Older and historic buildings · fire, smoke and water loss

Historic Building Fire & Water Damage Restoration in San Francisco, CA

When an older building takes a fire or a water loss, the first week decides how much of it survives. Wet plaster, smoke-stained brick, swollen original wood and marble that looks ruined but is not: each needs a decision before demolition starts, not after.

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What we do first in an older building

Walk the loss with you, and with your adjuster if you like, before materials are torn out.
Photograph and list what survived: brick, plaster, ceilings, stairs, casings, floors and fixtures.
Separate what can be cleaned, dried or repaired from what truly has to be replaced, and price each line.
Flag code-triggered work (structure, egress, electrical) up front so it is in the scope, not a surprise mid-job.
Coordinate with your architect, engineer or preservation consultant when the building needs one.

Bluxome St, SoMa: a fire loss rebuilt inside the brick

Underway. After the fire, the brick facade stays and a new structure goes in behind it: new foundation, shotcrete shear walls applied to the inside face of the brick, new steel and wood floor framing, and a new roof.

New steel beams and wood floor framing against the original brick wall after a fire, Bluxome St, San Francisco — New steel and floor framing inside the brick

New shotcrete shear wall applied to the inside of the brick wall, Bluxome St — Shotcrete shear wall inside the brick

New roof joists framed on steel before sheathing, Bluxome St fire-loss rebuild — New roof framing on steel

Clement St, Inner Richmond: original materials kept in a working building

Complete. A former bank converted to a clinic, with the plaster dome ring, marble stair and original railings kept and new systems and finishes worked around them. It is the same care we bring to an older building after a loss: protect what can stay, then rebuild the rest.

Original plaster dome ring and skylight kept in a former bank, Clement St, San Francisco — Original plaster dome ring

Original marble stair with bronze handrails, former bank, Clement St — Original marble stair and handrails

Original iron railing and marble sill at the mezzanine, Clement St — Original iron railing kept

Interior finishes after water damage

Original wood refinished rather than replaced where it could be saved, and new finishes matched to what remains.

Original wood stair refinished after water damage, San Francisco — Wood stair refinished after water damage

Corridor with original wood casings and new finishes — Original casings, new finishes

Original plaster panel walls with new pendant lighting — Original plaster walls, new lighting

Common questions

Can smoke-damaged brick and plaster be saved?

Often, at least in part. We look at it before demolition and price cleaning or repair against replacement, line by line, so you and your carrier can see the choice.

Do you handle historic approvals?

No. LPD is a general contractor, not a preservation consultant. Whether a building is historic, and what approvals it needs, is decided by the city and agencies. We work with your consultant and build to the approved plans.

Is the walkthrough free?

Yes. We walk the building, then send a written scope and a line-by-line rebuild price.

Planning a renovation or adaptive reuse rather than a loss repair? See the full gallery and approach on Historic Preservation in San Francisco, CA at LPD Builders, or commercial tenant improvements.

LPD is a general contractor, not a preservation consultant. Historic status and approvals are decided by the city and agencies.

Request a free walkthrough