Extreme Earthquake Overdue for California

California lies on one of the most active faults on the United Sates, the San Andreas Fault, which runs from the middle of the southern part of the state near San Diego, then west toward the coast and north up the coast to north of San Francisco. It runs for roughly 810 miles and forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.

Ask any Californian and they will tell you that the last major earthquake to strike our state was back in the 90s, with the devastating Northridge earthquake of 1994. Yet this is by no means is the largest earthquake on record to hit California.

The last massive earthquake on record in California was the great San Francisco earthquake (and resulting fire) of 1906, which was estimated to be 7.9 on the Richter scale and resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths. The quake stretched 296 miles north and south along the fault, and shaking was felt from Oregon to Los Angeles, and as far inland as central Nevada. The earthquake and resulting fire are remembered as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States, with economic impact comparable to Hurricane Katrina.

Recently the University of California Irvine and Arizona State University have determined that California is overdue for another major earthquake. Scholars have concluded that major earthquakes in relation to the San Andreas Fault occur every 45-144 years on average.

Therefore, our fair region of California is unfortunately far overdue for another colossal earthquake. Experts suggest the next earthquake could range anywhere from 7.0 and up, thus creating chaos and devastation in many heavily populated California cities.

Now more than ever is the time to prepare for the obvious reality of another impending earthquake occurring in our near future. Older structures can collapse completely, trapping loved ones, and creating lasting injuries and even in the most extreme cases, death.

However, these disastrous results can be reasonably prevented in many cases by having work done on the foundation of the building, such as bolting a structure to its foundation (also called earthquake retrofitting), bracing cripple walls, or even in cases of severe age or deterioration, foundation replacement. Such work is beyond the capability of a do-it-yourselfer, so a competent foundation contractor should be hired.

Therefore, as a California resident, before earthquake predictions become a reality one should take every precaution to protect their homes and their safety by securing the foundations of their homes and/or business.

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Julian Construction Says Foundation Inspection First Step in Remodeling

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Structurally Sound and Level Foundations Key to Remodeling Success

 

LOS ANGELES – Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in foundation repair and foundation construction, says getting a foundation inspection is a critical first step in home remodeling.

 

“Home remodeling projects should never be started without first conducting a complete foundation inspection,” says Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction. “Any foundation repair issues must be thoroughly addressed before the remodeling work is done.”

 

Foundations that are in poor condition can cause interior and exterior wall cracks and crumbling, tile cracks, sloping floors and leaks. Foundation damage can be caused by weak or poor soil, earth movement, the age of the structure, poor drainage, and maturing trees and shrubs. A professional foundation inspection will identify all defects and damage, as well as potential problem areas.

 

“Homeowners will be throwing away good money if they try to remodel a home with a bad foundation,” says Julian who adds “Without a sound and level foundation, remodeling will not only be time consuming and costly, it can turn into a complete disaster.”

 

Julian Construction is a Southern California leader in earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair. Founder and retrofit expert Julian De La Torre, along with his partner Shawn Kyles, an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, have retrofitted more than 6,600 homes, apartments and commercial properties since the early 1990s.

 

The company, which is dedicated to building preservation and security, offers a wide variety of services designed to address individual structural needs. Julian Construction’s “no middlemen” (no salesmen, no subcontractors) business model, insures high quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

 

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Julian Construction Says floor leveling Can Fix Sinking Foundations

Leveling Process Lifts Foundation, Restores Floors to their Original Position

LOS ANGELES – Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in foundation repair and foundation construction, says floor leveling can fix sinking foundations that cause floors to sag, doors and windows not to open or close properly, and cracks in walls and tiles.

“Foundation sinking can be a problem for both new and older homes, says Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction. “The process of floor leveling can return most floors to their original position and make the home safe.”

Floor leveling requires lifting up the foundation. First, the structure must be properly shored. Then beams are inserted under the house with jacks. The jacks are then raised evenly, and new piers are added to provide permanent support.

