In Los Angeles county we have beautiful and historical structures in the cities. Some may have survived earthquakes throughout time however, will they survive the "big one"? Well, you can have an expert provide you their opinion and recommendations to their findings. Now, what is a Seismic retrofit? Well, some of these homes may have been built prior to the seventies which means their structures are at risk of collapse when exposed to seismic activity.
What do you need to do? Well, your home will require to be tide down to the foundation for the purpose of preventing the structure sliding off with anchor bolts and Universal Foundation Plates. Furthermore, these steel plates will be placed vertical. Now if your home has a crippling wall, we will need to replace the damaged existing wood to prevent this cripple wall from collapsing. In some older homes that have not been updated these crippling walls tend to be the weakest part of the structure. We will then add custom cut ventilation holes covered with galvanized wire mesh screen. As mentioned on previous blogs permits are required by the city of your property however when the cripple walls are higher than 4 feet, an engineer will be required to make sure the structure is secure.
The structure and foundation will be secured from seismic activity. This process is inexpensive and and will save you money and headaches by preventing immense damage when a big earthquake comes and shakes your home.
If you are interested in saving money, securing your home, and saving yourself from any damage to your home. If you are interested in securing your home or want to determine if your cripple wall needs to be secured contact us for a Foundation Health Check or call us today at (323)655.0960.