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Ruhl and Son Construction & Excavation

110 Alan Drive
5.00(
1
)

Ruhl and Son Construction & Excavation

110 Alan Drive
5.00(
1
)
Customers say: Quick response
Recommended by 100% of Angi customers
Recommended by 100% of HomeAdvisor customers

We are a full service Construction Company, We have been doing business in the St. Louis Area for over 100 years. We are small, but we like being small that way we can give a better service to our customers.

We are a full service Construction Company, We have been doing business in the St. Louis Area for over 100 years. We are small, but we like being small that way we can give a better service to our customers.

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

An earthquake retrofit is essential for safety in an earthquake-prone area. Without proper retrofitting, your home is at risk of sliding off the foundation, shifting, or collapsing.

You may also require a retrofit if your home was built before 1980 when building codes began requiring reinforcing, bracing, and bolting for new construction. You may not be eligible for insurance to help pay for earthquake-related damages without a retrofit.

Almost all new buildings in California need an earthquake shut-off valve. The requirements for an earthquake gas shut-off valve (and who can install it) depend on where you live. For example, according to the Los Angeles Municipal Code, you’re required to hire a licensed contractor to install one whenever you build, sell, or renovate a home. Check with your local building department for your city’s laws on installing, permitting, and inspecting earthquake shut-off valves.

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.

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.

The Hawk Point, MO 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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