Top-rated earthquake retrofitting specialists.

Get matched with top earthquake retrofitting specialists in Cottondale, AL

Enter your ZIP and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your earthquake retrofitting project in Cottondale, AL?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Earthquake retrofitting specialists in Cottondale

Avatar for Distinctive Design & Build Co.

Distinctive Design & Build Co.

5.00(
3
)
•Approved Pro

Distinctive Design & Build Co.

5.00(
3
)
•Approved Pro
Customers say: Quick response
2 years of experience

"Jeff came out to the office to assess a cabinet that was damaged due to water damage. He was reliable and efficient in taking care of the damaged cabinet and restoring it to as good or better than new! Jeff was very personable and I wouldn?t hesitate to recommend him to anyone with a small or complex job. Jeff has the knowledge and tools to take care of whatever the project entails. "

Walter S on March 2025

"Jeff came out to the office to assess a cabinet that was damaged due to water damage. He was reliable and efficient in taking care of the damaged cabinet and restoring it to as good or better than new! Jeff was very personable and I wouldn?t hesitate to recommend him to anyone with a small or complex job. Jeff has the knowledge and tools to take care of whatever the project entails. "

Walter S on March 2025

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

Grounding is a great first step to prevent electrical shock, but you can take it further with GFCI outlets and AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters). In particular, AFCIs help protect against the type of electrical arcs that cause fires, like if a mouse chews on a wire or your laptop starts overheating at the wall. These are required in some areas of your home.

Even if you invested in the cost of a gas shut-off valve for your oven and other appliances, it’s a good idea to add a seismic shut-off valve as an extra safety measure. 

Gas shut-off valves for appliances are manual, meaning someone has to cut off the flow of gas. This leaves room for error, as you might not be home or might be too distracted to think about gas lines during an earthquake. An earthquake valve is automatic and will protect your home from gas-related disasters in the event of an earthquake.

According to the Earthquake Country Alliance—a public and private alliance in California that works to improve earthquake and tsunami readiness—reports that unreinforced masonry, such as stone, bricks, and hollow clay tiles, is more susceptible to earthquake damage. The mortar between bricks isn’t as stable as other building materials and methods.

A home with proper earthquake retrofitting can sustain minimal damage in earthquakes of up to 7.0 magnitude, although risks are higher based on how close and deep the earthquake is. A home closer to the earthquake epicenter will sustain greater damage, especially if the earthquake is closer to the surface of the Earth, but retrofitting can help minimize the risk of injuries.

Ensure proper ventilation, fix leaks, and schedule regular pest inspections to protect your property.

The Cottondale, AL homeowners’ guide to earthquake retrofitting services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

See all articles