We had Sound Seismic do a seismic retrofit on our 1947 house. We love the work they did. We worked with Leif and John Crowell, among others. They took care of everything, the permitting, engineering plans, installation and getting the drywall done and installing a seismic gas shutoff valve.
They quickly resolved a couple issues that popper up.
Overall we're very happy with Sound Seismic and we'd recommend them, they do nice work, and are very professional and are all nice people.
Sound Seismic took care of our earthquake retrofit. They were professional, efficient, and easy to work with. I highly recommend them for this service.
They did an excellent job on our house. They communicated well and found workarounds for complications found within our walls. Overall, we are very pleased with their work.
Sound Seismic retrofitted our home. The estimate given was equal to the final billing amount. The work was started and finished on the time initially proposed. The company quickly responded to our questions. Personnel performing the work acted in a professional manner.
I highly recommend Sound Seismic! They made the entire process so easy for us, and took care of absolutely everything. The peace of mind we have, now that our house has the structural reinforcement it needed, is priceless. Thank you so much Sound Seismic!
We were very happy with the seismic retrofit work done on our 2-story 1950's home. The Sound Seismic team was coordinated, on-time, and very respectful of our needs. They communicated clearly and their work was high quality.
Sound Seismic completed earthquake retrofitting for us. Every single member of the team was knowledgable, responsive, professional, and personable. We wholeheartedly recommend Sound Seismic!
I had a good experience working with everyone on your team. Leif did the estimate for the seismic retrofit, and he explained the process clearly and was experienced and knowledgeable. I had some additional concerns about the structural integrity of my house resulting from floor joists previously been cut to install plumbing. Leif listened to my concerns and proposed a cost effective solution to address the issue.
The carpenters showed up when scheduled, completed the work in the time estimated, and left the job site in good condition.
I appreciate that you obtained a structural design specifically for my house, and I received a copy of the drawings.
I wanted to let you know I appreciated the work that your team did.
We were really happy with Sound Seismic's retrofit of our house! They're main office was very helpful in planning the timing and details of our work. They have a lot of technical know-how and were even able to adjust our plan to avoid removing any drywall in the finished parts of our basement. When the work was going they kindly checked in with us before starting work each day and gave us a heads up about the noisier work times.
All in all Sound Seismic was an excellent group to work with and we're happy with the results. Thanks y'all!
The Sound Seismic team did a great job of earthquake retrofitting our house, which was built in 1918. The crew showed up on time, did a great job of tarping, cleanup and communication, and the job was completed just as promised, on time and on budget. We could not have been more pleased with the job they did for us.
Sound Seismic was fantastic to work with! Very good communication, transparent, on-time and well-priced.
I highly recommend Sound Seismic! From start to finish the entire team was professional, communicative, and on time. They were non-intrusive while they were working in our home, they left the work area clean and the end of the day and they finished on time! From design to sign off I felt like I knew exactly what was happening and who to contact if needed. And the price was very reasonable! I highly recommend!
Everyone we dealt with did a great job. The workers were on time, communicated with us clearly and produced quality work. They performed earthquake retrofitting on our home. We recommend them highly.
The team from Sound Seismic did earthquake retrofitting to our small house. It was such a pleasure to have a professional, on-time, expert, honest, funny, and completely competent group. Each day they left the work site looking better than they found it. I recommend them wholeheartedly.
Sound Seismic did an earthquake retrofitting project in my 110 year old bungalow. They were very responsive, professional, had the lowest bid, and completed the job on time. They also hauled away items from my basement I didn’t know what to do with—I only wish I had asked them to take more! I wholeheartedly recommend them to do earthquake retrofitting.
These folks are the best! We have an old house and they were able to deal with all it's quirks, and there were many, their depth of experience meant nothing was a surprise for them.They communicated very well- I loved the daily updates and tours and explanations of work done. They were friendly and polite. I feel very confident in the job and feel safer in my house.
Sound Seismic was terrific with our earthquake retrofit, start to finish. Pleasant and efficient, highly recommended!
