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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.
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tf earthquake common signs retrofit

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:

tf unreinforced brick retrofit
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
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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
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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
tf unsecured foundation retrofit
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
tf unsecured appliances retrofit
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
efflorescence small retrofit
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?

The Unwavering Benefits of Seismic Upgrades

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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

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Stacy H.
Awesome job fixing the tripping hazard that was my sidewalk. From friendly and professional Pat who came out to assess and provide an estimate; to Amber, the project manager who was communicative, helpful and friendly; to Johnny who actually did the work I'm very pleased with - Thank you! Would highly recommend!
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Pam S.
Amber was very knowledgeable
And the 2 gentleman that came were very kind customer friendly
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Sharon F.
TerraFirma has sealed our crawl space and the work has been amazing. The house has been much healthier since they finished their work and we couldn't be...
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Ryan S.
Seth came out to bid a project, replacing old wooden posts with steel. He was on time and very knowledgeable. He took his time making sure not to miss any details, which I really appreciated. Can't wait to get the work completed!
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Pferron D.
First of all, i've seen the multiple commercials on their process. I was skeptical as to its real value, but I called them anyway. They showed up and within a short period of time it was done. They additionally noticed that another area was sinking as well adjacent to the fixed area. They took the time to drill another few holes and everything now is safe. I have recommended them to three other neighbors. They cleaned up the area as though they were never there. YUP! The commercials are real. Call them and check them out and you'll never regret it.
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Karen R.
In a word, Terra Firma was AWESOME! From the beginning to the end. Everyone involved, from the first visit by Tyler to the project coordinator, Jonah, to the crew that did the hard work of stabilizing my foundation, James the foreman, along with Oscar and Jayden. The engineering and permitting with the city were handled and I was informed all along the way. The crew showed up on the dot every day, was friendly, professional and respectful of the property. My property was restored to the condition they found it in with pressure washing and putting the deck back together. They also alerted me to problems with my plumbing that needed to be addressed that I would not have otherwise been aware of. It was work that needed to be done to avoid any further damage, inability to sell at a later time or saving my family the burden of dealing with it.
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Alex R.
Decent administrative experience. The onsite crew were polite, on time, efficient, and extremely clean. Excellent experience.
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Polly W.
The crew was polite, informative and great personalities. They cleaned up fantastic. Even the neighbors commented.
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Philip C.
Just had my crawl space inspected by TerraFirma and was very impressed! Mark Spandler was their representative that did the inspection. He was very courteous, professional and thorough. I was an engineer back in my day, and Mark really seemed to know his stuff. I would hire TF again, especially if I could request Mark
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Barbara S.
Very efficient company. Super nice employees received calls when they could do my driveway sooner. Received calls while doing my driveway.
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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.