Soft story buildings are a common sight in many cities in earthquake-prone areas like Los Angeles. These structures have open grand floors that are vulnerable to collapse during seismic activity. Therefore, making it crucial to retrofit them ensuring their safety and lasting integrity. One critical step in Soft Story Retrofitting is exposing the framing and pouring the grade beam. Below we will discuss the process and how Sinai Construction can help you with your retrofitting needs.
The first step in the soft story retrofitting process is removing the stucco to expose the framing. This process involves carefully removing the exterior finish of the building to reveal the wooden or steel framing underneath. Once the framing is exposed, it can be inspected for damage which then allows us to determine the extent of retrofitting needed to reinforce the buildings structural integrity. This includes adding new beams, columns and shear walls to strengthen the existing framing if necessary.
After the framing is installed, the next step is to pour the grade beam. The grade beam is a reinforced concrete beam that runs around the perimeter of the building's foundation. It ties the new and existing framing together and provides additional support to resist an earthquake. The grade beam is poured, and it must be cured properly.
At Sinai Construction, we specialize in Soft Story Retrofitting with years of experience in structural foundation repair we can help you with every step of the retrofitting process. Our team is committed to providing high-quality workmanship and extraordinary customer care experience! Contact us today for a Health Check and start on your Soft Story Retrofitting project. You can reach us at (323) 655-0960.