Strengthening Soft Stories — One Rebar Tie at a Time
- Isela
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
At Sinai Construction, we’re currently in the trench phase of a soft story retrofit project, where we’re tying rebar as it’s installed. The new foundation has been fully excavated, and it's being fortified with a strong grid of steel reinforcement. A steel frame is also in place, ensuring the structure will meet current seismic safety standards.
Soft story buildings—typically with open parking or commercial space on the ground floor—are known earthquake hazards. In the event of a strong quake, the weak lower-level supports can collapse under the weight of the upper floors, resulting in what’s called a "pancake collapse." This type of failure is not only dangerous, but it can also result in significant financial loss and potential tragedy.
That’s why every detail of the retrofit matters. Tying rebar correctly within the trench is a critical step in reinforcing the foundation, helping the structure resist sideways forces during seismic activity.
If your building has a soft story condition, now is the time to act. Sinai Construction specializes in seismic retrofits and foundation reinforcement.
Call us today at (323) 655-0960 to schedule an evaluation and protect your investment—and more importantly, the lives of those inside.
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