ALL SOFT STORY RETROFIT SERVICES UNDER ROOF 888.997.6518 HOME PROJECTS COMMERCIAL RETROFIT SOFT-STORY RETROFIT ABOUT US SERVICES SOFT-STORY RETROFIT CAISSONS FOUNDATIONS GRADE BEAM RETAINING WALLS STRUCTURAL STEEL WOOD STRUCTURE VIDEOS RESOURCES CONTACT US How to Avoid Earthquake Damage with Seismic Retrofit Earthquakes can cause thousands of dollars in dam. Yet homeowners can reduce potential harm by thinking ahead and finding problem areas before a disaster strikes. Commercial Retrofit, Weinstein Construction Services Division suggests hiring a structural engineer to assess how well the home is designed to cope with natural disasters. The primary purpose of the renovation of the earthquake is to keep your home from being moved from its concrete base; to make the building safer and less prone to major structural damage during the earthquake. Existing homes need to be retrofitted as our knowledge of the impact of the earthquakes and the construction techniques have changed after the buildings have been constructed.

Consider the following projects to help make your home more prone to earthquakes.

1. Brace cripple walls: cripple walls brace against the foundation and protect the floor and exterior walls of the house. Earthquakes will move crippled walls, so experts recommend bracing them. Add2-inchto4-inch boards between the vertical studs at the top and bottom of the disabled wall. Check with your local building authorities to see if you need a permit for this type of work.

2. Bolt sill plates to the base: the bolting of the foundation usually means that bolts are inserted to strengthen the relation between the wooden frame members of the building and its concrete framework. Usually this means inserting bolts to the concrete through a piece of wood lying flat on the edge of the base, referred to as sill or mudsill. Any existing bolts may exist, or existing bolts may be either weakened or too far apart to be good enough for earthquake resistance.

3. Build better walls: whether you’re planning to build your own home from scratch or update your existing home, you have the option of making the walls more earthquake resistant. If your building plans contain masonry infill walls that appear to collapse in the earthquake, adding steel reinforcements will help avoid major structural problems. Instead, you might leave space between the walls and the building frame, allowing some drift as the building shifts during a quake.

4. Build rounded windows: the structure of the building shifts during the earthquake, creating a shift in the window frames. As the pressure increases, the corners of the window begin to crack and chip. You might want to protect your doors by rounding out the corners.

5. Restrict computers and smaller appliances: protect your machine and smaller appliances with hook-and-loop material such as Velcro, nylon or elastic cords such as “bungee” cords or adhesive-backed braces. The straps would keep the devices from falling to the floor during tremors.

6. Anchor larger appliances, appliances and furniture: take note of larger items such as bookcases and entertainment centers as well as ceiling and wall mountings. To secure these things, use flexible fasteners. Also, make sure plumbers have flexible connectors installed on all gas appliances. Bolt down large appliances like a water heater and a fridge.