As a busy home owner, the last thing you have time to worry about is money spent on a seismic retrofit in Los Angeles. You probably assume it’s costly, and let’s be honest, it’s not exactly cheap – but the good news is, it’s not as bad as you may think. Plus, it’s money well spent for your peace of mind and safety. And who can put a price on that? In the end, though, a seismic retrofit simply isn’t a luxury – it’s essential to the structural integrity of your home. As such, this project should take priority over all others.

If you’ve ever experienced an earthquake, and who hasn’t in Southern California?, you know the feeling it gives you and the sounds it makes as frames fall off walls, windows shatter and objects smash to the floor. An earthquake may only last a few seconds but the resulting damage can be far-reaching and permanent. Thing is, most of us focus on placing objects back on tables, re-securing picture frames to walls, and trying to get back to normal. Meanwhile, lurking beneath the surface, unbeknownst to you, damage has settled in and taken hold.

Varying Levels of Damage

After an earthquake, you may wonder why one home on your street has escaped all damage while yours was knocked slightly askew. It all has to do with how and when your home was built. Today’s homes are bolted to the foundation to ensure no slippage occurs. Older homes don’t have those assurances and need “after-market” fixes, such as house bolting as part of a larger earthquake retrofitting process. This will make your house more secure against the potential damages of the next earthquake, large or small.

The Cost

Before we begin, let’s just reiterate that every home is different. The final cost will depend largely on the extent of the existing damage, the size of the home and other factors. Home Advisor sets the national average at $4,000, with the low end at $800 and the high end at $6,000, and a typical range of between $3,000 and $5,100. The price will likely get higher, though, depending on the services needed. Some jobs are relatively simple, such as those involving foundation bolting and cripple wall bracing, while others need extra reinforcement and waterproofing.

We place the estimates a bit higher than that, as the engineering plans for seismic retrofits alone can cost thousands of dollars. Adding new steel frames can elevate the price quite a bit, although sometimes you can get away with reinforcing the existing shear walls by adding plywood. We work with you to save you money yet without compromising on safety. In a nutshell, plan on spending at least between $3000 and $6000, but budget for more to accommodate for your home’s unique requirements. The only way you’ll know for sure how much your seismic retrofit in Los Angeles will cost is to contact CXC Contracting for a FREE quote.

What We Do

Here at CXC, we concentrate on foundation repair and reinforcement. We will fix all cracks and other damage present in your foundation, plus we will put in additional items like piers or cripple-walls to ensure your house bolts to the foundation correctly. And because insufficient waterproofing can weaken your house, we will check and address any problems that allow water to invade your house. From fixing waterproofing materials on the roof to installing French drains and sump pumps, we have the right solutions.

Contact CXC Contracting

Don’t wait until an earthquake has shaken your home to its core. The best time for a seismic retrofit in Los Angeles is now. In fact, all those tiny earthquakes that you don’t really feel are wreaking havoc as we speak. We can give you an estimate on the cost of retrofitting to help you fit your budget. However, peace of mind is worth so much more than dollar signs.

Call us at 805-300-8899 or email us at [email protected] to learn more.