#seismic retrofitting

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Building a Garage Conversion? Do Your Research!

Have you ever driven by a house and noticed that the garage is no longer a garage? Personally, nothing bugs me more about a house, than seeing someone do a garage conversion. I understand that there are a plethora of reasons why someone would need to take that space and turn it into another bedroom or living area, but for my personal taste, it just takes away from the house…not to mention, it…

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Basics on Seismic Retrofitting of Historic Structures

Historic buildings are cultural assets, and they are worth preserving. Renovation and retrofitting of these buildings brings out several challenges, since the methods and materials used for the original construction of these buildings will not be similar to the conventional methods practiced these days.

Historic Building Retrofitting

In the process of seismic retrofitting, structural and non-structural historic materials and features should be retained and preserved; not just as museum artifacts, but also to fulfill their function. For example, reworking on the windows and doors in an old museum building.

If some features are to be removed for retrofitting, then it should be done carefully and should be reinstalled in the original location. Besides that, if some historic elements are damaged beyond repair, then they should be replaced with a compatible and similar substitute.

The entire retrofitted structure should be able to preserve the historic element of the building without compromising on the safety. It should be reversible wherever possible, to carry out the repair works.

Evaluation

If a historic building is located in an earthquake prone area, then it should be subjected to detailed seismic evaluation to avoid damage to life and property. To start with, check out the architectural features that need to be preserved such as staircases, mosaics, ornate ceilings, and murals. Spaces and areas that have lost their historic significance can be used for the installation of structural reinforcements.

Structural deficiencies such as lack of supporting beam, column, and vulnerable non-structural elements like interior partitions and chimneys, should be identified as well. As compared to structural elements, non-structural elements cause more costly damages in case of a mild earthquake. So proper care should be taken to fix them in position.

Retrofitting Work

The degree of potential risk of failure of a structure can be evaluated by checking the type of construction of a building. Adobe buildings and unreinforced masonry buildings have higher risk of collapse as compared to steel-framed or reinforced buildings.

Unreinforced masonry building can be saved by securing chimneys and parapets, and by securing the masonry walls to the floors. Support to the roof can be given by providing columns and shear walls. Buildings with regular shapes of plan, such as a rectangle or square, offer more resistance to earthquake as compared to buildings having irregular or complex plan.

Earthquakes come without any warning; so regular maintenance and repair works are all the more important to be carried out in order to keep a historical building safe in an earthquake prone area.

[nuwalsystem-blog]

A house is considered as one of the most precious assets, and every house owner tries to take utmost care of it. However, those who live in a zone with a high level of seismic activity are concerned about safety. If you intend to guard your house against the seismic activities, then it is the right time to research about the Seismic Retrofitting Techniques.

[nuwalsystem-blog]

Every year, moderate to severe earthquakes occur worldwide. Some of the earthquakes are low, whereas others are more than a magnitude of 3.0. These unavoidable occurrences can deteriorate the structures and cause immense damage to the buildings. As a result, property owners are becoming aware of retrofitting and increasingly searching for the related information. Retrofitting is said to be the process of alteration of a structure to make the property or building resistant to the earthquake. There are many reasons behind considering the seismic retrofitting. So, before diving deep into the Seismic Retrofitting Techniques, it is imperative to shed light on the reasons.

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4 Steps For Hiring Earthquake Retrofitting Contractors

If you own any commercial buildings in the Los Angeles, California, area, then you know earthquakes are a natural occurrence. In order to keep your tenants, or employees, safe, you may need to have a seismic retrofit done to your building. This includes apartment complexes, hotels, or office buildings. There are a number of companies in the Los Angeles area, but which one is right for you? Here are four steps you should follow to help you answer that question.

1. Come Up With a Short List

It can be tempting to perform a Google search and commit to working with the first result on the page, but more research is necessary to find earthquake retrofitting contractors who meet your commercial building needs. Make a list, but keep it short, of the companies that interest you the most. Keeping your list small will help to find the best company for your building, too many options often becomes overwhelming.

2. Ask about Experience

While there are not formal credentials in seismic retrofitting, your earthquake retrofitting contractors should have extensive experience and training, with deep knowledge of the process, materials, and local regulations involved in a commercial retrofit.

3. Get Some Recommendations or Find Reviews

The best way to find out how good a company is, is by asking your friends or colleagues. Talking to other commercial building owners about which contractors they worked with and what their experience was like can be an excellent way to identify the best option for your needs. Be sure to find out what other customer’s experience was like or what they thought of the work that was done.

4. Think ROI, Not Price Tag

This type of construction project is expensive, there is no getting around that. But, don’t dwell on the initial out-of-pocket costs, think of the retrofit as in investment in your future. While it may be tempting to hire the company with the cheapest bid, that doesn’t always mean they will do the best job. The whole idea behind the earthquake retrofit is to ensure your building will remain standing during the next, or future, earthquakes, without costing you a fortune in repairs, or even in lawsuits from one of your tenants or employees being injured or killed. During your initial phone calls be sure to find out everything that is included in the quote.

To get started today or for more information, contact us today to schedule a FREE on-site inspection by our team of soft-story experts or call us now at [phone].

[helenmarhal]

MADDEN CONSTRUCTION expert in seismic retrofitting services, home remodeling services, room addition services, kitchen remodeling services, bathroom remodeling services and kitchen remodeling companies in San Francisco CA. We work every day to improve our service quality to make our customers happy. Get an instant free quote today.

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Numerous techniques for making the homes safer during natural calamities are introduced. Earthquakes cause the greatest structural disaster. However, making your home foundation flexible enough to hold up the large earthquakes is essential. Constructing homes with Seismic Retrofitting Techniques reduces the risks of collapsing. So, make sure to build homes with modern techniques only.

[nuwalsystem-blog]

Do you live in a zone with a high level of Seismic activity? Well, then you may be thinking of Seismic Retrofitting to make the building safer against earthquake and other unwanted activities. We suggest you research well and hire the best company for the service.