As the risk of earthquakes increases in Los Angeles, it is becoming more important to find a professional, experienced seismic retrofitting company to make sure your house can handle an quake. Fortunately, there are many qualified companies that can help you prepare your home to survive an earthquake.

Optimum Seismic

Optimum Seismic is a family-owned firm that offers a full range of services, from engineering to steel parts fabrication to construction. Founded in 2009 by Mohammad Vahdani, the company has worked on more than 3,500 buildings, mostly in Southern California. It specializes in foundation bolting and has a strong reputation for completing quality work.

Its primary focus is on residential and commercial properties. It participates in the Brace and Bolt program, a FEMA-trained initiative that helps prevent foundation failure during a earthquake.

They are also members of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Seismic Outreach Committee for the Inspection and Mitigation of Soft Story Hazards.

Bella Construction specializes in basement and foundation construction and offers a wide variety of solutions to improve the stability of existing structures. Its team of experts has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry.

The company focuses on providing clients with a safe, secure, and energy-efficient home. It specializes in foundation, concrete and masonry work as well as dry rot and termite repair.

They offer structural evaluations, foundation bolting and earthquake retrofitting for single-family homes and large buildings. Their crews are certified in the Earthquake Brace + Bolt program and have been approved by the State of California as licensed contractors.

Several cities require that all owners of multifamily buildings submit plans for seismic retrofitting. The resulting costs can be substantial for building owners, especially those who own older buildings.

Valentine said his company is in the middle of helping clients meet those obligations. “It’s a lot of money, but it is necessary.”

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you should consider earthquake retrofitting your home. It will not only save you money in repair costs, but will give you peace of mind and protect your family.

The first step in a seismic retrofit is to evaluate the property’s location and current condition of the foundation. If the structure is on a hillside or near a lake, river or drainage basin, it may need special foundation bolting or bracing to prevent movement during an earthquake.

These methods include installing braces on the framing of the cripple wall, attaching the floor joists to the cripple walls and bolting the foundation to the sill plate on top of the foundation.

They are also able to secure water heaters and install earthquake-resistant vents.

This company is an expert at seismic retrofitting and has been working in the field for more than 15 years. It is a member of the ABAG and a certified contractor with a BBB-Accredited rating.

It also provides a variety of other services, including basement and foundation repair, house floor and roof bolting, dry rot and termite remediation, draining and pumping, and framing.