First We should look into what a Slab Foundation is: SLAB FOUNDATIONS There is no doubt that the slab foundations have advantages and disadvantages. Even though they may be damaged, they are very common, particularly in warm climates. Property owners in those parts of the county where they freeze for months on end usually opt for a different kind of foundation. That's because concrete slabs [...]

If you own a home or an apartment building, it's important to have your property inspected for any necessary earthquake retrofits or upgrades. Structures are decaying over time, like most things in life. Variables may have an impact on the base of the building, especially when it comes to climate change, soil conditions or outdated construction methods. When it comes to earthquake protection, many structures [...]

The new year was a shaky start for Angelinos! Los Angeles residents woke up by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake at 2:13 a.m. on Thursday. The epicenter of the quake was centered in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 15 miles from Port Hueneme and 60 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Residents said the quake felt like a quick but powerful jolt –with a shaking sensation from [...]

Puerto Rico experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday–the biggest quake in the region after a week of minor quakes. Luckily, no deaths or injuries were reported after the incident. The earthquake series began on December 28th, with magnitudes ranging from 4.7 to 5.1. The intense shaking of forshocks and Monday's quake left many homes and properties in the affected areas severely damaged. The 5.8 [...]

California, Oregon and Washington are western states that have had a lot of seismic activity in the last century. Following one devastating earthquake to another, the construction industry learned to develop retrofit strategies beginning in the 1970s. It wasn't until the late 1990s, however, that these concepts were commonly integrated into new construction.   Western Coast Seismic Activity The worst of these quakes happened just [...]

The Basics of Foundation Repair Throughout recent decades, engineers have learned how to make buildings safer after years of studying what happens to structures during earthquakes. Concrete is a long-lasting option, but concrete tilt-up buildings built in the last century present safety risks. Over time, concrete will break, so it is critical that it be checked regularly to minimize maintenance costs and reduce structural risks [...]

Why should the owner of the building take care of the earthquake retrofitting services? It depends on how old your building is and how it has been built. Knowledge of earthquake safety was not applied to construction until the late twentieth century. The addition of steel for reinforcement is one of the keys to making the structure more stable and able to withstand seismic activity. [...]

In order to avoid injuries and litigations in the event of an earthquake, seismic safety is important for building owners to understand. Newer buildings are designed for protection of life, not environmental construction. So every building could possibly use an upgrade; old buildings constructed before the mid-80s do not usually have as much resistance. Having regard to seismic health, here are important points to note. [...]

Concrete can last for several decades without much maintenance, which is a key reason why it is chosen as a commercial building material. Regular inspections help to identify problems early in order to avoid costly structural concrete crack repairs. Here are important points to remember about the use of seismic retrofitting for buildings with concrete tilt-up walls and how cracks can be addressed. Retrofitting to [...]