‌ read reviews on Yelp ‌ info@eastbayretrofit.com ‌ (510) 845-9076 Services About Contact Resources Blog Frequently Asked Questions Seismic safety concerns and structural renovation and repair can be a dizzying subject! As a homeowner, the best thing you can do first is become informed about the issues involved, the potential problems, and the available solutions. Our Bay Area Retrofit FAQ is our attempt to shine some light on a few of these areas where we have noticed our customers need some more information. If you have a suggestion for a topic you would like to see covered in our FAQs, please let us know. How do I know if my house needs retroﬁtting? Do I need to hire an engineer in order to earthquake retroﬁt my home? What are the main components of a seismic retroﬁt? There are 3 major parts of a typical seismic retroﬁt: The house must be bolted to the foundation to protect against lateral displacement of the mudsill from the foundation. The walls must be strengthened with plywood shear panel to prevent/minimize lateral movement during an earthquake. Depending on the particular structural design of the house, alternative methods such as Hardy Frames, Simpson StrongWalls, Moment Frames or custom fabricated, engineer designed methods can be used in lieu of shear panel. Seismic transfer hardware must also be installed to connect the shear paneled cripple wall (or shear panel alternative) to the ﬂoor diaphragm. It is important that proper materials and installation methods be used. In an in- depth investigation of 35 retroﬁtted houses along the Hayward Fault, Contra Costa Times reporters found that in 24 of the 35 homes inspected, Owners had a false sense of security about earthquake protection because their retrofitting had been done improperly. The article concluded that: “Installed properly, [retroﬁtting] can prevent walls from shifting and houses from sliding off their foundations and collapsing. [It] can save lives. Installed improperly, or only partially, [it] is little more than a collection of worthless materials that offer minimal to no earthquake protection.” - Contra Costa Times, March 5, 2006, Jessica Guynn and Thomas Peele How disruptive will the earthquake retroﬁtting work be? Get a FREE Evaluation Who We Are FAQs Testimonials Testimonials "David came out and spent a considerable amount of time helping us to understand a basement drainage issue. Other contractors had charged us to come out and look and provide little help, but David was thorough and smart and really helpful and he... see our reviews on yelp → Seismic News A Side-by-Side Case Study Shows the Benefits of Seismic Retrofitting 02/10/2015 Although current Building Codes have provisions for seismic strengthening, most Bay Area homes... Deciding Between Retrofitting and Purchasing California Earthquake Insurance 10/31/2014 Many property owners question whether they should buy earthquake insurance or retrofit their... Napa Earthquakes Remind Us of the Importance of Earthquake Resistance Buildings 09/18/2014 The August 24th, 2014 cluster of back-to-back earthquakes on the South Napa fault is another... All Articles Get In Touch (510) 845-9076 info@eastbayretrofit.com 2342 Shattuck Ave Suite 372, Berkeley, CA 94704 License #B378772 Need to get in touch to ask a question or make a suggestion? We would be delighted to hear from you! Please fill out the following contact form and our staff will be in touch with you. Submit Content © 2021 J DAVID FORD CONSTRUCTION Tech and Design © 2003-2021