I had a 5-star experience with Sound Seismic! Leif, John, Manny & Dayton and the couple of other crew members were all professional, knowledgeable, and great to work with. Any communication by text/phone/email was always answered promptly. The crew was always on time and finished in a week just as promised. They did a great clean-up job as well. I have given a couple of neighbors and friends a link to your website along with my positive recommendation.
Just wanted to say thank you for a great job. Monty, Dayton & Ezra were just about the best crew around and I really appreciated the care & concern they took with my house. A special shout out to Monty who fixed the door to my crawl space on his own. I hadn't asked so it was a total surprise and a big help. So please pass along my gratitude.
This is one of those projects that could easily stay on the to-do list forever, but really shouldn't. I'm so glad we finally got this retrofit done! Leif did a thorough inspection, talked to me at length about my options, provided a clear estimate, handled all of the permitting and managed the installation in our cramped crawl space on some of the hottest days of the year. He also provided a referral for a seismic gas shutoff from a separate contractor, and followed up with a certificate to file with my insurance company. The whole process was seamless, and I learned a lot along the way. Thanks Sound Seismic!
Sound Seismic did a great job retrofitting our house.
Our house is over 100 years old and has a lot of "bespoke" architecture. Sound Seismic added plywood stabilizers and additional supports, and handled all the necessary licensing, permits, and approvals. At the end, they provided us with the certificate of inspection from the city, which will be useful to us should we ever need to sell the house.
They also went above and beyond by cleaning up the dark and dusty areas near where they were working, which was not necessary but very appreciated!
We could not have been more thrilled with our experience from start to finish with Sound Seismic. They were professional, courteous, kind, clean, and responsive in every interaction.
They arrived on time every day, kept the house incredibly clean during the work, and were honest and approachable every step of the way.
We HIGHLY recommend them to anyone getting estimates for seismic retrofits. You won’t find a better company.
Thank you Sound Seismic!!
Sound Seismic completed a seismic retrofit project for our 118 year old 2-story house. They worked for a couple of days in the basement and they had done a very clean job, all according to the plan, completed on-time. They gave us a reasonable price and were flexible with payment options. They were also very friendly and responsive all along the process. Getting a house seismic-retrofitted is not something one does very often, but if I had to do it again, I'd definitely work with them.
For some time we wanted our home assessed for earthquake preparedness and we were unsure where to turn. Sound Seismic was (yet another) perfect recommendation through the Home Owners Club. Prior to this we were put off by many companies pushing fear and emotional negativity through websites splatted with dramatic images of houses falling down - and worse. Sound Seismic were *nothing* like that. Their assessor came out to review our needs, check our house, and explain recommendations. The entire process was very clear, upfront and honest. We received detailed drawings from their engineer. The company also dealt directly with the city for permits and arranged all peripheral needs for the on-site workers. The manager and on site workers were fantastic... and how they worked!! As worked progressed, we were supplied with photos. Updates were regular and we were informed of schedule changes or any items they may have spotted along the way related with the foundation and crawl space. Communication was wonderful, clear, and kind. Never forget that last point - kindness goes a long way and they were incredibly respectful.
We hired Sound Seismic to retrofit our older Seattle house. We were thrilled with the service, communication, and professionalism of the company, especially our two contractors, Monty and Angelo, who went above and beyond to transform what might have been a daunting house project into a positive experience. They were excellent at communicating, sending us detailed, thoughtful texts daily to let us know their arrival and departure times, and though the work is loud (not their fault, of course- that's the nature of the project), they worked SO clean that I didn't noticed dust anywhere upstairs. They were also extremely warm and friendly that my daughter baked them cookies one day. I highly recommend this company, not just for the peace of mind a retrofit provides, but for the wonderful experience they provide.
Highly recommend Sound Seismic! They know this business inside out and have been doing homeowner workshops for years. They were able to tailor the techniques to our quirky basement and explain every detail of what they were doing.
Manny was a pleasure to work with - he texted us every morning to let us know he was on his way and made sure we understood the work.