According to Julian, floor leveling should be done by an experienced professional to prevent further damage to the house. “Floor leveling is both an art and a science,” says Julian. “Any mistakes can cause more damage and even result in the house falling down.”

Julian Construction is a Southern California leader in earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair. Founder and retrofit expert Julian De La Torre, along with his partner Shawn Kyles, an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, have retrofitted more than 6,600 homes, apartments and commercial properties since the early 1990s.

The company, which is dedicated to building preservation and security, offers a wide variety of services designed to address individual structural needs. Julian Construction’s “no middlemen” (no salesmen, no subcontractors) business model, insures high quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

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Why House Bolting is Important

by Shawn Kyles

 

House bolting, also known as earthquake retrofitting or seismic retrofitting, is the process of attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. The concept of how retrofitting works is simple. The basic idea is to keep the house from falling or moving off its foundation during an earthquake.

To keep a house from moving off its foundation in an earthquake, house bolting or seismic retrofitting strengthens three different areas of the house. These areas are all located in the crawl space, which is the space between the ground under the house and the floor you walk on. If any one of these three areas is not adequately retrofitted, the house will be susceptible to damage in an earthquake.

These three areas are:

1. The bracing and reinforcement of the cripple walls with structural-grade plywood. (A cripple wall is a short wall built upon the foundation of a house that produces a high crawlspace. Not all houses have a cripple wall. If you go up a set of stairs to enter your home, you probably have one. Un-reinforced cripple walls are the weakest part of a house because they quickly collapse in an earthquake.)

2. The bolting of the braced cripple walls to the foundation.

3. The attachment of the floor of the house to the braced cripple walls.

By doing these three actions, your susceptibility to earthquake damage is greatly lessened. It’s highly unlikely that your cripple wall will collapse bringing your house down with it, requiring expensive repairs.

California is "earthquake country." We had a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in northern Mexico in April, with lesser aftershocks hitting as far north as Los Angeles in the time since then. We also know that the next “big one” could happen at any time, and probably when we least expect it, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

We who live in Los Angeles or other parts of California need to be aware that the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation. If this happens to you, it could mean very expensive repairs to your home, as the house would have to be moved back onto the foundation and secured against future damage.

The best thing to do is get a foundation inspection, which will include looking at the house bolting and seeing if it is adequate and if any other reinforcements are needed in your home. The inspection is usually free and the cost of any house bolting and reinforcements will usually be a lot less than moving your house back onto its foundation if an earthquake causes it to slide off.

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Julian Construction Helps Mobile Home Owners Qualify for FHA Financing

Company’s Mobile Home Foundation Service Helps HUD Compliance

 

LOS ANGELES – Julian Construction, a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in foundation repair and construction, today announced that its Mobile Home Foundation Service helps existing and new manufactured home owners qualify for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) financing. The service, which includes installation of concrete footers, slabs and skirts, ensures mobile home foundations meet FHA mortgage program criteria.

“Without FHA financing, it can be difficult for mobile home owners to get low interest home loans,” says Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction. “Our foundations help manufactured home owners qualify for the FHA mortgage program. Plus our service makes a mobile home more safe in the event of a major earthquake.”

FHA mortgage program eligibility criteria is based on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mobile home foundation and installation standards.

Julian Construction is a Southern California leader in building retrofitting and foundation repair. Founder and retrofit expert Julian De La Torre, along with his partner Shawn Kyles, an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, have retrofitted more than 6,600 homes, apartments and commercial properties since the early 1990s.

The company, which is dedicated to building preservation and security, offers a wide variety of services designed to address individual structural needs. Julian Construction’s “no middlemen” (no salesmen, no subcontractors) business model, insures high quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

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* Julian Construction Launches Homeowner Earthquake-Ready Campaign

Company Says Education Key to Preventing Injuries and Damage

 

LOS ANGELES – Julian Construction, a Los Angeles based construction company that specializes in foundation repair and construction, today announced the launch of an educational campaign to help homeowners prevent earthquake injury and damage. The new initiative will include a series of articles on the company’s blog that focus on how to increase a home’s resistance to earthquakes, along with foundation inspections at no charge.

