Earthquake Retrofitting | Seismic Upgrades
Call Us IconCall the experts today!866-486-7196

Earthquake
Retrofitting

GET A FREE evaluation

Many homes in the Washington and Oregon regions aren’t constructed to accommodate seismic activity. That’s because the Seattle Fault wasn’t identified until 1992. Therefore, people living in this seismically active region who own an older home are at risk. There’s a high chance that your home isn’t built to current seismic codes.

Retrofitting homes involves upgrading existing structures with modern technology and materials. That’s where earthquake retrofitting comes into play. Even a minor seismic event could cause your home to shift off the foundation. It’s vital to take action, so schedule seismic retrofitting services with TerraFirma and safeguard your home in case of an earthquake.

Reasons to
retrofit your home

  • You reside in a high-risk, active seismic zone.
  • You want earthquake retrofitting to improve your home’s strength.
  • You want your home to act as a shelter after an earthquake.
  • You want to potentially reduce earthquake repair costs, insurance premiums, and deductibles.
  • You want to reduce earthquake insurance premiums and deductibles.
  • You want to potentially qualify for earthquake insurance if your home isn’t currently eligible.
tf seismic zone 1 retrofit
tf earthquake common signs retrofit

What are common signs of earthquake vulnerabilities?

The following are the most common home issues to look out for in Portland, Salem, Roseburg, and the Seattle-Tacoma areas:

tf unreinforced brick retrofit
Masonry like brick, tile, adobe, or decorative rock must be reinforced with bracings like rebar to withstand an earthquake. Unsupported load-bearing walls, exteriors, and other structures like chimneys are especially vulnerable to collapse.
Unreinforced Brick or Concrete Block
tf cripple walls retrofit
Cripple walls are short, vertical wooden boards that support the floor. In an earthquake, unreinforced cripple walls can sway from side to side or cause the house to fall. Expansion bolts, framing anchors, and foundation bolting can prevent a cripple wall from collapsing.
Cripple Walls
tf lack of sheathing retrofit
Sheathing is a layer of plywood that is nailed over the studs of your home, providing a solid surface upon which to nail tar paper, shingles, and siding. In addition to providing much-needed insulation, sheathing keeps the building from shifting in an earthquake.
Lack of Sheathing
tf unsecured foundation retrofit
When a home is not secured, an earthquake can cause it to slide off its foundation, rupturing gas lines, causing fires and other structural damages. A quick visual inspection can often reveal whether your home is secure: Look out for thick bolts and anchor plates that connect the frame to the concrete foundation in your crawl space or basement.
Unsecured Foundation
tf unsecured appliances retrofit
Appliance feed lines are particularly susceptible to breakage when unsecured equipment moves during a quake. Strapping your water heater to the wall or floor, and installing seismic protection for your gas meter can go a long way toward minimizing damage.
Unsecured Appliances
efflorescence small retrofit
Do you think something could be wrong with your foundation? Take a walk around the perimeter of your home. Do you see numerous small cracks in the foundation, or maybe even large ones? Is the concrete flaking off or crumbling in certain places?
Foundation Problems

Schedule your free
Earthquake Evaluation

Book Now

Schedule your free
Earthquake Evaluation

Book Now

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Homeowners in the Pacific Northwest know we live in an active seismic zone.
A little preparedness will go a long way to protecting your home and your family in the event of an earthquake.

The Ultimate Guide to Earthquake Retrofitting in Portland

The Warning Signs of Foundation Damage in Your Home

How to Tell if Your Home is Vulnerable to a Landslide

6.3 Earthquake Hits Near Coos Bay

« Previous View More


HOMES RETROFITTED & HOMEOWNERS PROTECTED

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Roseburg to Eugene, Portland to Seattle, our earthquake retrofitting work speaks for itself

Kimberly K.
Kimberly K.
Marcus was professional and went above and beyond to find the resolve to my sump pump problem. He even stayed late to make sure it was completed entirely so not to inconvenience me with a return visit. Thank you!
Gerardo M.
Gerardo M.
Really good team doing the work. Luis and company were polite, clean and professional. I am very satisfied with the result. Thanks.
Krystina K.
Krystina K.
We were able to get an appointment two days after calling and they were even able to come earlier after checking in to make sure we were available. Even though we were given some hard news about the repairs needed Jason did so in such a friendly and courteous manner. He was very patient with me and explained all of the proposal in detail. I really appreciate all of the time Jason took to help me today. It really made me feel like our house wasn’t just a job.
William Z.
William Z.
I had a positive experience with vapor barrier application to my basement walls, a draining system install that wraps around the basement walls, installation of a sump pump, foundation crack repair, sealing/ vapor barrier install in a crawlspace.
Georgia G.
Georgia G.
The Terra Firma team was wonderful! My foundation was in need of repair for quite some time. Terra Firma stabilized and repaired my foundation with the utmost care. I am extremely appreciative and will recommend Terra Firma to anyone in need of foundation work.
Paul H.
Paul H.
They did a very professional job.when there was a small problem a month later they returned and set it right at no additional charge. Punctual, Professional and Prompt.
Bob C.
Bob C.
Prompt professional team, Sammy Ruiz and the install team - Tyler & Augie - were great to work with. The foundation repair was professionally done. Follow-up 09/13/2024, discovered the dehumidifier had been installed so that the drain line wasn’t working properly. Called TerraFirma and Marcus came out, quickly diagnosed and fixed the issue and cleaned up the water overflow. He was prompt, professional and did a great job. Highly recommend TerraFirma for their work!
Jill R.
Jill R.
We had our house leveled, Jonah was the project manager, Roberto the foreman, James R. and Antonio J. They were very professional and had all the work done in four days, we even had a barbecue with them, with my homemade potato salad... Also they found a leak in our sewer pipes, so that's our next project. I highly recommend TerraFirma, fantastic service ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Janice H.
Janice H.
Very prompt on inspection and the team did a fantastic job leveling our home. The gals in the office were right on top of getting us scheduled right away. Thank you Terra Firma
Dannah B.
Dannah B.
TerraFirma came to my house and repaired my sinking porch. They called when they were in route. Arrived and introduced themselves. Explained what they were going to be doing, asked if I had any questions. They were detailed and professional. Once they completed the work, they walked me through the results and confirmed that I was satisfied with the work. They advised that if I had any concerns, or notice any changes that seemed off, to reach out and they would come out and address the concerns. The office followed up the next day to ensure I was happy with the work. I highly recommend TerraFirma and their team! Thank you for the quality work and overall experience.
js_loader

EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING HOMEOWNER QUESTIONS

How can I assure my home IS ready for an earthquake?

Scheduling a free evaluation with your local TerraFirma System Design Specialist is the first step toward a permanent fix for your home’s earthquake readiness. Your System Design Specialist will conduct an on-site evaluation of your home and depending on several factors a prescriptive seismic retrofit or a custom-engineered system will be designed to bring your home up to standard. TerraFirma takes care of all necessary engineering, permits, labor, and materials.

WILL EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING REDUCE THE COST OF EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE?

Retrofitting your home can potentially reduce your earthquake insurance premiums and deductibles. TerraFirma has seismically retrofitted thousands of houses across the Pacific Northwest and helped homeowners throughout the region qualify their homes for earthquake insurance.

Don’t forget – seismic activity can start a chain of unexpected events that leave unprepared homes severely damaged.