Is Earthquake Retrofitting Worth It?
You might be considering earthquake retrofitting your home … but you’re worried if the seismic upgrades are worth the cost.
To give you some perspective, there is a 99% chance of having one or more earthquakes in a 6.7 or larger magnitude in the next 30 years if your live in California.
And if you own a home that was built before 1980, chances are your property is lacking the necessary safeguards to withstand the side-to-side and back-and-forth shaking of a powerful earthquake.
Retrofitting your home is a cost-effective solution to ensure that your home stays intact during the shaking of a large quake. Earthquake retrofitting keeps the property from being displaced from its foundation, which makes the structure not only safer but less prone to structural damage during an earthquake.
For example, in 2014 a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Napa, CA and it was evident which homes had been retrofitted for earthquakes and which hadn’t …. even along the same block. Homes that did not have the necessary structural reinforcements slid off their foundations, which caused the properties to slant or some collapse. While their neighbors right next door, who had earthquake retrofits done to their homes, stayed completely intact.
In fact, according to new data, the Bay Area and Los Angeles are at the greatest risk for experiencing a volatile earthquake.
If you live in Los Angeles, there is a 60% chance of an earthquake ranging in a 6.7 magnitude or greater rocking the region in the next 30 years. The southern stretch of the San Andreas fault line runs extremely close to Los Angeles and can produce an 8.2 quake which would rock most of Southern California.
Luckily, earthquake retrofitting of single home properties is one of the cheapest seismic improvements you can make. These jobs typically cost just a couple thousand dollars (ranging from $3,000 to $7,000) and can be completed in a week.
What are the benefits of earthquake retrofitting your house?
- It increases safety. Because your house will be more resistant to earthquake damage, you will reduce the chance of injury or even death in the event of a large quake.
- You protect your investment. Your home is arguably your biggest investment, which is why it’s important to protect it. Retrofitting your house is a lot more cost-effective than dealing with the structural damage from an earthquake.
- You won’t be displaced during a disaster. Natural disasters, like earthquakes, strike without warning. If you earthquake retrofit your home, you have a better chance of not being displaced from your home during the shaking or for years after while your deal with the damage.
If you think your home is in need of earthquake retrofitting, contact Julian Construction today. We’ll conduct a free home inspection for you complete with a quote for repair.
We have extensive experience serving our Los Angeles community and nearby regions. In fact, Julian Construction has inspected over 30,000 structures in the area!
Julian Construction was formed in 1994 and our focus has always been on building foundations, doing foundation repair and replacement, earthquake retrofitting, and house leveling.
When you work with Julian Construction, you get the principles of the company and the workers of Julian Construction under your home.
And in order to keep foundation repair affordable for our customers, we offer a price guarantee — because we know our quote for repair will represent your very best value.
Give us a call at call (323) 733-3377 to schedule your free inspection or complete the inspection request form.
