If you live in Los Angeles, then you know how important it is to take steps to protect your home from earthquake damage. Fortunately, you can get the help you need with a seismic retrofit.
A Seismic Retrofit is the process of adding hardware to a structure, making it more resistant to moving off the foundation during earthquake shaking. It can also help keep the house secure in case of fire.
In addition to being a great way to make your home more resilient to earthquakes, seismic retrofits can be very affordable. In fact, they can save you tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs after an earthquake strikes.
The first step in the process is to identify which type of house you have and what it might need to be retrofitted. This will help you determine the best way to go about it.
Having an expert come out and inspect your house will give you an idea of what it might need to be done. Then, you can create a plan for how you will carry out the work. You may want to consider hiring a contractor, retrofitt your LA home or you could even do the retrofitting yourself.
When you’re looking for a company to do the work, it’s essential to find one that has extensive experience in the field. This will ensure that you’re getting the best results possible from your retrofit.
Some companies can provide a variety of different types of services, including the installation of foundation bolts and other soft story retrofitting tools. This will allow you to feel confident that your home is in the best possible condition to withstand an earthquake.
The next step is to figure out how to pay for the project. You might be able to get some of the work covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy or grant program. In addition, there are some other ways to reduce your retrofit costs.
If you own an apartment building, you may qualify for a cost recovery program that helps you cover the cost of a seismic retrofit. This program allows you to pass the cost of a retrofit through your rents and divide the amount equally among each unit’s tenants.
To get approved, you need to fill out a cost recovery application and send it in along with supporting documentation. You can do this online, or you can mail it to the department.
Once you’ve been approved, it will take about 30 days to complete the retrofit. This is depending on the size of your property and whether you need to open or close finished walls for access.
A professional construction company that specializes in soft story and other seismic retrofits will be able to provide you with a complete, thorough, and professional service. They will have all the tools and equipment needed to perform the work properly.
In addition, you can always ask for references from current clients if you’re not sure which firm to choose. They’ll be happy to share their experiences with you and help you make an informed decision about which company is right for your project.