Recent advancements in seismic research have carried over into upgrades and requirements for home building. There have been discoveries of seismic activity in divergent areas, or Zones, where requirements are more stringent than in other areas. Currently, most all building departments require a provision in plans checking for engineers to address earthquake considerations.
FAQs
Are you engineers?
As a general Contractor, our emphasis is on the implementation of the processes that engineers design. We work hand in hand with engineering firms designing systems that result in the best probability of mitigating home damage in a seismic event.
Can I see something you’ve done?
Current code vs. upgrade vs. retrofit
- Upgrade utilizes a minimally invasive process of bracing connections with ease of access.
- Retrofit encompasses a full scale connection process that should be integrated with a comprehensive home remodel. Exterior siding, roofing, interior walls, floors and foundation are all addressed in this process.
What is a repair?
Typically a repair addresses the current damage issue at hand. A wall, a roof or a foundation being put back in place and re-connected.
If my home is “Stick built”, is it as susceptible to an earthquake as a brick home?
Depending on the year your home was built, gives light to the level of structural integrity your home was built with. The more recent the home was built, the greater integrity of the building requirements for connections. The older the home, the less likely it is to survive a earthquake damage.
Do you put houses on big rubber pads?
No. Isolation pads and energy absorbing methods are used in large commercial structures that were not built to withstand much shaking and where the physics are very different.
Can you explain the theory behind what you do?
Let’s be clear, once a scientific or physical theory is proven and accepted it becomes a law, like the law of gravity. There are shake tables or in other words, earthquake simulators around the world where full size buildings are erected and tested. These tests prove effectiveness of the methods we use.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, we guarantee that our work is completed in accordance with the plans and contract. We cannot guarantee the performance of earth we all live on so we refer you to the maker for any issues with that.
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