A seismic retrofit is a process in which an old home is strengthened to better withstand the shaking of a natural disaster. It is a great way to protect your family from the risks associated with earthquakes and prevent structural damage. This type of remodeling is considered a cost-effective option because it saves you tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Choosing the Right Contractor for an Earthquake Retrofit in Los Angeles
There are many contractors in the city of Los Angeles that specialize in this type of work. It is important to find a qualified contractor that can do the work correctly. It is also important to choose a company that can do the work in a timely manner.
The best option is to contact a licensed earthquake retrofitting contractor. These professionals have the expertise and experience to ensure that your home is properly modified to withstand any natural disaster. They can also help you determine whether your house requires a seismic retrofit or not.
If you live in a soft story apartment building built before 1980, you may need a seismic retrofit to comply with modern earthquake retrofitterslosangeles.net code standards. These buildings are at risk of a loss of property due to severe structural damage during an earthquake, especially if they were built along a fault line.
These types of structures often have raised foundations, which are more susceptible to damage from earthquakes than other types of structures. Seismic retrofitters in LA can strengthen your home and make it more resistant to earthquakes.
In the Los Angeles area, more than 74.8 percent of housing units are raised foundation houses and many are in need of an earthquake retrofit. A retrofit of these homes will involve bracing and bolting the frames of these homes to their foundation.
A good earthquake retrofitter in Los Angeles will be able to perform this work efficiently and safely. Typically, the process involves replacing stucco and drywall with more solid material that is also anchored to the existing walls. It also includes adding shear walls that resist side-to-side motions from an earthquake.
The process takes about a week to complete and should be done before an earthquake strikes. In addition to making your home safer, a retrofit can also help you lower your insurance premiums.
Optimum Seismic LLC is one of up to two dozen boutique firms in Southern California that specialize in all aspects of earthquake retrofits. Its founder Ali Vahdani was a UCLA civil engineering graduate who saw the demand for seismic retrofitting.
As a result, the company grew quickly and now has employees at its offices in Vernon and at a steel assembly plant near West Los Angeles. Using its expertise in conducting building assessments and manufacturing steel support structures for earthquake retrofits, Optimum Seismic has helped its clients save millions of dollars.
The company has been helping owners of these high-risk buildings meet their earthquake retrofit requirements since 1984. It has a team of engineers, architects, and construction experts who work together to ensure that each client’s project is completed on time and within budget.