Palacios Construction Expands Services for Seismic Retrofitting in Monterey County

Palacios Construction, a licensed residential general contractor based in Monterey, California, has expanded its services to include grant-program seismic retrofit services for older homes in Monterey County. This move comes as interest in home resilience continues to grow across California, with many homeowners choosing to stay and improve their current homes rather than move.

The expansion of Palacios Construction's services is particularly relevant given the significant share of the housing stock on the Monterey Peninsula and throughout the county that was built decades ago. Homes constructed before 1980 generally predate modern seismic standards, leaving the connection between a wood frame and its concrete foundation vulnerable during strong ground shaking. Additionally, short cripple walls and ground-floor garages pose further risks.

Seismic retrofitting is a targeted set of structural upgrades designed to reduce damage and displacement after an earthquake. Depending on how a home was built, the work may include foundation bolting, cripple wall bracing, soft-story reinforcement, and water heater bracing. Foundation bolting secures the home's wood frame directly to its concrete foundation to help prevent it from sliding off its base. Cripple wall bracing reinforces the short wood-framed walls between the foundation and first floor with structural plywood to reduce racking and collapse. Soft-story reinforcement strengthens the ground level of homes with living space above a garage or carport using established engineering standards. Water heater bracing is required as part of every grant-funded retrofit and documented with before-and-after photos.

California funds grant programs that can cover much or all of the cost of a qualifying retrofit. Grants are paid after the work is completed and approved, and no repayment is required. The most widely available program serves owner-occupied, single-family wood-frame homes built before 1980 with a raised foundation and cripple walls. It provides a base grant of up to $3,000. Income-eligible households in Northern California can receive up to $7,000 more in supplemental funding.

A second program serves owner-occupied homes built before 2000 with living space directly above a garage or carport. It provides up to $13,000, or up to 75 percent of the total retrofit cost. This program requires engineered plans and a federal review before construction can begin. A third program serves multi-unit buildings of five to 10 units with tuck-under parking. It applies only in cities that have adopted a mandatory soft-story ordinance. Monterey County cities are not currently on that eligible list, but Palacios Construction holds the certification in case a qualifying ordinance is adopted locally.

Homeowners register during periodic open enrollment windows and are selected at random. Once accepted, the process follows strict deadlines: 12 weeks to complete pre-retrofit steps, up to 10 weeks for federal review on soft-story projects, and six months to finish construction. Starting work early or missing a deadline can disqualify the grant.

Palacios Construction manages each step of the process for homeowners, including confirming eligibility before registration, conducting an on-site assessment, preparing a program-compliant bid, pulling the building permit, taking and uploading required pre-retrofit and post-retrofit photos, completing the retrofit, coordinating the final building inspection, and submitting the itemized invoice and payment authorization paperwork.

A completed retrofit can also affect a homeowner's earthquake insurance. Policies written through California's statewide earthquake insurance program offer a premium discount once a qualifying retrofit has been verified. That verification depends on paperwork: a verification form signed by a licensed general contractor or a civil or structural engineer, or the verification number issued through the grant program. Homeowners who keep the approved final inspection record from their building permit together with their retrofit documentation are better positioned to request the discount without delays.

Seismic retrofitting fits within the company's existing residential work across Monterey County. Palacios Construction provides kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, full home remodels and whole-house renovations, home additions, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) construction, and outdoor living structures, including decks, patios, and pergolas. Because many of these projects take place in older homes, structural conditions often come up during planning. Homeowners considering a kitchen or bathroom remodel, a home addition, or a garage conversion may decide to address foundation or framing work at the same time. This is especially practical when a crew is already on site and a permit is already in process. Reviewing seismic conditions during the planning phase helps homeowners make informed decisions about scope and sequencing before construction begins.

The company's approach to remodeling projects centers on preconstruction planning, hands-on project management, and clear budgeting practices. Proposals use realistic allowances, and each finish is assigned a clearly explained dollar amount, so homeowners understand what is budgeted from the start. As the licensed contractor of record, the company handles permits, inspections, and scheduling.