Everything You Need To Know About Seismic Retrofitting
Thanks to several fault lines which run through Los Angeles and Southern California, seismic retrofitting is a necessary foundation repair method every Angeleno should be aware of.
Seismic retrofitting is a process that that adds reinforcement to a home or an apartment structure by installing additional hardware, plywood or framing lumber to the foundation area of a building.
This additional hardware helps to protect the structure from the side-to-side and back-and-forth shaking of a large earthquake. When you properly attach a structure to its foundation, you can prevent catastrophic damage or collapse during or after a sizeable quake.
Unfortunately, there are companies in Los Angeles who install earthquake retrofitting hardware incorrectly. Always be on the look for companies that have little experience in the field or few references. At Julian Construction, we’ve inspected over 30,000 foundations – which is why your home is always in safe hands with us.
In Southern California, if your home was built before 1936 there is a good chance that your home foundation system needs upgrading. Technology has come a long way since the 1930s – which is why you should take full advantage of new retrofitting standards to protect your home investment, and your loved ones.
If your home foundation has started to show signs of deterioration or damage, this typically means your home will need full seismic retrofitting, also known as “house bolting,” to bring your home up to current building and safety codes.
If you have any additional questions as to the specifications of this type of work, be sure to check out the City of Los Angeles’s website for more information about earthquake prevention methods and protocol. Los Angeles seismic safety standards are not just restricted to the city itself, most regions in Southern California have adopted their preventative policies.
Even if you had your home foundation retrofitted after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, chances are your foundation repairs were installed improperly. As mentioned before, earthquake protection methods have greatly improved over the last 20 years. And at Julian Construction, we can correct any substandard house bolting work. This will help protect your structure and your family from any future earthquake damage.
Not sure if your home needs earthquake retrofitting? No problem – give us a call at (323) 733-3377 to schedule your free, no hassle inspection.
Now more than ever it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety. Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, 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.