This is the second home I've worked with Sound Seismic in doing earthquake retrofit. Both experiences have been extremely positive. The staff is pleasant and professional. All appointments were kept on time, the project started at the agreed upon time for the agreed upon amount. Although my project didn't experience any problems, the potential problems were laid out for me ahead of time. The project manager, John, was great to work with. I would certainly work with this company in the future should there be a need. I've also recommended Sound Seismic to family members
You all were wonderful. Who knew working in a house while folks drilled concrete was going to be the best experience of the pandemic.
If only working with all construction trades was as easy as it is with Sound Seismic... They're very transparent, professional, had great communication before and during the project and did a great job with our mostly unfinished and open basement.
Monte and Angelo did excellent work for us on our earthquake retrofit project. They were professional and efficient. Several of the placements of the plates that they bolted into the foundation were in tricky locations, and they installed them without any nicks or damage to the surrounding pipes, wires, or garage door. Monte and Angelo, as well as the project manager, John, communicated well and kept us informed throughout the project on their progress. Following their installation, the drywall installers did a seamless job patching things back up. We were very happy with Sound Seismic!
We hired Sound Seismic to retrofit our older Seattle house. We were thrilled with the service, communication, and professionalism of the company, especially our two contractors, Monty and Angelo, who went above and beyond to transform what might have been a daunting house project into a positive experience. They were excellent at communicating, sending us detailed, thoughtful texts daily to let us know their arrival and departure times, and though the work is loud (not their fault, of course—that's the nature of the project), they worked SO clean that I didn't notice dust anywhere upstairs. They were also extremely warm and friendly that my daughter baked them cookies one day. I highly recommend this company, not just for the peace of mind a retrofit provides, but for the wonderful experience they provide.
Simply one of the best companies that I have worked with. As an Earth Scientist that specialize in earthquakes hazards, Sound Seismic exceeded my expectations for our home seismic retrofit. Sound Seismic was a pleasure to work - super competent, very knowledgeable, and professional.
One of the architects we met with recommended Sound Seismic to retrofit our 1927 home. The owner, Leif, came out and gave us a thorough walk through of what it would involve, and they were able to fit us in earlier than expected due to an opening on their schedule. The crew came on time everyday, communicated daily when they were leaving, and left our house immaculate. They do great work and you'll be happy to use them to safeguard your house.
Everyone at Sound Seismic was very professional and courteous. John was our main contact, and he was great at keeping posted on progress, and followed up promptly whenever we had a question. And the workmanship was great. Thank you!
Sound Seismic has a good system down. From the walk-through, to contract, engineering design, permits, and install. It was pretty fluid start-to-finish. I'd hire them again for our next Seismic Retrofit.
I won't go anywhere else to trust your home to have a seismic retrofit work. From Leif Jackson, to John Crowell, especially to: Manny Garcia, Todd & Ezra. They did a fantastic job. I used to work for City of Seattle, Building Dept. A very reputable & professional company! Very friendly, very responsive, very trustworthy! Kudos also to Barber's Drywall for their work! My neighbors will soon follow to have their homes retrofitted.
Professional, hitch free seismic retrofit. Communication was excellent and team kept strictly to schedule. Widely acknowledged (even by their competition!) to be the best seismic retrofit team in the area.
Seismic did an earthquake retrofit in our crawl space. Excellent work and timely. When an issue arose, they were quick to make it right and we’re very professional handling it. Would highly recommend them.
Very professional, kind and competent work. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for seismic retrofit work.
Sound Seismic retrofitted our home recently and did an excellent job. They were on time, on budget and their professionals were great to have in our home. They followed Covid protocols and we felt safe. The finish carpenter was precise and skilled. Sound Seismic had the engineer design the needed retrofit, obtained the permit required and coordinated the city inspection. It was seamless. We had to wait for their estimate and the beginning of the project but a wait well worth it! They showed up for every appointment and work day on time and worked complete days. I’d highly recommend them.
The folks at Sound Seismic were so easy and professional to work with, everyone from the folks answering phones to the people who came out to give us an estimate, to the actual folks who came to retrofit our house. (They even squeezed through our tiny craw space entrance, which we had worried would be inaccessible.)
