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Desk 02 · Los Angeles · Framing & structural

Los Angeles Framing & Structural Contractor. the bones of the house.

We do framing and structural work as a primary trade — wall removal, beam installation, lateral bracing, new openings, soft-story retrofit, and full addition framing — across LA County. Most of our work is part of a larger remodel or addition, but we also take on stand-alone structural scopes when a homeowner needs to open up a wall before bringing in finish trades.

Licensed California contractor · CSLB #1156772 · Los Angeles desk · LADBS

Begin a Los Angeles framing & structural work brief →← Back to Los Angeles desk

About Framing & Structural Work in Los Angeles

Every structural move we make is supported by a stamped engineering drawing and a LADBS permit. We don't guess on beams.

Los Angeles permit notes · Framing

What we resolve before drawings begin.

  • 01

    Engineer first, sawzall second

    Every wall-removal or beam installation gets a structural engineer's drawing and LADBS approval before demo.

  • 02

    Lateral as part of any opening

    When you remove a load-bearing or shear wall, you have to replace the lateral capacity. We design for this — not skip it.

  • 03

    Soft-story retrofit + cripple-wall bracing

    Older LA bungalows and craftsmans often have unbraced cripple walls. We brace these as part of any structural project so the next earthquake doesn't take the house off the foundation.

Framing intel · engineered lumber & shear walls · Los Angeles spec

Modern California framing is engineered lumber + plywood shear walls + Simpson hardware. Anyone still spec'ing solid-sawn beams in 24-ft spans hasn't read a structural sheet in 15 years.

The manufacturers we actually specify.

  • Weyerhaeuser / Trus Joist

    premium

    WA · USA

    Microllam LVL, Parallam PSL, TJI engineered I-joists

    Predictable strength, no crowning, longer clear spans. Our default for any beam carrying point loads or any joist over 16 ft.

  • Boise Cascade

    workhorse

    Boise, ID

    VersaLam LVL, BCI joists

    Strong distributor network in LA + competitive pricing on standard sizes.

  • Simpson Strong-Tie

    premium

    Pleasanton, CA

    Hangers, hold-downs, anchor straps

    Universal inspector recognition. Every shear connection on our jobs uses Simpson HDU, MSTC, or A35.

  • Huber ZIP / Georgia-Pacific ForceField

    premium

    USA

    Structural sheathing with integrated WRB

    Eliminates redundant house wrap, taped seams give visual confirmation of complete envelope.

Material tiers · what you're actually choosing between.

MaterialLifespanInstalled in CABest forTrade-offs
Dimensional 2x4 / 2x6 lumber75+ years$8–$14 / sq ft framedConventional walls and short spans.Grade variability — we cull twisted/cupped stock at unload.
LVL beams (Microllam)75+ years$8–$22 / linear ftRemoved walls, garage door headers, openings > 8 ft.Heavy — multi-ply requires lift equipment.
TJI engineered I-joists75+ years$5–$10 / sq ft (joists only)Long spans (over 16 ft), quiet floors.Fire-rated assemblies require gypsum-board ceiling per CRC R302.13.

Specification gotchas we resolve before contract.

  1. 01

    Shear-wall hold-downs to foundation.

    Shear walls require Simpson HDU hold-downs at each end with epoxy anchors into the foundation — skipping this is the most-cited red-tag in remodel framing.

  2. 02

    Notching & boring limits.

    Plumbers and electricians can void engineering by over-notching joists. We post the limits in the framing rough.

  3. 03

    Fire-blocking at every horizontal & vertical chase.

    Soffits, plumbing chases, and tub decks need fire-blocking per CRC R302.11. Inspector will fail rough framing without it.

Other Los Angeles services.

All Los Angeles services →

Los Angeles city directory · 314 cities served

Framing & Structural Work, written for your city.

Each link opens a dedicated page calibrated to the city's permit authority, lot conditions, and price band — not a generic regional landing.

Los Angeles · Framing FAQ

Questions Los Angeles homeowners ask first.

Start an LA framing or structural brief. We'll engage an engineer, walk LADBS permits, and write a fixed-scope contract.

  1. What does removing a wall cost in LA?
    Most non-bearing wall removals run $3K–$8K. Load-bearing wall removal with new beam + structural retrofit $12K–$35K including engineering and permits.
  2. How long does the work take?
    Most wall removals 1–2 weeks on site, plus 2–6 weeks for engineering and LADBS permit.
  3. Can you frame an addition?
    Yes — full addition framing is a core trade for our crew. We frame, sheath, dry-in, and coordinate MEP rough-in.
  4. Do I need a structural engineer to remove a wall in LA?
    For any load-bearing or shear wall — yes. LADBS requires stamped structural drawings before issuing the permit. We commission the engineer as part of the contract.
  5. Can you open a wall between the kitchen and living room?
    Yes — this is one of the most common LA structural scopes. We typically install a flush LVL or steel beam so the ceiling stays flat between rooms.
Begin

Begin your projectin twenty minutes.

A short feasibility review of your lot — what you can build, roughly what it costs, and how long it will take. Free of charge. No sales call afterwards unless you ask for one.

Get started→or call +1 (510) 405-5921
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  • License & insurance on request
§ Los Angeles · Framing

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