Thousands of residential homes and buildings in Los Angeles suffer from a fundamental structural weakness, particularly in their balconies and tuck under parking areas. Large, unreinforced
spaces on the ground floors as well as the wood-frame structure make them particularly vulnerable.
A new Retrofit Grant, known as the Earthquake Brace and Bolt Grant, is being issued by the state for residential home foundational bolting. In a brace and bolt retrofit, the crawl space is braced with plywood or OSB sheathing and the foundation is attached to the house's frame. This lessens the chance that the home will slide or topple over during an earthquake. Additionally, for buildings with balconies, ensuring compliance with balcony rules and regulations and conducting regular balcony inspections can prevent structural damage and costly repairs.
Older single-family houses in California that run the risk of slipping off their foundation in an earthquake can once again apply for subsidies of up to $3,000 from the state. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated $80 million to pay for the grants. The buildings that are most at risk were typically constructed before 1980, and particularly before 1940, and had a few steps above the ground. Homeowners with ADUs or tuck under parking should also consider retrofitting, as these structures can be particularly susceptible to seismic activity.
On EarthquakeBraceBolt.com, residents can submit an application for the program.. In the absence of the fix, homeowners who sustain significant damage after an earthquake may be forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and years living elsewhere while repairs are being done, all while continuing to make mortgage payments. For those with balconies, balcony inspections can reveal critical issues that need to be addressed to avoid similar costly repairs.
The EBB retrofit grant registration period has begun. California homeowners may register for the program during a 30-day registration period that is offered each year. After that, eligible homeowners are chosen at
random and either asked to participate or added to a waiting list.
The retrofit is anticipated to be paid for in large part by the $3,000 award. The price has ranged between $3,000 and $5,000 in the Los Angeles area. The process takes two to three days to finish. Homeowners with family incomes under $72,000 are eligible for additional funds that would pay the whole cost of the retrofit for the recipient. To ensure complete safety, it is recommended that seismic retrofitting in Los Angeles is paired with balcony structural repairs and compliance with SB 326 inspection standards.
SKS Construction can assist in plan check, permitting, and even build of
your retrofit, making the process a breeze. A full-service design/build, engineering,
and construction firm, SKS Construction was established in Los Angeles, California, in 1987. SKS Construction is recognized as a leader in engineering and construction of New Construction, Seismic Retrofitting and Balcony Repairs. The SKS team is composed of in-house designers, licensed contractors, and experienced engineers around the clock to attend to your every engineering and construction need.
Contact SKS Today For A Free Consultation!
818-855-1181
Lic.#: AB720390
Serving The Greater Los Angeles Area
