Alameda Structural Inc Company Profile

When it comes to home foundation building and foundation repair, it takes a skilled professional to deliver expert results. Entire buildings might be lifted, support beams shored, foundations poured.

A Good Foundation
George Walton, owner of Alameda Structural, Inc. in Alameda CA, is committed to keeping his promises and instilling in his clients a sense of trust and confidence.

Alameda Structural, Inc. begins their process with a hands-on, first-person introduction to the intricacies of structural repair for all customers. The week before a project begins, operation supervisors from Alameda Structural, Inc. schedule a meeting with their clients. The operation supervisor takes time to walk through the home with the owners and let them know exactly what will happen during construction.

But Alameda Structural, Inc. customers know the gist of the project even before the initial walk-through. George Walton shares with potential customers a list of 900 previous clients, and he encourages them to call and ask questions of homeowners that have already been through a structural repair.

Alameda Structural, Inc. is a firm with large resources and it often has 12 to 15 projects ongoing which gives potential customers the benefit of visiting a work in progress. "I invite potential clients to visit a job site before we start on their home," says George Walton. "Many times we are working on a house just a street over. They can walk the neighborhood and see what's going on."

An Organized Approach
Replacing a home foundation is not a simple job. It requires planning and accountability. George Walton counts this as a great strength of Alameda Structural, Inc. "The key to our success is organization," he says. Through the help of spreadsheets, outlines, deadlines and goals, George Walton has a structured approach to business. "I know where I'm at, where I'm going and where I've been," he says.

George Walton takes his job as owner of Alameda Structural, Inc. seriously. "I'm on the scene at 7 a.m.," he says. "I often visit three or four jobs before the men arrive, so I always know what's going on. I try to get to every jobsite at least once every other day."

He also has two operation managers whose jobs center on visiting every job site, ensuring all protocols are followed. It's just another set of checks and balances Alameda Structural, Inc. incorporates to ensure absolute customer safety and satisfaction.

In response to a research call, Meredith, a client shared her experience with Alameda Structural, Inc. "They did superb work. They were always on time, they did what they said they were going to do, and there were no surprises with the final cost," she said. "They were also receptive. They listened to everything we had to say."

More Than Skin Deep
Homeowners are rightfully concerned about the appearance of their property. Will the crew respect the home? Will they leave the yard a mess? Will neighbors complain about trash and overflowing dumpsters?

Before a job begins, Alameda Structural, Inc. notes the existing appearance to ensure they return the site to the owners' preferred condition at the end of the job. George Walton emphasizes respect for customer's property evidenced by how Alameda Structural, Inc. tidies up every night before leaving the job site.

Their attention to cleanliness is obvious to customers. "I like that they clean up really well," said Susan, a customer, during a research call. "They had a supervisor on-site that was in control of everything at all times. He was very good at keeping us in the loop."

George Walton knows that although cleanliness is a visual clue to the company's overall performance, Alameda Structural, Inc.'s brand of construction is more than just skin-deep. "The two most important things in a house are a good foundation and a good roof. You need both to avoid failure," says George. "It isn't safe to live on a foundation that is falling apart. The whole house depends on a good foundation."

Every year, Alameda Structural, Inc. builds 40 to 50 new basements for existing homes. The financial payback to adding a basement to your existing home is substantial. "We are creating space that wasn't here before," says George Walton. "From a logical perspective, we are adding space for pennies on the dollar compared to buying it new. It's a win-win proposition."

George Walton stands behind the work of Alameda Structural. He doesn't require a down payment or deposit before the job is finished to the customer's satisfaction. Jobs are invoiced only after the work is complete.

In a research call, Conna raved about George Walton and the service at Alameda Structural, Inc. "I liked George, the owner. He did everything he said he was going to do at the price he quoted. He also did the job in the time he said it was going to take to do it," she said. "I've worked with a lot of contractors, but George will talk and listen to you. He does what he says he is going to do and that is the most important thing to me."

 

—Lauren Bongard Schwarz
Associate Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report