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Earthquake
Retrofitting

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Many homes in the Washington and Oregon regions aren’t constructed to accommodate seismic activity. That’s because the Seattle Fault wasn’t identified until 1992. Therefore, people living in this seismically active region who own an older home are at risk. There’s a high chance that your home isn’t built to current seismic codes.

Retrofitting homes involves upgrading existing structures with modern technology and materials. That’s where earthquake retrofitting comes into play. Even a minor seismic event could cause your home to shift off the foundation. It’s vital to take action, so schedule seismic retrofitting services with TerraFirma and safeguard your home in case of an earthquake.

Reasons to
retrofit your home

  • You reside in a high-risk, active seismic zone.
  • You want earthquake retrofitting to improve your home’s strength.
  • You want your home to act as a shelter after an earthquake.
  • You want to potentially reduce earthquake repair costs, insurance premiums, and deductibles.
  • You want to reduce earthquake insurance premiums and deductibles.
  • You want to potentially qualify for earthquake insurance if your home isn’t currently eligible.

What are common signs of earthquake vulnerabilities?

The following are the most common home issues to look out for in Portland, Salem, Roseburg, and the Seattle-Tacoma areas:

Masonry like brick, tile, adobe, or decorative rock must be reinforced with bracings like rebar to withstand an earthquake. Unsupported load-bearing walls, exteriors, and other structures like chimneys are especially vulnerable to collapse.
Unreinforced Brick or Concrete Block
Cripple walls are short, vertical wooden boards that support the floor. In an earthquake, unreinforced cripple walls can sway from side to side or cause the house to fall. Expansion bolts, framing anchors, and foundation bolting can prevent a cripple wall from collapsing.
Cripple Walls
Sheathing is a layer of plywood that is nailed over the studs of your home, providing a solid surface upon which to nail tar paper, shingles, and siding. In addition to providing much-needed insulation, sheathing keeps the building from shifting in an earthquake.
Lack of Sheathing
When a home is not secured, an earthquake can cause it to slide off its foundation, rupturing gas lines, causing fires and other structural damages. A quick visual inspection can often reveal whether your home is secure: Look out for thick bolts and anchor plates that connect the frame to the concrete foundation in your crawl space or basement.
Unsecured Foundation
Appliance feed lines are particularly susceptible to breakage when unsecured equipment moves during a quake. Strapping your water heater to the wall or floor, and installing seismic protection for your gas meter can go a long way toward minimizing damage.
Unsecured Appliances
Do you think something could be wrong with your foundation? Take a walk around the perimeter of your home. Do you see numerous small cracks in the foundation, or maybe even large ones? Is the concrete flaking off or crumbling in certain places?
Foundation Problems

Schedule your free
Earthquake Evaluation

Book Now

Schedule your free
Earthquake Evaluation

Book Now

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Homeowners in the Pacific Northwest know we live in an active seismic zone.
A little preparedness will go a long way to protecting your home and your family in the event of an earthquake.

6.3 Earthquake Hits Near Coos Bay

The Ultimate Guide to Earthquake Retrofitting in Portland

Does Your Home Need an Earthquake Retrofit?

How to Tell if Your Home is Vulnerable to a Landslide

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HOMES RETROFITTED & HOMEOWNERS PROTECTED

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Roseburg to Eugene, Portland to Seattle, our earthquake retrofitting work speaks for itself

Caton R.
I had my estimate with Pat Dunn today. He was on time, professional, knowledgeable about our areas geography. He offered a solution to my issue but also said it was not necessary in my case. I really appreciate the honest assessment. If the need arises, i will not hesitate to call Pat back at Terrafirma.
Danielle
Initial inspection and determination person was a very good listener and made good suggestions. The work was performed by an excellent technician with good experience. He explained the process and gave helpful advice. Great value for the money.
Thia
Extremely professional, and above and beyond in their work.
Krystina K.
We were able to get an appointment two days after calling and they were even able to come earlier after checking in to make sure we were available. Even though we were given some hard news about the repairs needed Jason did so in such a friendly and courteous manner. He was very patient with me and explained all of the proposal in detail. I really appreciate all of the time Jason took to help me today. It really made me feel like our house wasn’t just a job.
johnny B.
Jorge V. Juan B. And Manuel J. We’re a great crew waterproofing my basement. Thanks guys. It was a pleasure working with you.
Nick E.
Exceeded expectations in quality and time frame
Curt B.
We had Riley Andal at our house to consult on a settling foundation. Riley was courteous, professional and knowledgeable. With no pressure, Riley followed up over the next few days while we explored our options. When I would reach out for clarification of industry terms and procedures, he responded quickly with good answers. He never down talked the competition, only positive promotion of his company. If you request a quote from TerraFirma in the greater Tacoma/Auburn area, I hope you get Riley as your consultant.
Pam S.
Amber was very knowledgeable
And the 2 gentleman that came were very kind customer friendly
Donald C.
Jorge and his team did a great job in my crawlspace replacing 40-year-old cracked wood support posts with TerraFirma's SmarkJack posts. Jorge was kind, respectful, knowledgeable and thorough, always keeping me informed as to exactly what he and his team were doing and how long it would take, plus having me check on their work. Thank you for the excellent service.
Ian G.
Great work. I had huge foundation issues on a large waterfront project. Terra firma waterproofed my basement and lifted the house on hydolic piers to level it out. They saved my project. Seth was a fantastic project manager and Oscar and Jorge completed the job extremely well. 10/10 would recommend for any foundation issues.

EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING HOMEOWNER QUESTIONS

How can I assure my home IS ready for an earthquake?

Scheduling a free evaluation with your local TerraFirma System Design Specialist is the first step toward a permanent fix for your home’s earthquake readiness. Your System Design Specialist will conduct an on-site evaluation of your home and depending on several factors a prescriptive seismic retrofit or a custom-engineered system will be designed to bring your home up to standard. TerraFirma takes care of all necessary engineering, permits, labor, and materials.

WILL EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING REDUCE THE COST OF EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE?

Retrofitting your home can potentially reduce your earthquake insurance premiums and deductibles. TerraFirma has seismically retrofitted thousands of houses across the Pacific Northwest and helped homeowners throughout the region qualify their homes for earthquake insurance.

Don’t forget – seismic activity can start a chain of unexpected events that leave unprepared homes severely damaged.