replacements, new load paths, sagging floor corrections, and post and pier work in crawlspaces. Undersized or failed beams and posts are common in older Seattle homes — we fix the root cause rather than patching around it.
Engineering & permits
Structural engineering, permit management, and City of Seattle inspection coordination included in every structural project scope. Structural work without permits is a liability when you sell — we don't do it, and we'll tell you if another contractor suggests otherwise.

Ready to saddle up?
Get a free estimate and consultation today.

Featured Previous Work

Capitol Hill Seismic Retrofit

A full seismic retrofit on a 1920s Capitol Hill home — cripple wall plywood bracing, anchor bolting, and a previously undetected foundation crack repaired.

Their Story

A 1920s Capitol Hill home with an unbraced cripple wall — at significant risk in a seismic event. A foundation crack discovered during assessment added to the scope.

Installed cripple wall plywood bracing and anchor bolting per engineer specs. Repaired the foundation crack with epoxy injection and improved interior drainage.

Read full case study
Plywood panels with round vent holes nailed to short framed walls above a concrete foundation
Row of galvanized steel brackets tying wood framing to a concrete foundation wall
Galvanized foundation plates bolted between a wood sill and concrete wall beneath floor joists
Plywood bracing panel on a short framed wall with steel plates bolted to concrete foundation

Overview


Timeline
3 weeks
Completed
April 2025
Location
Capitol Hill

Our Process

Consultation & Site Visit

We review your goals, space, and budget and answer initial questions.

Estimate & Scope Review

You receive a clear, written estimate with defined scope and expectations.

Build Phase

We coordinate trades, manage permits if required, and keep the site clean and organized.

Final Walkthrough

We review details with you and make sure everything is completed properly.

Frequently asked questions

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Give us a call.

Does my Seattle home need a seismic retrofit?
If your home was built before 1980 and has a cripple wall (short stud wall between foundation and first floor), a seismic retrofit is strongly recommended. We offer honest assessments.
How do I know if my foundation needs repair?
Common signs include cracks in the foundation wall, water intrusion, sticking doors or windows, and uneven floors. We'll assess and give you an honest picture.
Are structural upgrades permitted?
Yes — structural work requires permits. We manage permitting and engineering as part of every structural project.
What is a cripple wall and why does it matter for earthquakes?
A cripple wall is the short wood-framed wall that sits between the foundation and the first floor of older homes. In an earthquake, unbraced cripple walls can rack and collapse — which is what causes many older Seattle homes to slide off their foundations. Plywood bracing and anchor bolting significantly reduce this risk.
How much does a seismic retrofit typically cost?
A standard cripple wall retrofit for a Seattle home typically runs $8K-$20K depending on the size of the crawlspace and how many walls need bracing. If foundation repairs are also needed, we scope those separately. We provide detailed estimates after a crawlspace assessment.

Service Areas

Serving the Greater Seattle Area

From Snohomish County to Federal Way, if you need help call Saddle & Spur Construction today.

Seattle
Ballard
Fremont
Greenwood
Phinney Ridge
Wallingford
Queen Anne
Magnolia
Capitol Hill
Eastlake
Ravenna
Madison Park
West Seattle
Beacon Hill
Columbia City
Rainier Valley
Northgate
Shoreline
Lake Forest Park
Kenmore
Bothell
Mountlake Terrace
Bellevue
Kirkland
Redmond
Sammamish
Issaquah
Mercer Island
Newcastle
Renton
Kent
Tukwila
Burien
SeaTac
Des Moines
Federal Way
Covington
Maple Valley
Auburn
Lynnwood
Edmonds
Mukilteo
Mill Creek
Everett
Marysville
Lake Stevens
Monroe
Map of the Greater Seattle service area, covering King and Snohomish County from Everett to Federal Way

Related structural services

Homeowners planning this usually look at these too — and they're cheaper to build at the same time than to add later.

Framer in a tool belt setting wood roof trusses on a new house under a blue sky

Roof Replacement & Repair

Roof replacement, roof repairs, and the structural rot repair found underneath for Seattle homes — properly flashed, permitted, and built to last.

View service

We built our business on clear communication and quality work

Home remodeling works best when expectations are clear and communication is consistent. We focus on being responsive, transparent about scope and pricing, and respectful of your home from start to finish — so there are no surprises along the way.

Upward view of a round wood-framed ceiling with radial joists and exposed stud walls

Clear, upfront estimates

You'll receive a detailed estimate that outlines scope, materials, and next steps, so you know exactly what to expect before work begins.

Licensed, insured, and code-compliant

All work is performed by a licensed and insured general contractor and built to meet current codes and local requirements.

Clean, professional job sites

We work in occupied homes and condos and take care to keep the site organized, safe, and respectful of your space.

Seattle's Trusted Residential Contractor

Your No-Nonsense Partner in Exceptional Construction. Licensed & Insured.