If this is an emergency, call 911. If you have been told to evacuate, go. For current warnings in Orange County see the National Weather Service. For alerts and preparedness information see Cal OES.
Coastal Winter Readiness
A 12-point inspection of your seawall, drainage, foundation, roof and the rest of the building envelope, before storm season. Every item is photographed, and you get a written report ranked by urgency with a cost estimate against each repair.
$350 standard, or $750 for properties over 4,000 square feet or with a seawall. The fee can be credited toward any work you book.
What the assessment covers
Twelve points, inspected in order, on the property and around it. Every item is photographed during the visit.
- Seawall or bulkhead condition
- Bluff or slope stability, and signs of undercutting
- Site grading, and water flow away from the structure
- Area and subsurface drains, flow tested
- Gutters, downspouts, and discharge points
- Roof surface and flashing
- Windows, doors, and exterior seals
- Foundation, piers, and crawlspace
- Retaining walls and hardscape
- Decks, stairs, and railings
- Utility penetrations, vents, and sump equipment
- Sandbag and barrier placement points
How each item is rated
- Good. No action needed at this time.
- Monitor. Check again during the season.
- Act before winter. Repair recommended before storm season, with a cost estimate.
You get a written report with every item rated, the photographs, the items that need work before winter, a total estimated cost of the recommended work, and a recommended schedule.
What we do with what we find
- Property assessment. The twelve points above, photographed and rated, in a written report you keep whether or not you book any work.
- Storm hardening. The repairs the report calls for: drainage, seals, flashing, grading and the rest of the work that keeps water out of the building.
- Barrier and sandbag staging. Identifying where barriers and sandbags go on your property, so they are placed where they will do something rather than where there is room for them.
The fee
$350 standard. $750 for properties over 4,000 square feet or with a seawall. The fee can be credited toward any work you book.
Schedule before November. Call 949-589-9226.
A dated record, if you ever need it
The report is dated and photographed, and it records the condition of the property on the day of the inspection. If you later file an insurance claim, that record can support it. It is not an insurance determination and it does not guarantee that any claim will be accepted or covered. For how carriers treat water damage against flood, read our flood insurance page.
What this is not
Coastal storm conditions are unpredictable and beyond our control. The force of the ocean and severe weather can cause damage regardless of preventive measures. No assessment or preventive work can guarantee that a property will not sustain damage. Our work is intended to reduce risk and limit the extent of damage, not to eliminate it.
The assessment reflects conditions observed on the date of inspection only. It is not a warranty, an engineering certification, or an insurance determination. Conditions may change after the inspection date.
We are a licensed, bonded and insured California contractor. We serve Orange County coastal homes, and the surrounding South Orange County communities.
Questions we get asked
What does the assessment cost?
$350 standard, and $750 for properties over 4,000 square feet or with a seawall. The fee can be credited toward any work you book.
What do I actually receive?
A written report covering twelve points, each rated good, monitor, or act before winter, with photographs of every item, cost estimates for the work recommended before winter, and a recommended schedule.
When should I book it?
Before November. The point of the assessment is to find the work while there is still time to do it, and the repair schedule fills up once the rain starts.
Do you do the repair work you recommend?
Yes, for the building work: drainage, seals, flashing, grading, hardscape and the rooms inside. We do not do emergency response, water extraction or structural drying, and we will tell you when a finding belongs to an engineer or a specialist rather than to us.
Is this an engineering report?
No. It is a contractor's visual assessment of the property on the day of the inspection. It is not an engineering certification, a warranty, or an insurance determination.
Will this stop my house from flooding?
No, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. The ocean and severe weather can cause damage regardless of what is done beforehand. The assessment reduces risk and limits how far damage spreads; it does not eliminate either.
What if water gets in anyway?
Start with the first hour, step by step, then which floors survive water. We handle the repairs once the house is dry.
US Floor Design Center. 30092 Santa Margarita Parkway, Suite G, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. 949-589-9226.
Licensed, bonded and insured California contractor. Verify any contractor’s license at cslb.ca.gov before you hire them.
We provide written estimates and photographic documentation of damage. We do not negotiate insurance claims or advise on coverage, which requires a public adjuster license. We will never offer to pay, waive or absorb an insurance deductible, which is unlawful in California.
This page last reviewed October 6, 2026. Safety information is sourced from Cal OES, Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the CDC and links to those agencies directly. It is general information and does not replace instructions from emergency services.