Located on the northwestern edge of the San Fernando Valley is the city of Simi Valley. Out of the 10 cities in Ventura County, Simi Valley is the third largest. With its location just 40 miles away from downtown LA, this city is no stranger to earthquakes. Like much of the greater Los Angeles area, Simi Valley is working to make its vulnerable structures safer for everyone.
That’s where Simi Valley soft-story retrofit contractors come in. These specialized companies are working hard throughout the Valley to shore-up residential and commercial properties to protect the people who work and live inside. In 2015, the city of Los Angeles adopted some of the strictest ordinances in regards to seismic retrofits.
It was determined that the buildings most at risk during a major earthquake are soft-story, and non-ductile concrete structures. If you own one of these types of properties, you should seriously consider scheduling an assessment to see if your building can withstand the forces of the next earthquake that is sure to hit Southern California.
What is a Soft Story Building?
There are many types of buildings and it can be confusing to know just what kind you own or live in. One of the most common is a soft story building. These buildings have three, or more, stories. They also have a ground floor that is open, usually a commercial space that has windows and doors. It could also include a parking garage. The main categorization of a soft story building is that it is built above ground level.
There are many solutions to retrofitting a soft story building. One option could be creating more shear walls that are better able to prop up existing floors. Or, if these walls already exist, they could be further re-enforced. As for parking garages, they may need extra steel beams or more columns to add more support.
Whatever the modifications your building needs, you don’t have to worry about the details. Retrofitting 360, a reliable retrofit contractor in Simi Valley, are experts when it comes to soft-story structures. They have years of training and experience to help make sure your building is able to withstand any future earthquakes. Remember, that while the soft story retrofit program is mandatory, it is done so with your safety in mind.
What is involved in the process?
A lot of work is needed to complete the retrofit process, so don’t wait until the last minute to get started. Have your chosen Simi Valley soft-story retrofit contractor complete an assessment of your building as soon as possible. Once that is done they will create a detailed work plan for you that includes all of the repairs needed, an estimated cost, a time frame to finish the work. The next step is to acquire all of the necessary permits from the city so the work can begin.
A retrofit may be as simple as adding more steel beams to a parking garage, or more complex, like extending the sheer wall. You need to hire a professional contractor who has the training and skills needed for this type of job. Retrofitting 360 contractors are knowledgeable about the new building policies and will deliver the job effectively, professionally and affordably. After the work is complete, a city inspector will come out and make sure your structure meets the current safety standards.
