Every year, collapsing buildings, cracking and buckling foundation walls and crumbling and unstable floors impact millions of homeowners in Southern California. Buildings located on unstable soil will settle when the foundation is subject to moisture or poor drainage. A shifting foundation can result in structural damage and a potential decrease in the value of your investment. As a prime drainage contractor in Los Angeles, we're [...]

One of the most earthquake-prone urban areas in the world, Los Angeles is likely to be hit by a major quake in the coming decades. As stressful as it may be, planning for the big one is part of living in Hollywood. According to the United States Geological Survey, there is a 60 per cent likelihood that a magnitude 6.7 or higher earthquake will strike [...]

Los Angeles is no stranger to earthquakes and, like other cities in California, has suffered extensive damage in previous seismic events, which has led to significant advances in earthquake engineering. Some might say that to L.A. It has been the epicenter of seismic code development since the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933. Due to its long history of seismic events and their aftermath, Los Angeles [...]

Seismic Retrofitting is a method of strengthening existing damaged / undamaged old / new structures that are found to be weak in earthquake loads that may occur in the future. Generally, earthquake-prone structures are retrofitted with Steel jacketing, Concrete jacketing, Galvanized steel mesh reinforcement, Inclusion of new support walls / Concrete shear walls, Steel bracing, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets. Seismic retrofitting is the modification [...]

Los Angeles is no stranger to earthquakes and has experienced extensive damage in past seismic events, like other cities in California, which has led to significant developments in earthquake technology. Some may say it's L.A. Since the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, it has been the epicenter of seismic software growth. Due to its long history of seismic events and their aftermath, Los Angeles has [...]

An earthquake happens when a sudden release of energy occurs in the crust of the Earth between two plates, producing seismic waves. Some may trigger flooding and some may cause things as simple as clattering pans on the floor of your home. There may also be damage to property, houses, and homes as a result of earthquakes. While earthquakes can not be prevented, they can [...]

Earthquakes occur quickly, without warning, and are uncontrollable hazards, making them the primary cause of damage, death, and physical infrastructure destruction. Worldwide evidence reveals that there are upward trends in the number of individuals who are affected by earthquakes. Preparedness is defined as the activities and measures taken in advance to ensure effective response to the destructive impacts of disasters. Preparation for earthquake is considered [...]

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States. Since it was founded in 1781, a number of nicknames have been acquired by the city. For the name of the city, City of Angels, many people know the loose version. The City of Sunshine and Flowers, La La Land, and Earthquake Central are some of the lesser-known nicknames. This last term is why [...]

How much will it cost to retrofit this Soft Story? It is the most frequently asked question that I get during a site review. Building costs were difficult to calculate when this regulation became law, but now that more than 1,000 structures have been retrofitted in the City of Los Angeles, it is easier to determine construction costs. This little article will help you understand [...]

Many of you know that in the City of Los Angeles there are about 13,500 Soft Story buildings that need retrofitting since the passage of Ordinance 183893 & 184081 in 2015. Many property owners don't know how long the whole process of retrofitting can be. Did you know that drawing up a set of engineering plans takes about a month? And do you know how [...]