FAQ
Every Question, Answered Plainly
Retrofitting is the most question-driven trade we work in — as it should be, for a four- or five-figure structural decision. Here is everything owners ask us, with the same answers you’d get at your kitchen table.
The Basics
What is an earthquake retrofit?
Strengthening the weak points that let a house fail in strong shaking. For most homes that means bolting the wood frame to the concrete foundation and bracing the short crawlspace walls (cripple walls) with structural plywood. The goal is simple: the house stays on its foundation.
Does my house need a retrofit?
Likely yes if it was built before 1980, sits on a raised foundation (crawlspace under the floor), and has never been retrofitted. Likely no if it's on a concrete slab, built after 1980, or already retrofitted. Our free evaluation answers it definitively — and if the answer is no, we say no.
What is a cripple wall?
The short wood-framed wall between your foundation and your first floor — usually 1 to 4 feet tall, visible in the crawlspace. Unbraced cripple walls folding sideways is the classic way older houses fall off their foundations, and plywood bracing is the fix.
How long does a retrofit take?
Most single-family brace-and-bolt projects take two to four days, and you don't move out. Bolt-only jobs can finish in one to two days.
Cost & Money
How much does an earthquake retrofit cost in Los Angeles?
Foundation bolting alone: $3,000–$7,000. Brace-and-bolt: $5,000–$10,000. Chimney bracing: $1,500–$8,000. We publish full ranges on our cost guide because hiding numbers is how fear-selling starts. Your firm quote comes from a free evaluation.
Will a retrofit lower my earthquake insurance?
Verified retrofits on qualifying older homes earn California Earthquake Authority premium discounts of up to 25%. We provide the documentation to submit.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes — cash, senior, and military discounts on every job, and free evaluations always. Mention them when you book.
Are your quotes firm?
Yes. We quote after seeing the actual structure, so the number holds. If something genuinely unforeseeable turns up mid-job, work stops and you approve any change first.
The Work Itself
Do I have to move out during a retrofit?
No. Home retrofits happen in the crawlspace with water and power on. Expect some daytime drilling and nailing noise — that's the extent of it.
Who does the engineering?
Most single-family retrofits follow the standard retrofit plan and need no custom engineering. Garage steel frames and hillside homes need engineered plans, which we coordinate as part of the job.
What's in the free evaluation?
30–45 minutes on site: foundation, bolts, cripple walls, chimney, water heater strapping, gas shutoff. You get written findings with photos and a firm quote if work is warranted. If it isn't, we tell you that.
Can you fix my foundation and retrofit at the same time?
Yes, and that's the right order — bolts are only as strong as the concrete they anchor into. Mud sill repairs and sectional foundation work happen first, then the retrofit, usually as one continuous project.
What if you find a plumbing or construction problem during the job?
We route it honestly. Mickey also owns One Hour Plumbing Service and Any And All Construction — plumbing repairs go to the plumbing team, remodel-scale work goes to the construction team, and nothing gets upsold onto your retrofit bid.
Still Have a Question?
Ask it at your free evaluation — or just call. Real questions get real answers, not a sales sequence.
Free estimates. Cash, senior, and military discounts.