As a homeowner, it’s essential to be aware of the structural integrity of your home—especially if you live in an area prone to earthquakes like Monroe. One way to ensure that your home can withstand an earthquake is to retrofit it by a specialist. But how do earthquake retrofitting specialists access the structural integrity of older homes? Let’s take a look:
How Earthquake Retrofitting Specialists Assess Foundations
One of the ways that earthquake retrofitting specialists access structural integrity is by looking at a home’s foundation. The foundation is one of the most important parts of a house and is also one of the most vulnerable to damage during an earthquake.
To assess the condition of a foundation, specialists will often use a technique called ground penetrating radar. This allows them to see beneath the ground surface and identify areas where the foundation may be weak or cracked.
How Earthquake Retrofitting Specialists Assess Framing
Another way earthquake retrofitting specialists access structural integrity is by looking at the framing of a house. Framing is responsible for supporting the weight of the house, and it is also one of the most likely parts of a house to collapse during an earthquake.
To assess the condition of framing, specialists will often use a technique called infra-red thermography. This allows them to identify areas where the framing may be weakened or damaged.
As Monroe’s most trusted earthquake retrofitting specialist, Evergreen Seismic deeply understands the structural challenges that older homes face. We apply this knowledge to every assessment, providing homeowners with a clear picture of their home’s seismic safety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can protect your home from the next earthquake we face.
Matt did a fantastic job on the earthquake retrofit for our home. Our garage had never been so clean as it was after he was done with his work. Matt had the utmost professionalism through every step of the project. The contract clearly explained everything he was going to do, and he completed every step exactly as described. He thoroughly answered each of my questions during his initial visit in a way where he not only answered the question I asked, but gave background information to educate me on the topic of seismic retrofit. It's great to have the peace of mind that not only is my home now better able to withstand the "big one" that will eventually come to the PNW, but also that the work was done by a great company.