Live Oak Structural Inc Company Profile

Live Oak Structural Inc, a multi-service construction and pest control company, has been providing East Bay homeowners with comprehensive solutions to structural problems for over twenty years.  As both a licensed general contractor and structural pest control company, Live Oak has the expertise to address a wide array of structural repairs and pest problems. 

Since many of these problems are interrelated  (poor drainage, termite infestations, dry rot, inadequate or damaged foundations), Live Oak will assess the problem and design and execute a durable solution for the long-term structural integrity of the building.  Live Oak's services can be divided into the following three categories:  1) Foundation Replacement and Repair, 2) Structural Pest Control Services and 3) Deck Restoration, Repair and New Deck Construction.


Foundation Replacement & Repair

Many homes in the Bay Area sit on foundations that are inadequate or not sufficiently anchored to the structure. Customers throughout Alameda County and the greater East Bay Area rely on Live Oak Structural, Inc. in Berkeley CA for quality foundation repair services ranging from complete foundation replacement  in conjunction with earthquake retrofitting and drainage solutions, to minor foundation repairs. 

Some hillside homes may require drilling piers, installing retaining walls or engineered structural moment frames. Other homes may need only basic retrofitting such as bolting the house to the foundation and installing plywood shear panels. Live Oak Structural, Inc. has many years of experience in repairing and strengthening East Bay homes. Both large and small projects are executed with the same attention to detail and excellent customer service. 

For many homeowners, embarking on a seismic retrofit or foundation replacement can seem intimidating, but Will Linville, field operations manager and CEO of Live Oak Structural, Inc., says they can come with a reasonable price tag. "We always look for ways to save our customers money. We know homeowners are on a budget, and we prioritize the jobs to fit their needs."

A recent Alameda County customer with a tight budget confirmed, "Live Oak worked with me on what I could afford and what would be best for my house."


Structural Pest Control Services

Live Oak Structural, Inc. specializes in identifying and fixing structural damage caused by moisture, leaks, fungus, dry rot and wood-boring insects such as termites and beetles. Structural damage and infestations can be hard to assess, so you need a skilled inspector who will do a meticulous inspection, not just a quick once-over. "Our inspections are very thorough," says Will Linville. "We do a complete inspection and assess the condition of the entire building, so you can be sure you're getting a comprehensive report on the condition of your home, along with detailed recommendations for any necessary repairs or pest treatments."

Rather than simply addressing the symptoms of a pest problem, Live Oak Structural, Inc. investigates the causes. Leaks and moisture problems, faulty construction and earth-to-wood contacts all contribute to pest infestations and dry rot. If these issues aren't addressed, the problems will recur again and again, necessitating more repairs and treatments down the road. Live Oak Structural, Inc. in Berkeley CA prides itself on getting to the source of your problem and fixing it right the first time.

Live Oak Structural owner, Terri Carver explains, "Rather than just fixing the obvious, we find out what created the damage. Our repairs get to the root of the issue and we fix the problem once and for all. That saves our customers money."

Some companies may offer free structural pest inspections so they can push pricey extermination programs that you really don't need but that increase their profit. Live Oak Structural, on the other hand, honestly tells its customers that they may not need their home sprayed at all if there are no longer any active termites or other structural pests.  Terri Carver explains: "Before we prescribe treatments, we investigate to see if the evidence of infestation is new or old. If the infestation is not active, there's no need to charge the customer to treat the area. If we need to treat the area, we minimize the pesticide application by spraying only the areas where the termites are gaining access to the building."

That honesty can save you a lot of money. In fact, a recent customer saved more than $1,400 by hiring Live Oak Structural over someone else. Another extermination company recommended a heavy-and expensive-dose of chemicals when they saw old termite damage. "The customer called us for a second opinion," said Terri. "When we did a careful inspection, we found no live termites. We told her there was no sense in spraying for what wasn't even there, and she was thrilled that we saved her so much money."

Live Oak practices the principles of integrated pest management by minimizing the use of pesticides to only those areas where they are needed to control an active infestation. Structural repairs can range from repairing damaged framing in the subarea to stripping the stucco off the building, repairing the framing underneath, and reinstalling the stucco to match the existing.  Live Oak's workmanship is high-quality and their customer service is exceptional.  One happy customer summed it up by saying "When one may trust to 100% reliance in a company that is fair in all respects, one is lucky indeed. This has been my experience: genuine care, full responsibility, excellent communication."


New Decks, Deck Restoration & Repair

Aging decks can be ugly and potentially dangerous. Live Oak Structural, Inc. specializes in making old decks look new again. Many decks in the East Bay Area are made from redwood, which is an expensive and diminishing resource. With deck restoration and repair services from Live Oak Structural, your deck will last a lot longer while staying beautiful and safe.

Live Oak Structural, Inc. is in high demand for their top-quality, green-building certified, long-lasting deck installations. Their skilled deck builders use the best construction techniques and quality products for a longer lasting finished product. "We know that good products and superior workmanship make decks last longer, and that means savings for our customers," explains owner Terri Carver.

Will Linville adds, "We do what's right for our clients, and our knowledge and construction methods are the best in the business. After all, why would you want to pay to replace a deck every 10 years when you can have it last much longer than that by having it installed right to begin with?"

Customers who have hired Live Oak Structural, Inc. for deck services rave about the company's skill and value. One recent customer said, "Live Oak Structural really saved us a lot of money when they rebuilt our deck. They were more affordable than the other three contractors that bid on the job and they were very easy to get a hold of along the way."

A Family Business

Terri Carver's husband, Doug Carver, started Live Oak Structural, Inc. in 1982. Now the Berkeley CA company is led by Terri and field operations manager, Will Linville.

Terri Carver has 18-year old triplets, two girls and one boy. The family enjoys camping under the redwoods, a summer tradition Terri says goes back 15 years. "That's one reason why it's so important for Live Oak Structural, Inc. to be a green company that upholds Doug's founding philosophy of high-quality, durable solutions that take care of and preserve our environment."

Because they are a hometown, family-owned business, Will Linville says Live Oak Structural, Inc. takes special pride in their customer service. "We take care of our employees, and in turn, they take care of our customers. That means every person on our team cares about how our customers are feeling and makes sure they are satisfied."

Happy clients throughout the East Bay agree. A long-time customer named Sarah, who is a designer and general contractor, says, "I appreciate the can-do attitude of Will, Live Oak Structural's project manager. Will takes time to assess each situation carefully." Other customers said, "They were clean, on time, their crew was great and there were absolutely no problems," and "I was so impressed with their knowledge." Another customer raved, "I wouldn't use anyone else."

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