Marin Earthquake retrofit has over 30 years of combined experience in Seismic Retrofitting techniques, your home is in good hands with us. Since we use engineering techniques in our retrofit design, our standard is what sets us apart
Victor Construction specializes in both Commercial and residential seismic retrofits, Foundation repair / replacement on existing buildings, Earthquake-activated gas shutoff valves, Water heater restraining systems.
We offer all the following services
- Seismic/Earthquake Evaluations: comprehensive, professional engineered, easy to understand
- House-to-Foundation Anchoring
- Foundation Cripple Wall Upgrading
- Professionally Engineered Systems
- Sloped Site Footing Alterations
- Chimney Strengthening
- Whole-House Retrofitting
WHY RETROFIT?
- Retrofitted homes in areas affected by earthquakes have endured substantially with little or no structural damage.
- The 1989 Bay Area Loma Prieta earthquake proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that retrofitting works.
- California has more than a 99% chance of having an earthquake with a magnitude 6.7 or larger within the next 30 years, according to scientists using a new model to determine the probability of big quakes.
The new statewide probabilities are the result of a model that comprehensively combines information from seismology, earthquake geology, and geodesy (measuring precise locations on the Earth’s surface). For the first time, probabilities for California having a large earthquake in the next 30 years can be forecast statewide. - Earthquake forces can affect your home in three ways — sliding, racking and/or overturning.
- Seismic failures occur when a home is either is displaced from its concrete foundation, or when walls below main floor areas of the home collapse. In the first case, improvement consists of strengthening the connections between the house and the foundation. Improvements to prevent the second type of failure consist of supplementing any existing connections to the foundation and strengthening the sub- area supporting walls.
There are a number of factors that affect the severity of earthquake damage. These include soil conditions, how a home was built, length and strength of the shaking. - Most critical, however, is the distance between your home and the source of the earthquake; its epicenter.
- An earthquake of about the same magnitude as the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake is being predicted for the Bay Area. If this happens, the strength of shaking in the Bay Area cities will be much greater than in 1989, as much as 12 times as strong. Relying on the 1989 experience is risky. Preparations need to take place prior to severe earthquake intensity in the Bay Area.
- Seismic retrofitting is very scientific. It combines principles of physics and a mathematical formula. It utilizes principles of physics to ensure a building does not fall down in an earthquake and utilizes a very logical formula to determine exactly what a house needs. The application of these scientific principles to an existing building is called seismic retrofitting.
- The existing strength of your home, as well as its earthquake vulnerabilities, can be determined through a visual inspection by a trained and experienced earthquake specialist. Typically, this person will make recommendations for strengthening which, if implemented, will reduce the risk of both damage to the property and personal injury to its occupants.
For more information give Mel a call today at (415) 472-9144