If you live in an earthquake-prone area, you want to know that you will be safe. Older homes, however, may not be able to withstand an earthquake. Here's what you need to know about a soft story retrofit.

What is a soft story retrofit?

A soft story retrofit is when reinforcement is added to a building to make it more resistant to earthquake shaking. The term 'soft story' refers to a weak or vulnerable point in a building. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as large windows or openings on the first floor, an uneven distribution of weight, or a lack of bracing.

Why is a soft story retrofit important?

Buildings with soft stories are more likely to collapse during an earthquake, posing a serious threat to the safety of those inside and around the building. A soft story retrofit can help prevent this from happening.

How do you know if a building needs a soft story retrofit?

There are a few ways to tell if a building may need a soft story retrofit. One way is to look for signs of damage from past earthquakes. Another way is to have a professional engineer or architect assess the building.

What are the benefits of a soft story retrofit?

There are many benefits to a soft story retrofit including:

• Resistant. A soft story retrofit can make a building safer and more resistant to earthquake damage.
• Value. Like other home improvements, a soft story retrofit can also help improve the resale value of a building.
• Safety. Soft story retrofitting is an important way to improve the safety of older buildings.

If you live in an earthquake-prone area, it's a good idea to have your home or business assessed by a professional.

What are some types of projects completed in a soft story retrofit?

There are many different types of soft story retrofit projects. Some common ones include:

• Adding shear walls. Shear walls help to prevent a building from collapsing during an earthquake by transferring the force of the earthquake to the ground. This helps to keep the building from being destabilized and collapsing.
• Bracing the cripple wall. The cripple wall is the part of the frame that sits on the foundation. In a soft story retrofit, the cripple wall is often braced to help keep the building from collapsing.
• Adding diagonal bracing. Diagonal bracing helps to stabilize a building during an earthquake. By reinforcing the corners of the building with diagonal braces, the force of the earthquake can be better distributed and the building is less likely to collapse.
• Replacing windows. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, it's a good idea to replace your windows with ones that are more resistant to earthquakes. This will help keep your home safer during an earthquake.

These are just a few of the most common types of soft story retrofit projects. The best way to determine what type of retrofit your building needs is to have it assessed by a professional.

A soft story retrofit can make a big difference in how well a building withstands an earthquake. If you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, it's a good idea to have your home or business assessed by a professional to see if a soft story retrofit is necessary.