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BOYD CONSTRUCTION

430 Sycamore Drive
4.00(
1
)

BOYD CONSTRUCTION

430 Sycamore Drive
4.00(
1
)
Customers say: Quality work
50 years of experience

officially established in 1985, I have been designing and building many different things since I was a child. Advertising my company as a GENERAL BUILDING/DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR is an understatement. WE do odd jobs, handyman repairs of just about anything made by man, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, and start to finish building projects.

officially established in 1985, I have been designing and building many different things since I was a child. Advertising my company as a GENERAL BUILDING/DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR is an understatement. WE do odd jobs, handyman repairs of just about anything made by man, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, and start to finish building projects.

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

Many homeowners want to know whether earthquake retrofitting is tax deductible. Because it’s often considered a capital improvement, you usually can’t deduct it. In some cases and locations, you may qualify for tax incentives, but you’ll need to talk to a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about your specific circumstances. You may also be able to find grant money for seismic upgrades, which can lower the cost of your insurance premiums and save money over time.

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.

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

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.

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The Ridgely, MD homeowners’ guide to earthquake retrofitting services

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

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