At Weinstein Construction, our earthquake retrofitting specialists have received many calls over the past few days from our clients and friends, asking us, when will the California Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) program registration close?  We thought this was a great question to answer in a blog, as there is some big recent news on this government “free money” earthquake retrofitting campaign!  But first, a couple of quick recaps!

Lets talk about Los Angeles earthquake retrofitting?

We are always taking time to talk about earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles because it is a fact that there is more than a 99% chance of one or more magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquakes striking our State, with most citizens living within 30 miles of an active earthquake fault line!  The damage that such an earthquake can cause, is unimaginable, and that is why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Earthquake Authority got together to provide funding for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program.

What is the Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) program?

If you are asking what is the EBB program, you will be pleased to know that EBB is literally a free money grant to Los Angeles homeowners, which directly subsidizes earthquake retrofitting for wood-framed homes that are at risk to be shaken off their foundations in the event of an earthquake!  EBB provides eligible homeowners with free-and-clear money grants of $3,000 to subsidize the cost of retrofitting and bolting the home to its foundation.  Moreover, additional supplementary grants are available to homeowners with income at or below $89,040!

This retrofitting helps take care of seismic vulnerabilities that found in homes that have short, wood-framed cripple walls between their foundation and the first floor.  Many older homes that were built before the 1980s will have such vulnerabilities, and for those homes that have wood framed walls under the first floor, the EBB retrofit will brace these walls with plywood to reinforce them and help prevent the home from sliding off its foundation or collapsing on the people living inside!

How much does earthquake retrofit cost in Los Angeles?

If you are wondering how much does earthquake retrofit cost, we can tell you that the cost of a retrofit is a proverbial drop-in-the-bucket compared to the cost to repair earthquake damage to a home that has not been retrofitted!  Without retrofitting, the cost to repair earthquake damage can often exceed $500,000!  At the same time, at Weinstein Construction, we are often able to retrofit our clients’ small homes for about $3,000, and we can wait to get paid for our services by the EBB program!

Great news – the EBB program deadline is extended

The great news is that the EBB program registration deadline has been extended!  The program now remains open until March 26, 2025, and right now, the program continues to accept applications for the free money grant from homeowners who live in numerous ZIP codes across the greater Los Angeles area!   Here is what you need to know, so you don’t miss out on this free government money!

  • Everyone who registers for the program has an equal chance to receive the free money grant!
  • The free money grant can potentially cover the entire cost of a home’s earthquake retrofit!
  • Homeowners will get $3,000 for free, with additional supplementary grants provided to homeowners with income at or below $89,040!
  • If you live in one of the EBB eligible zip codes, complete the simple online registration process!

How to pick an FEMA authorized EBB Contractor

To receive your free money government grant and have your home earthquake retrofitted, it is imperative that you pick a contractor that has been officially approved by the EBB program and is a FEMA-authorized contractor.  The good news is that at Weinstein Construction, we are an EBB-approved contractor and have been FEMA-authorized and trained since 1994!  We have already earthquake retrofitted in your area, as we have completed more than 10,000 Los Angeles home retrofits!  Check out our many Five Star reviews from our satisfied EBB customers!

 

When you are approved for the EBB grant, we will be happy to help you earthquake retrofit your home!  Our costs are extremely competitive and we can wait to get paid for our services by the EBB program.  Don’t wait for the earthquake we all call the “Big One” to see if your home can survive an earthquake!  Call us today at (800) 862-6582 to schedule a free inspection and estimate with us, the Los Angeles region’s best earthquake retrofitters!