Commercial Retrofitting California Properties
Commercial Retrofitting Services
SEISMIC RETROFITTING COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES
Commercial retrofitting is the modification of existing commercial structures to make them more resistant to seismic activity. Once retrofit, commercial structures can withstand side-to-side ground motion or soil failure due to major earthquakes.
In the United States, prior to the introduction of modern seismic codes, structures were designed without adequate reinforcement for seismic protection. However, as property owners understand better the effects of seismic activity on structures and with recent earthquake damage experiences, the need for seismic retrofitting has become universally-acknowledged.
In view of the great need for commercial retrofitting services, Weinstein Construction is committed to bringing substantive knowledge of earthquake retrofitting to the Greater Los Angeles business community. We offer local businesses a full spectrum of earthquake mitigation services, tailored directly to the unique needs of commercial structures.
RETROFITTING SOFT STORY APARTMENT COMPLEXES
Soft story buildings are typically multi-story structures with one or more floors that have windows, wide doors, large unobstructed commercial spaces, or other openings where a shear wall would normally be required for stability as a matter of earthquake engineering design. Sadly, the infamous 1989 San Francisco and 1994 Northridge earthquakes caused many soft-story apartment complexes to collapse down on their ground floors.
Weinstein Retrofitters specialize in retrofitting commercial buildings and soft-story structures for earthquake protection. We can strengthen any multifamily apartment complex so that it is better prepared to deal with the next big earthquake strike. Weinstein’s earthquake retrofitting services help save lives, cars, and other valuable property. Our seismic retrofit costs per square foot are unmatched in the industry!
Commercial retrofitting takes inherently weak soft-story buildings and ensures stability.
COMMERCIAL RETROFITTING IS AFFORDABLE!
- Earthquake Stabilization
- Structure Reinforcement
- Foundation Repair
- Licensed Contractors
STABILIZING UNREINFORCED MASONRY STRUCTURES
Structures built of Unreinforced Masonry: typically brick, hollow clay tiles, stone, concrete blocks, or adobe, are likely to sustain severe damage during an earthquake. The mortar holding unreinforced masonry together may not be strong enough to resist seismic forces. Seismic retrofitting of masonry structures requires anchoring the walls to the floors and roof of the structure, adding interior partitions or walls, installing braces, and undertaking additional mitigation measures, as required.
Weinstein Construction professionals are well-versed in strengthening unreinforced masonry. Call us today for a free, no-obligation inspection of your structure. We will demonstrate our solid credentials, practical work steps, and client-centric project management approach!
Tilt-Up & Industrial Buildings
Tilt-up buildings have walls that are poured directly at the job site in large slabs of concrete called “tilt-up panels” or “tilt wall panels”. Such panels are then raised into position around the building’s perimeter forming the exterior walls. When earthquakes shake the ground, the effect on tilt-up buildings can be catastrophic. Various parts of such buildings can actually move and sway in different directions. If the anchors between concrete or reinforced masonry walls, wood floors, and roof are weak, tilt-up walls can pull away, literally collapsing a portion of the building. Or, even the entire structure itself.
Tilt-up buildings are particularly dangerous because they possess inherent structural weaknesses due to the way they are assembled, as well as their large openings for industrial sized doors and windows, which offer little stability.
Weinstein Construction professionals are well-versed in strengthening tilt-up buildings. Call us today for a free, no-obligation inspection of your structure!
SEISMICALLY RETROFITTING OFFICE BUILDINGS
The contents of your office building can be damaged during an earthquake or can cause damage to the structure during and earthquake. For example, building contents may shift or fall: injuring occupants, destroying expensive features, and blocking ingress, egress, and emergency exits. When this occurs, it can be costly to repair or replace the damaged property and its contents. Weinstein Construction professionals can offer you the right solutions for earthquake seismic retrofitting to protect your office building’s inhabitants, and also brace property, equipment, light fixtures, and acoustic style ceilings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my building needs to be earthquake protected?
It is not always easy to tell if your building needs earthquake retrofitting. Depending on what type of building you have, and when your structure was built, it may not have proper earthquake protection (e.g., braced cripple walls, anchor bolts, or reinforcing of crawl spaces) . If your commercial property was once an older home, then you may be especially vulnerable. But no matter what kind of building you have or when it was built, if many people use it daily, not only is your investment at risk during an earthquake, but also at risk are the lives of all who happen to be inside the structure at the time.
Even if there are no obvious problems with your building and you are not sure whether it needs to be retrofitted, call one of Weinstein Construction’s experts for a free, no-obligation review of your situation. We will be happy to come to your building and provide you with some much-needed peace-of-mind, helping you know for sure whether there are any problems that need to be fixed.
How much does earthquake retrofitting cost?
The cost of commercial retrofitting depends on the building in question, as well as the problems that the building is manifesting. You can always be sure of one thing: there is no doubt that the cost of having a building repaired after it is damaged in an earthquake is much more than having the same building retrofitted before an earthquake hits. If you don’t retrofit, you are putting your entire investment at risk! We have seen time and time again buildings that were so severely damaged during earthquakes that they were considered a total loss.
Weinstein Construction professionals have many different options for you to choose from, at various price points. We pride ourselves on always making sure our clients receive the best quality at the most reasonable prices! Please call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation where we can consult you on your retrofitting needs.
How long will it take to retrofit my building?
The answer to this question varies, as it depends on the size of your structure and the nature of the structural weaknesses found, if any. Look, we are keenly aware that you are running a business and that your time and resources are valuable. We will make sure to give you valuable insight into any potential problems we find, and if you choose us for the job, we will get the job done as quickly as we can, without ever sacrificing quality or safety in the process. If you invite us for a free, no-obligation inspection, we will typically be able to provide you with a time estimate on how long it will take to complete the job!
Do I need a permit to service my building?
Yes. A permit is typically needed to service a commercial property. Weinstein Construction professionals always make sure that all the proper permits are pulled before we begin a job. We will be glad to take care of this entire process for you, unless you would like to do it on your own.
Noah Stroe
I’m a very, very satisfied customer of the Weinstein Retrofitting Company. They said what they were going to do, and performed it, and superseded it, excellent job, thank you Weinstein retrofitting.
