Following any major earthquake, images of crumpled concrete, mangled steel, and disaster recovery teams combing through all of the rubble, looking for any survivors, are all over the news. In fact, according to the WHO, earthquakes were the cause of almost 750,000 deaths worldwide between 1998 and 2017. However, the earthquakes themselves are generally not the actual cause of most injuries and deaths attributed to them. Collapsed buildings, bridges, and roads are actually the greatest danger. As one industry saying goes, it’s not earthquakes that kill people but buildings do.
Ensure the Safety Of Your Home
That means that, as a California homeowner, you should learn as much as you possibly can about earthquake-proofing your home to ensure your family’s safety and yours. One of the best ways to do that is to keep a Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety on-hand. From the foundation to the top of your chimney and everything in between, there are numerous ways that you can make your home more impervious to earthquakes in the future. The guide will also also help with how you are supposed to react when an earthquake begins, therefore covering all the bases.
Select Earthquake-Resistant Materials and Designs
Your home’s current earthquake weaknesses could potentially result in any number of issues, including broken gas or other utility lines, damaged floors, windows, and walls, damage to your home’s contents, fires from a broken gas line, injuries to the occupants, foundation damage, or even damage to your entire home. On the other hand, an earthquake-safe remodel that follows some basic design tips for new homeowners could be the answer that leads to more earthquake safety and less damage in the future. There’s one important thing that all of the optimum construction materials for earthquake-resistance have in common and it’s called “high ductility”. If you’ve never heard of the word ductility, it refers to a building material’s ability to change shape and move without losing its strength or breaking. The most common and ultimately the very best earthquake-resistant materials have traditionally been wood and steel.
New technology has also started playing a significant role in developing some more creative solutions for the future building of much more earthquake-resistant structures. Some of the main aspects of this process include everything from seismic analysis to seismic retrofitting and even seismic sensors. And you can count on professionals, like Gentile Construction Inc. to always be on top of these future solutions. Unfortunately, building a completely earthquake-proof home is virtually impossible, however, you can build a new home (or even remodel your current home) making it much more earthquake-resistant.
Consult an Earthquake Retrofit Specialist
When considering an earthquake-safe remodel, you need to choose a provider of home renovations that offers a 100% complete warranty for all construction work, giving you peace of mind. So, contact them today for a free initial consultation. They know that beginning any home renovation project can be a bit overwhelming, but you’re in good hands with Gentile Construction. You’ll find that their reno process is streamlined, ensuring an experience that’s stress-free so that you can make your reno dreams come true.