Residential Retrofitting
AFFORDABLE EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING
- Homes built before 1970 do not have earthquake stabilizers.
- Retrofitting your home costs only a fraction of the cost of repairing earthquake damage.
- Regular wear and tear, deterioration, and water damage can take away from a home’s stability.
WHEN IS THE “BIG ONE” GOING TO HAPPEN?
While no one knows for sure when the “Big One” will happen, damage to your home will likely occur when an earthquake strikes. The question is, will you and your family be safe in your house as it stands now? Is your valuable property protected?
For example, we know that damage to a home may happen when siding used on older homes (whether wood or stucco) is weak and provides little support or bracing to a cripple wall. However, retrofitting structural grade plywood that is properly nailed on the cripple wall in the form of a shear wall can be 20 times stronger than typical siding material and can help your home survive seismic activity!
We know that homes can withstand significant seismic activity if they have the extra support and precautionary measures offered by earthquake retrofitting. Weinstein Construction’s earthquake retrofitting professionals can help your home endure the powerful forces of an earthquake. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
CRIPPLE WALL REINFORCEMENT
Weinstein Construction professionals take a very close look at a home’s cripple walls as part of an earthquake retrofitting inspection. Cripple walls are structures that connect the foundation to the floor base. Many home owners don’t know that cripple walls, commonly seen in crawlspaces, are one of a home’s greatest liabilities when an earthquake strikes!
Without proper reinforcement through a seismic retrofit, many cripple walls are particularly susceptible to the sideways movement that a home experiences during an earthquake. Such movement can cause one or more of the cripple walls to collapse, which can cause the entire house to shift and even fall.
The Uniform Code of Building Conservation and the Los Angeles Building Code specify the type of plywood to be used in building shear walls, the types of nails to be used, as well as the spacing of nails, methods of attaching shear panels to the mudsill, and methods of attaching them to the floor of the house. Weinstein Construction professionals are experts at bringing all of these safety measures to an earthquake retrofit project!
Maintain and Replace
An important part of earthquake retrofitting is dealing with a structure’s old construction when it is worn out or rusted. Over time, moisture becomes trapped between the mudsill and foundation, creating rust which degrades constructional metal. Once the metal rusts, it loses its strength, causing it to sway dangerously when the earth moves.
Worn out or rusted construction also gives water an unwanted entry into the structure, which can then cause a cascade of additional problems. Fortunately, Weinstein Construction professionals are experts in maintaining with a structure’s old construction! Let us inspect and repair your old construction, if required. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