Honestly, just check out their website. I didn't look anywhere else after getting such a trustworthy vibe from the website. They were quick and efficient and it's so nice to know that our little house is a little better prepared if we're hit with a quake. Thanks Sound Seismic!
We recently had Sound Seismic do our earthquake retrofit. I cannot compliment enough the very professional job they did. Leif Jackson, the owner, sat with us for two hours answering questions and explaining how earthquakes work. He was completely above board, not promising more than he could deliver. He left interesting reading material so that we could evaluate and decide for ourselves. The most compelling was from FEMA warning people in the Puget Sound area to do everything they could to protect their homes because of our earthquake risk.
Once we were in contract, Leif sent our information to a structural engineer who drew up the plans. The bid was fair and complete. The crew showed up on the date the job started and completely it quickly. It looks great. Our new pony walls are gorgeous and the bolts and clamps very reassuring. City inspections were completed for the bolting and then for the finished job. This company is certified and high quality. Our house will be sticking around on the foundation. I encourage you to get over gambling about retrofitting and hire these guys. They are great.
We had a wonderful experience with Sound Seismic. After the devastating earthquake in Japan my husband and I were quite worried about our 3 story brick home and decided to retrofit our basement as a way to ease our anxiety and protect our family.
Sound Seismic's estimate was more reasonable than any of the others we got and we felt very confident knowing that Leif and his team have done many retrofits, including our friend's basement. Leif was able to explain the process to me, answer my questions, and gave me the estimate within an hour of coming to the house.
The hardest part of the process was moving our furniture and boxes out of the way to prepare the basement - after that things just moved along smoothly. I had been expecting huge holes in the walls and dust everywhere but the work was really tidy and not nearly as disruptive as I had feared. My kids and I were able to stay in the house the whole time, only playing out in the backyard a couple times when the banging was loud. The baby was even able to take naps in the midst of the demolition!
Matt was very professional and friendly, he always arrived on time and he communicated well, checking in with us at the end of each day to show us the progress of the work. He was able to finish the work a half-day sooner than planned and there were no hidden costs or extra changes when the invoice arrived.
I would highly recommend Sound Seismic to anyone -- they were fantastic!
I am so happy with the work and professionalism of Sound Seismic. It start with Leif, who did the initial consultation. He explained exactly what his company did and what he recommended for my house. When I asked for alterations to the contract he was accommodating. When I asked him questions, he explained answers thoughtfully and thoroughly.
John the project manager was very good. He stayed in touch throughout the project, and was very responsive. He offered to take away a set of old closet doors that I was meaning to dispose of because they had room in their dump truck. When I found some debris that had been missed during cleanup, he came over the same day and collected it.
Monte and the construction crew did a great job with the earthquake retrofit. The crew wore masks all the time, even outside while they worked, and were professional and friendly at all times. Monte arrived between 8:30 and 8:45 every day. If he couldn’t make it by 8:30, he texted me in advance explaining why (e.g. line at the lumberyard). My neighbor told us that she wished her contractor was that reliable!
I am so happy with the level of work that they did, that I want to use Leif’s remodeling company to do our remodeling project. Thank you Sound Seismic!
I had an excellent experience working with Sound Seismic. They did what they said they would do, when they said they would do it (even though there were weather challenges), and at the price they initially quoted. The process was very transparent, predictable, and consistent. The installation team was on the same page as the project manager, who was on the same page as the person who assessed and quoted the work. Sound Seismic implemented an engineer approved solution, dealt with the permitting and inspections, and provided full documentation when the project was complete. This was meaningful to me since I received quotes from other contractors for this work. The difference in approach was huge. It was clear that Sound Seismic had a much deeper understanding of the work that needed to be done compared to other contractors. While their bid was not the lowest, it was in the same range and the additional value they provide was clear. Sound Seismic also did a good job checking in with me at the end of the project to make sure I was happy with the work and that my questions were addressed. I would recommend Sound Seismic to anyone who needs an earthquake retrofit.
Mary Ellen and I are both extremely pleased with the work that your crew did. Please pass on my personal "thank you" to each of them.
We were pleased with the amount of clean-up that was done at the end of each day.
