Top-rated earthquake retrofitting specialists.

Get matched with top earthquake retrofitting specialists in Highland, IL

Enter your ZIP and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your earthquake retrofitting project in Highland, IL?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Earthquake retrofitting specialists in Highland

Building Concepts

No reviews yet

Building Concepts

No reviews yet
39 years of experience

Your home is your largest and most precious investment you will ever own. We here at Building Concepts strive to create the home of your dreams. Weather it be a 2 Million dollar custom home, a simple cottage, a new kitchen or a simple repair.

Your home is your largest and most precious investment you will ever own. We here at Building Concepts strive to create the home of your dreams. Weather it be a 2 Million dollar custom home, a simple cottage, a new kitchen or a simple repair.

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

Generally, the retrofitting process can take two to four weeks. Your contractor will let you know if staying in your home for the entire project is feasible. However, most people are able to remain at home. If your home is undergoing earthquake rehab, it's more likely that you'll need to leave until work is complete. Your earthquake insurance may cover boarding costs if your home is deemed unsafe.

Some cities or states may require you to have an earthquake gas shut-off valve. Your insurance provider may also have requirements for installing this valve. Even if you don’t have to have one by law, it’s wise to have a natural gas plumber install one anyway. These devices can be lifesaving and prevent fires or explosions in the event of a gas leak.

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.

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.

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.

The Highland, IL 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

What do you need done? We’ll find top pros.
  • 🌱 "Mow a small front yard"
  • 🛠 "Fix a leaking pipe under the sink"
  • 🏠 "Repair shingles on an asphalt roof"