Earthquake Brace and Bolt Registration Now Open for 2020
If you’ve been looking to strengthen your house and make it more resistant to earthquakes, you can now register for the Earthquake Brace and Bolt Program (EBB). Registration for the EBB program will run from February 19, 2020 through March 19, 2020.
The EBB program provides homeowners with grants up to $3,000 to retrofit their homes, which will protect the property in the event of a large quake.
In order to qualify, you should hire a contractor with a license type A or B. This program adheres with California’s building code, Chapter A3.
A typical retrofit will cost between $3,000 to $7,000. Many homes that are in need of earthquake retrofitting have a crawl space located below the first floor. These cripple walls – which are short framed walls made of wood – typically need to be strengthened in order to prevent the property from sliding off or falling off its foundation during an earthquake.
When an earthquake retrofit is done, a foundation professional will strengthen the existing foundation and the existing cripple walls by adding anchor bolts and plywood bracing throughout the crawl space.
Homes that meet California’s building code chapter A3 and that qualify for the EBB program are typically wood-framed constructions built before 1980, homes that were built on a level or low slope, homes that were constructed with a 4-foot or less cripple wall under the first floor or homes that were constructed with a cripple wall that ranged in 4-7 feet with an engineer solution for repair, and homes that have a raised foundation.
To be eligible for the EBB program homeowners must be able to provide the following information:
- Be the owner of a house in one of the eligible zip codes.
- Use the house as their primary residence.
- Create an account with EBB and fill out the registration authorization form.
- Provide a completed and signed W-9 form, if it’s requested by EBB.
- Make sure your house qualifies for the EBB program by answering all of the qualification questions.
- Have not received any payment or incentive from the EBB, the California Authority Brace and Bolt program, or other earthquake retrofit grants.
It’s important to register your home before the registration process closes. Once the registration process closes, the electronic system will randomly select homeowners for the earthquake retrofitting grant. Every application will be reviewed and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before being selected. All applicants will be communicated with via email and notified if they have been accepted or wait-listed.
Once selected for the grant, homeowners will have six months to complete their home retrofits.
If you live in California and own an older property, earthquake retrofitting is a necessary safeguard for protecting those who reside there and for maintaining the value of your property.
At Julian Construction, we’ll help you find the best solution for your seismic repairs. No matter what your foundation situation is, we’ll conduct a (free) inclusive home inspection, followed by a detailed consultation, and at the end of our discussion we’ll provide you with a quote for repair.
Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors, earthquake retrofitting, foundation repair and foundation replacement. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 30,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.
