Earthquake Retrofitting and Your Home
What is Earthquake Retrofitting?
Earthquake retrofitting is adjusting an existing home or structure to make it more resistant to seismic activity, soil failure, or ground motion. Retrofitting increases the stability of your home so that it is less likely to rack, slide, or overturn during an earthquake.
Why Retrofit?
If an earthquake occurs, the ground shakes and the stability of your home is tested. Many homes in earthquake prone areas were built before the new codes were implemented, so if you live in an older home it would be a good idea to look into retrofitting.
Retrofitting your home ensures that your house is stable and does not face the risk of shifting if an earthquake does occur. Homes that have been retrofitted are able to withstand large earthquake forces and their risk of being damaged is reduced.
Not only will retrofitting keep your home safe in an earthquake, it also increases your homes resale value. This may not be something people think about at first, but if your home has been retrofitted it is definitely a plus. This makes possible buyers more confident in the strength and stability of your home.
How Do I Know if I Need to Retrofit My Home?
There are many things to consider when you are looking to retrofit your home. If the geographic area you live in is prone to earthquakes it’s important to make sure your home is prepared for the possibility of seismic activity. Homes built within the last 20 years were built under strict building codes and most likely do not need to be retrofitted. If you live in an older home it may be a good idea to look into retrofitting.
Also, homes built on a raised foundation or on a hillside typically experience shifting of the foundation during seismic activity. If your home falls under either of these categories it may be susceptible to some structural failures if an earthquake does occur.
Retrofitting Your Home
If you find that your home is a good candidate for earthquake retrofitting, Weinstein Retrofitting Systems has the solution for you. Their qualified professionals retrofit homes in five main ways:
- Using regular anchor bolts when the cripple wall is tall enough to allow straight drilling
- Foundation anchor plates are used when a cripple wall is shorter than 24” or there is no cripple wall that exists
- Using t-straps and framing anchors for post to beam and pier to post connections
- Framing anchors are used for the perimeter of a foundation with bolting
- Joist anchors are installed to strengthen the sub floor
Weinstein Retrofitting Systems has trained professionals that provide earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. They are your local earthquake retrofitting company serving Palmdale, Oxnard, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and nearby. Weinstein also offers a full range of services including foundation repair, crawl space repair, basement waterproofing, and mold remediation. Contact them today for more information.
Posted on: January 4th 2012 by: Valyn Daconto
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