Even with your discovery of unforeseen conditions that necessitated additional framing, it was still done within a very reasonable time-frame. My overall experience with Sound Seismic has been very positive and we will recommend your services to our circle of friends and family.
Again, thank you for a very "enjoyable" experience!
I wish to praise SOUND SEISMIC for the earthquake retrofit they completed on my home. From the estimate to the finished job, Leif and his crew were professional, hard working, pleasant and exceptionally CLEAN. They handled the permit and inspections seamlessly. Office support from Elizabeth was equally professional, reliable and fast. I can't describe everything so I'll just say the whole experience was great.
Sound Seismic was professional and they came when they said they were going to come. They came early and they called me to ask if it was okay to start the work earlier. They explained everything to me. It seemed like a reasonable price for the work because I had read other people’s descriptions on retrofitting on Angies list. The price seemed right in line with what I was expecting.
The crew kept me informed of their progress and plans all the time. They told me what their plans were, and delivered every time. Very satisfying knowing I could count on them doing what they promised - when they promised it!
Sound Seismic was the most professional group of contractors/employees I have ever dealt with. They were knowledgable, dependable, and skilled. The project lead was obviously well trained and knew what he was doing, was able to effectively manage and direct his crew and subcontractors. A quality job. Discovered an area behind my walls were my house was not up to code. Worked well will me to correct the problem and professional and reasonable about the change order.
The Sound Seismic crew arrived on time and got started on this structurally engineered and contracted job. It was estimated to take approximately one week to complete this work. The job was completed in 4 days with great professionalism and dedication to the work completed. The work passed a city inspection with no additional work required. The quality of work is excellent with great attention to detail.
Based in Ballard, the 2 man crew of Sound Seismic did a very clean, professional job of installing the earthquake retrofit. I was very happy with quality of the work and the way the crew kept the site clean and organized every day. They stick to a firm 8-hour work day for their employees and offer health benefits, a rarity in the contract world, it would seem. So their bid was not the lowest, however was comparable to a number of other firms, within 5-10%. Very punctual and professional in all coordination and in handling the 2 inspections reqd. by the city. No surprises or additional costs. I would recommend this contractor overall.
Sound Seismic did such a thorough job. Looking at their work lets me sleep better at night knowing my house is now very unlikely to shift off its foundations in an earthquake.
We thank you for the very professional work done by all of your people that we have had contact with. The crew working here were outstanding, and we were charmed by your lead carpenter, Matt.
Our basement has not been this clean in 70 years (the house is 70 years old)!
Thanks again,
My experience with Sound Seismic was very good. They were upfront about the work that needed to be done, about the cost and about the specific changes that would be required. In general, they had a high level of professionalism. They were on schedule, did a good job and cleaned up afterwards. They actually returned calls, which seems to be rare with contractors. I haven’t had other work of this sort done before. They did a really good job overall. They were very good about scheduling and estimates, and did quality work. They were one of the few providers in the area who would do the work - I thought the price was reasonable. I would use them again in the future.
"Leif
Thanks for the great work on the house - you've done an outstanding job of prompt, low-impact work - and leaving the job site in excellent shape. Appreciate the attention to detail."
"I wanted to follow up and thank you for your good communication, strong planning and flexibility.
Your foreman was great. Very professional, low key, friendly and efficient."
They did an excellent job. The whole experience from start to finish was excellent. When they came out they told us what would need to be done, how it would be done and how much it would cost. We set a date and they came. They did the work exactly as they said they would. There were no surprises. The communication with the contractor throughout the process was excellent. The crewmember that came out to do the work did a fantastic job of cleanup afterwards. It was just excellent from start to finish. Because of the work they did we were able to get earthquake insurance, which we had not been able to qualify for previously. We would use them again and we would recommend them to any of our friends.
Sound Seismic gave a very competitive bid, clearly explained everything they were going to do, accomodated my schedule, and produced a very high quality outcome. I highly recommend them.
Dear Leif,
Your crew did a great job! It was a pleasure to meet them. And as soon as I met your lead carpenter, I knew that everything would be done 'right.'
