If you own any commercial buildings in the Los Angeles, California, area, then you know earthquakes are a natural occurrence. In order to keep your tenants, or employees, safe, you may need to have a seismic retrofit done to your building. This includes apartment complexes, hotels, or office buildings. There are a number of companies in the Los Angeles area, but which one is right for you? Here are four steps you should follow to help you answer that question.
1. Make a List
The quickest way to do this is to do a Google search for earthquake retrofitting services in the Los Angeles area. But don’t just hire the first one on the list. Take the time to visit a few of the websites listed in the search results to see what services they offer, how long they have been performing this type of work, and what types of buildings are they experienced with.
Make a list, but keep it short, of the companies that interest you the most. Keeping your list small will help to find the best company for your building, too many options often becomes overwhelming.
2. Find Out How Much Experience They Have
As of today, there are no formal credentials, or certifications, in the field of earthquake retrofitting. You want to be sure that the company you hire has experience and training in seismic modifications, a thorough knowledge of the steps that are needed and they should be up to date on the local building codes and regulations. If the website does not have this information listed, it will be up to you to pick up the phone and find the answers to those questions before you hire them.
3. Get Some Recommendations or Find Reviews
The best way to find out how good a company is, is by asking your friends or colleagues. If any one you know has had an earthquake retrofit done find out who they used and what they thought. Or you can ask other commercial building owners in the area. The internet is also a great place to find reviews from former clients. Be sure to find out what other customer’s experience was like or what they thought of the work that was done.
4. Think of This Project as an Investment in Your Future
This type of construction project is expensive, there is no getting around that. But, don’t dwell on the initial out-of-pocket costs, think of the retrofit as in investment in your future. While it may be tempting to hire the company with the cheapest bid, that doesn’t always mean they will do the best job. The whole idea behind the earthquake retrofit is to ensure your building will remain standing during the next, or future, earthquakes, without costing you a fortune in repairs, or even in lawsuits from one of your tenants or employees being injured or killed. During your initial phone calls be sure to find out everything that is included in the quote.
If you are needing a Los Angeles soft-story earthquake retrofitting contractor, contact Retrofitting 360, for more information about retrofits for commercial buildings in the Los Angeles area.
