Top-rated earthquake retrofitting specialists.

Get matched with top earthquake retrofitting specialists in Whately, MA

There are 0 highly-rated local earthquake retrofitting specialists.

Need a pro for your earthquake retrofitting project in Whately, MA?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Earthquake retrofitting specialists in Whately

No results for Earthquake Retrofitting in

Try adjusting your search criteria.
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.

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.

Earthquake gas shut-off valves, or seismic gas shut-off valves, are safety devices that attach to your natural gas line. When an earthquake hits, the valve automatically turns off the flow of gas. Earthquake gas shut-off valves can prevent gas leaks, which are especially dangerous after a quake due to the risk of fire and explosion.

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.

By submitting this question, I acknowledge and agree that Angi may publicly display my name, city, state, and question on the website for professionals and others to see.

The Whately, MA 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