Structural Repair

Earthquake retrofitting can increase your home value, making it a great return on investment. This feature is especially valuable in areas prone to earthquakes. Besides the increased safety value (not only for your family but for the next family who moves in), earthquake retrofitting also helps lower homeowners insurance rates. In addition, having your home earthquake retrofitted can make it easier to get a home loan since they are considered lower risk.

It's important to consider your home's condition to see if it's fit for the extreme stress of being lifted. There are two different methods typically used during lifting a house: raising or underpinning. While both are tried-and-true ways to lift a house, your home will likely withstand some disruption to walls, floors, and ceilings like cracking drywall.

Houses naturally settle over time, but they should settle uniformly with no apparent settling in one spot. If your floor is uneven but only in a particular area of your home, differential settlement could be the problem. This can be caused by improper drainage, erosion, expanding soil, earthquake activity, or poor construction techniques.

Most structural engineers offer free quotes, regardless of the size of the job. For simple inspections when buying or selling a home, engineers typically charge a flat fee that may be based solely on your home’s foundation type and square footage. For larger projects, like new construction and major home renovations, an engineer will either perform an analysis of your project and site and provide you with a formal estimate, or they will do a more in-depth assessment and in-person site inspection before coming up with a per-hour or per-project cost estimate. In most cases, the estimate is free.