Has Your Home Been Secured to its Foundation?

You might be surprised to discover that many homes are not properly secured to their foundation. Foundations that are not secured are not seismically safe, or in other words, are not earthquake-ready. Here are some of the basics you should know about securing your foundation.

What happens when the home is not secured to the foundation?

When the foundation isn’t secured, the only thing holding the home and the foundation together is the force of gravity. When there is an earthquake, or even shifting soil, the foundation and the walls or other supports of the home can become misaligned. This can lead to problems such as cracked walls, bowing floors, roof collapses, and more.

When a foundation is properly secured to the home the walls and supports are protected against the shear (horizontal) forces of shifting soil and earthquakes. The foundation and the home move together protecting the integrity of the home.

How to tell if the foundation is secured?

Many foundations have varying levels of securedness, however, it is more likely for older homes to be improperly secured. Crawl space homes in particular are more likely to have unsecured foundations. So how can you tell if your foundation is safe and secured to the supporting walls of the home?

The best way to be sure is to have a professional engineer inspection. If you want to inspect your foundation yourself check the spaces between the foundation concrete and the walls for bolts and connections. If you see none this is a clear indication that your home may not be properly secured. Even if there are connections, it is possible your home may need either more bolts or other supports for the non-outer wall portions of your home. We always recommend a professional inspection for peace of mind.

How to fix an unsecured foundation?

The most common way to fix an unsecured foundation is through a process called seismic retrofitting. This involves using bolt and brace techniques to connect the stem walls to the walls of the home, as well as adding the necessary support to non-wall foundational beams. Contact Sure Safe today for an engineer-certified inspection of your home.