SB-326 Repairs: What HOAs and Property Managers Need to Do After the Inspection

If a recent SB-326 (or SB-721) inspection flagged problems with your community's balconies, decks, or walkways, the report is only the starting point. What matters next is turning that findings list into permitted, documented repairs before the deadlines hit. That's the part ADCO handles every day.

What SB-326 Actually Requires After Inspection

SB-326 governs elevated exterior elements (EEE) — balconies, decks, walkways, stair landings, and railings that rely on waterproofing to protect wood framing — at condominium and HOA properties. The inspection identifies the condition; the association is then responsible for correcting anything that threatens safety. For the legal deadlines and inspection cycle, see our full SB 721 & SB 326 compliance guide.

Why Waterproofing Is at the Center of SB-326 Repairs

Most EEE failures don't start as structural problems — they start as water intrusion. A failed deck coating, a cracked walkway membrane, or a leaking railing penetration lets moisture reach the wood framing underneath. Over time that causes dry rot and load-bearing failure, which is exactly what the law is written to prevent. Correcting the waterproofing system is usually the core of an SB-326 repair, not an afterthought.

Common Repairs We Perform for SB-326 Compliance

• Deck & walkway waterproofing: removing failed systems and installing new Sika, Tremco, or Westcoat urethane/acrylic membranes rated for pedestrian traffic.

• Balcony coating restoration: re-coating and re-flashing balconies where the surface has cracked, delaminated, or lost its slope to drain.

• Dry rot & substrate repair: coordinating replacement of water-damaged plywood and framing exposed once the old coating is removed.

• Railing & penetration sealing: re-sealing posts and fasteners that penetrate the deck surface — a frequent hidden leak source.

• Flashing & drainage correction: fixing the transitions and slope issues that caused the original intrusion so the repair actually lasts.

Repair Timelines You Need to Plan Around

When an inspection flags a hazard, the clock starts. Immediate life-safety issues require prompt corrective action, and other identified safety concerns generally require a permit application within 120 days of the report, with repairs typically completed within 120 days of permit approval. Because permitting and material lead times eat into that window, associations that wait until the deadline approaches often get squeezed. Scheduling repairs early protects both residents and your reserve budget.

Why HOA Boards and Property Managers Work With ADCO

SB-326 repairs sit at the intersection of roofing, waterproofing, and structural coordination — and they happen on occupied, operating properties where residents are living above and below the work. Since 1989, ADCO has specialized in exactly that: disciplined, documented execution on commercial and multi-family properties across Southern California, with the manufacturer certifications these systems require. We provide the paper trail associations need for their compliance records, reserve studies, and insurance carriers.

Get Your SB-326 Repairs Scoped

Have an inspection report in hand, or an upcoming deadline you're planning for? Send it over and we'll scope the repairs, timeline, and documentation. Contact ADCO Roofing & Waterproofing at sales@adcoroofing.com or 1-800-773-7663.