With the deadline to LA’s Soft-Story Retrofit Program quickly approaching, Los Angeles retrofit contractors have a huge task ahead of them. RetroFitting 360, Inc. is one of the leading companies to specialize in seismic retrofitting. As of right now, we have at least 160 retrofit projects that are in various stages of completion. Our contractors are qualified to retrofit apartment complexes and commercial buildings that have been classified as soft-story buildings.
One of our current projects is this apartment complex on the corner of Glendon Avenue and Lawler Street. It has more than three stories with parking garages on the ground floor. Both of these features make it a soft-story building. Typically, a shear wall is used to give the building stability to withstand a seismic event. Without this reinforcement by RetroFitting 360, this building would be at risk for structural damage during an earthquake.
Los Angeles retrofit contractors put a lot of planning and attention into any seismic retrofit, and RetroFitting 360 is no different. We start by getting the architectural and engineering plans approved by the city for compliance. After the plans have been approved, the construction can begin. In the case of apartments buildings the tenants will be notified before the work begins.
When construction is ready to start, the wood beams will be replaced with new steel beams to provide more stability to withstand the force of an earthquake. Besides replacing old beams with new ones, the building’s connectors will also be replaced or shored up to create a unified structure that stays intact if a seismic event occurs. The shaking of the ground during an earthquake can quickly destroy a weakened building. One of the benefits of a retrofit is to minimize the damage from an earthquake while ensuring the safety of the people inside the building.
What we offer
Over 13,000 buildings around Los Angeles are on the city’s list of soft-story buildings that need to be retrofitted. Owners were issued letters to comply and given a deadline for when the work needs to be completed. Our Los Angeles retrofit contractors can help you get started with a consultation. One of our specialized contractors will walk through your property to assess the conditions and determine what modifications it will need. We will then provide you with a detailed report that includes the work to be done to bring your building up to the city’s ordinances.
RetroFitting 360, Inc. employees are licensed, insured and bonded general contractors and our management team consists of industry professionals with years of experience in the construction and seismic engineering fields. We will work with you throughout the process to make retrofit as painless as possible. Whether you received a notice to comply with the retrofit program, or you are just worried about your building’s foundation and have questions about the process, you can contact us to schedule a free evaluation of your property and find out more about our cost-effective solutions.