“The recent 5.7 earthquake in Southern California was followed by more than a dozen smaller quakes. It’s a good example of the type of on-going seismic activity we get in this region,” says Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction. “Homeowners need to know how to keep themselves and their family safe during an earthquake by reducing the risk of structural failure.”

The company’s free foundation inspection checks foundation integrity, including poor construction, improperly done repairs, settling, shifting, bowing, cracks and other damage that can cause a house to slip off of its foundation during a quake. The inspection will also check for proper earthquake retrofitting, also known as house bolting, having been done.

Julian Construction is a Southern California leader in building retrofitting and foundation repair. Founder and retrofit expert Julian De La Torre, along with his partner Shawn Kyles, an expert in foundation repair and house bolting, have retrofitted more than 6,600 homes, apartments and commercial properties since the early 1990s.

The company, which is dedicated to building preservation and security, offers a wide variety of services designed to address individual structural needs. Julian Construction’s “no middlemen” (no salesmen, no subcontractors) business model, insures high quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

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Earthquakes on the Rise--Is Los Angeles Next?

by Brittany Kyles

On May 18, 2010, the seismically active California-Mexico border area was rattled by a sizeable earthquake shaking the San Diego region, reaching 4.5 in magnitude. The quake was an aftershock of the major 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the northern Mexico region April 4, Easter Sunday, and the new quake was felt throughout the San Diego area, even reaching as far north as parts of Los Angeles.

The quake was centered approximately 18 miles southwest of El Centro, the Imperial County seat in California’s southeastern corner. It occurred only miles below the earth’s surface, reaching 8.1 miles in depth. No damage was immediately reported.

Within the last year, several major earthquakes have led to death, damage and destruction across the world, including in Haiti, Chile, Indonesia, Spain and Puerto Rico. With the recent quakes in San Diego it seems more than likely that Los Angeles could be due for another big one.

Therefore, now more than ever is the time to prepare, for the more than obvious natural disaster that could be headed our way. We want to avoid the drastic consequences that these violent earthquakes create within our lives, with loved ones, and with our homes and communities.

The Northridge earthquake in 1994 took a serious toll on the community and the individuals affected. Buildings collapsed, apartment buildings were split in two, and lives were lost.

Most older homes in California and elsewhere throughout the United States do not have the reinforcement needed to protect against a large earthquake, and as a result these disasters can destroy a life, a home or a business.

Therefore, having your home reinforced, by a process known as earthquake retrofitting or house bolting, will prove very beneficial. This process secures your house to the foundation, so that during an earthquake, with its sideways forces and motions, the home does not move off of its foundation. It will essentially protect your home and family from the inevitable earthquake that may be due for Los Angeles.

An earthquake retrofit is the process of firmly attaching a house to its concrete foundation using foundation plates and anchor bolts. Because California is "earthquake country," the up-and-down and side-to-side motion of an earthquake can shake an unbolted house off its foundation, making for a very costly repair job.

It is important to find a company in your area that specializes in home foundation repair and construction, and have them do a foundation inspection on your home. They will determine if there is currently any damage or weaknesses in your foundation, and advise you on any needed earthquake retrofitting or other reinforcement or repairs that are needed to protect you from a potential major quake. The foundation inspection would include looking at the house bolting and seeing if it is adequate and if any other reinforcements are needed in your home. The inspection is usually free and the cost of any house bolting and reinforcements will usually be a lot less than moving your house back onto its foundation if an earthquake causes it to slide off.

It is much better to prepare now and have the peace of mind that are as ready as possible, rather than kick yourself later.

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