Question:
I’m looking for recommendations of companies that will come out and check your house for seismic stability. Seattle metro area. Suggestions? Experiences?
Response:
> I’m looking for recommendations of companies that will come out and check > your house for seismic stability. Seattle metro area. > Suggestions? Experiences?
You should be able to find some info about the location and activity of fault lines in your area. If you’re near an active fault line, you’ve got some seismic activity. You don’t really need a company to come out and check anything for you. I’m not sure what they would do anyway. Set up some seismic monitors and watch them for a few years? Steve
Response:
You don’t think they might evaluate your house to make sure the chimney is securely attached, the house is attached to the foundation, etc?? The question obviously is about the stability of the house, not Seattle. I always wonder why people respond to posts when they don’t have a clue about the answer. Bob
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m looking for recommendations of companies that will come out and check > your house for seismic stability. Seattle metro area. > Suggestions? Experiences? > You should be able to find some info about the location and activity of > fault lines in your area. If you’re near an active fault line, you’ve > got some seismic activity. You don’t really need a company to come out > and check anything for you. I’m not sure what they would do anyway. > Set up some seismic monitors and watch them for a few years? > Steve
Response:
> You don’t think they might evaluate your house to make sure the chimney is > securely attached, the house is attached to the foundation, etc?? The > question obviously is about the stability of the house, not Seattle. > I always wonder why people respond to posts when they don’t have a clue > about the answer.
Ha, upon reading it again, you’re right. When I first read "check your house for seismic stability" I thought he actually meant seismic stability. Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > I’m looking for recommendations of companies that will come out and > check > > your house for seismic stability. Seattle metro area. > > Suggestions? Experiences? > You should be able to find some info about the location and activity of > fault lines in your area. If you’re near an active fault line, you’ve > got some seismic activity. You don’t really need a company to come out > and check anything for you. I’m not sure what they would do anyway. > Set up some seismic monitors and watch them for a few years? > Steve
Response:
> I’m looking for recommendations of companies that will come out and check > your house for seismic stability. Seattle metro area. > Suggestions? Experiences?
I can’t recommend any particular contractors, but you can find a list here on FEMA’s Project Impact of Seattle web page (and maybe you’re already aware of the Project Impact): http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/projectimpact/pages/pioverview/homeretrof… For those who are interested in what is required for what is known as "Home Earthquake Retrofit," there are a few documents here: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/projectimpact/pages/publications/homeretr… From one of the documents, in short, you need to: 1. Anchor the sill plate to the foundation wall. 2. Strengthen the short walls between the foundation and the first floor, called ponywalls, with approved wood structural panels, also called sheathing. 3. Connect the pony walls to the floor framing above and to the sill plate below with metal framing clips; if no pony wall is present, connect the floor joists directly to the sill plate. There are classes for homeowners on how to retrofit your home. Or you can hire a contractor to do it. D.D.
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