A lot of Bay Area homeowners call saying, “I think I need foundation repair,” when what they actually need is a seismic retrofit – or sometimes both.
In this video, we break down the difference so you don’t pay for the wrong thing.
Foundation repair is about fixing damage that’s already happened:
• Major cracks and broken sections • Obvious settlement • Concrete that’s no longer doing its job
A seismic retrofit is about strengthening an existing structure that’s still mostly intact so it behaves better in an earthquake:
• Adding bolts and anchor plates • Bracing cripple walls with structural plywood • Tying floors to walls with connectors • Installing hold downs at critical corners
You can have:
• A “repaired” foundation that’s still unsafe in a quake if it’s not anchored and braced, or • A good retrofit sitting on a section of foundation that really needs repair.
At Avant Garde, our first question is:
“Do we have a damage problem to repair, a strength problem to improve, or both?”
A proper evaluation should tell you:
• What’s seismic vs what’s foundation vs what’s drainage • What’s urgent vs what can wait • The right order to tackle each issue
Want professional eyes on your home?
We offer a detailed Seismic Safety Visit where we look at:
• Foundation and crawl space conditions • Seismic vulnerabilities and missing connections • Basic drainage and water behavior around your home
