Dalinghaus Construction Inc. is dedicated to ensuring our neighborhoods are safe and secure against seismic activity, which is why we are Earthquake Brace + Bolt certified.
In Southern California, we live on the rocky corner of the North American and Pacific Plate, on the busy boulevard of the San Andreas Fault.
The vast majority of Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault line and there’s a 99.999% chance we’ll be hit with a 6.7 or greater earthquake in the imminent future.
And hell, California needs a new state song – no more Harry Belafonte’s Jump in the Line (Shake Senora).
Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
So, when California decides to dance, dance, dance your home needs to be ready for the big one – when the big disco ball drops, the floor lights up, and the earth says go.
Your home is your biggest investment (other than your kid’s fine art degree). If you own an older home built prior to 1980, then we strongly suggest you reinforce the old wooden bones of your home.
This process is referred to in the biz as a seismic retrofit.
Turns out, this involves bracing and bolting your home in place. Nah, it’s not kinky. It’s based on the California Existing Building Code Chapter A3. We build to code.
If you live in a home with a raised foundation, do this. And enroll in the Brace + Bolt Program.
Don’t pass up free money.
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program is a California initiative that provides grants (up to $3000) to qualifying households for seismic retrofitting of raised-foundation homes.
Federal financial assistance is provided to reinforce homes with seismically specialized brackets, bolts, sheathing, and other support methodologies to stiffen the foundation of the home.
Since the EBB’s conception in 2013, the program has been an earth-shattering (but not home) success having retrofitted over 14,000 homes statewide.
Check out our article What Causes Earthquakes (Complications and Impact on Foundations).
In order to qualify for the EBB grant, you need to:
- Live in one of the qualifying zip codes (more zip codes are added every year)
- You need to register within the appropriate time frame
- Your house was built before 1980
- Your house has a raised foundation or crawl space under your house
- Live in Cal-i-forn-ia
- You must not obtain a permit or begin retrofit construction before you are accepted into the program
Dalinghaus Construction typically doesn’t offer up financial advice but never pass up free dough.
The average cost of a typical seismic retrofit project is between $3000 to $7000. Which, if your project is small enough, the EBB Grant might just cover your entire installation.
That’s what the Southern California surfers refer to as some sharp cheddar in the change bucket.
Obviously, Seismically Retrofitting cost is dependent on:
- The size of the home
- Location (if a home is built onto a hillside)
- If your home has a room built over a garage
- How sleazy your construction contractor is
*Note– speaking of sleazy contractors, you need to check out our articles Why Hire a Licensed, Insured, & Bonded Foundation Repair Contractor and Elder Abuse and Foundation Repair.
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program trains and certifies contractors to work within the strictures of the program.
Therefore, you must choose an EBB-approved contractor, such as Dalinghaus Construction Incorporated.
Fun Facts with Brian – You want to ensure that the company performing the seismic retrofit repairs is the party pulling the permit –whoever files for the permit is legally liable for any work performed.
If you have any thoughts, feelings, questions, concerns and would like to contact the EBB Program, here is their contact information –
Email: [email protected]
Customer Service: (877) 232-4300
Outroduction
Earthquakes can put a major bummer on your foundation – however, expansive soil is culprit numero uno when it comes to total monetary damage in the US-of-A.
Check out the article below on foundation settlement –