They took extra care at every level: and left everything better than ever. They were able to remove the siding without cutting it, which is great, too.
I am glad that I got to see how substantial the anchors, fasteners, etc. are - and how robustly the plywood panels are nailed in. ( It was hard for me to tell from the blueprints alone.)
I am very happy with all aspects of the plan and the work, Leif.
All in all, we felt the project went extremely well. Given the number of earthquakes worldwide of late, we are pleased to have had the work done. We’d rather not have it tested, but we know we are in as good a position as possible if the ground starts shaking!
I wanted to let you know what a great job that your crew did on our earthquake retrofit. They were very knowledgeable about the whole process and answered any questions we had without hesitation. Their work was excellent and they finished the job quickly. I have done my share of remodeling in the past and I can say that they cleaned up after each day’s work more thoroughly than anyone I’ve ever encountered. They took obvious pride in the retrofit work they did but also in the cleanup. They saw that as an integral part of the Sound Seismic service. All in all, it was a fast and painless experience.
Thanks for assigning those fine young men to our job.
Sound Seismic performed an engineered retrofit on our house built in 1928. I've never had a better experience working with a contractor - thoroughly professional (truly experienced and knowledgeable in their craft), they were also excellent communicators throughout the engagement. And the cleanup afterwards was amazing. I would recommend them without reservation!
I wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did retrofitting my home in South Seattle. I was aware that it would be a challenge and it proved to offer more problems than we expected. You met them all and did a great job correcting the rot and damage that happened over the years since 1927, when the house was built.
When I arrived home yesterday the basement was clean and organized. It was the first time I did not have to spend hours cleaning up after a contractor. Your lead carpenter and his assistant were a great team. Thanks for all your efforts.
Regards,
I can't think of a single way you could improve the service of your company. Yours is one of the VERY best companies I've worked with on this home.
Sound Seismic completed a earthquake retrofit on our house. Their explanation about what to expect and what we'd get was clear and straightforward; the work was completed as described, as scheduled and exactly on time; clean-up: spotless.
"The experience with Sound Seismic was possibly the finest I have had in my dealings with any of my trade contractors. Your crew was knowledgable, well informed, hard working, tidy, as well as a pleasure to have on my job."
They did our custom earthquake retrofit for our old house with a lot of unique needs and were totally great to work with. Very professional, cleaned up really perfectly everyday, made adjustments when needed, and finished up right on schedule. Awesome company.
Sound Seismic did a fantastic job anchoring my house to the foundation. Starting with protecting my house from the dust they created through the final clean up, the crew were polite and respectful, they showed up when they said they would and were flexible when we had a house guest and needed a break in the work.
I would recommend them to anyone needing seismic anchoring.
Thank you very much for your excellent work on retrofitting our house. We appreciated your careful oversight of the project, ongoing contact with the engineering firm, attention to detail, and clean and timely work. You really rose to the challenges presented by "this old house."
Sound Seismic exhibited a great combination of skill, hard work, and professionalism. You treated our home and our project as though you were doing it on your own house.
Everything looks good. Thanks for the all the work your guys did, very professional.
Cheers,
Sound Seismic did an excellent job of the seismic retrofit on my two-story house, which entailed quite a lot of siding work as I don't have a basement. The workmen were punctual, neat and meticulous. I feel safer because of their work.
Just wanted to send you a note to express how pleased we are with the work your firm recently completed. You did exactly what you said you would and the quality of the work is first rate. Also, please tell Matt how much we enjoyed him. Thanks,
Sound Seismic did a superb job on my 1919 home. When they came to give me an estimate they arrived very prepared, with public records. They were knowledgeable, and didn't attempt to "upsell" me with unneeded work. They quoted me a very reasonable price for the work. The worker was prompt, courteous and exceptionally neat. (Laying down floor protection and using plastic sheeting to isolate the work area.) All the work was completed nicely, and they handled everything, including city permits, making the whole job simple for me and thorough.
Sound Seismic
2400 NW 80th ST #106 Seattle, WA 98117
Contractor's license # SOUNDSL836ND