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| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a retrofit and how does it work? How long does a retrofit take to finish? How much does a seismic retrofit cost? Do you have to have a building permit? Can a homeowner do the work themselves? If we have earthquake insurance, do we need a retrofit? Our basement is finished- can this work still be done? Do you work outside of Seattle? Do you charge for estimates? Why a certified seismic retrofit technician - why not a handyman? What is a retrofit and how does it work? That is a great question and we have devoted an entire section to it - please see The Solution Page. [Back to the top] How long does a retrofit take to finish? There is ramp up work (i.e. plans and permits) that has to happen first, but when the structural work starts a 2 man crew is usually in and out in about a week. If there are finishes (sheet rock or siding) involved that can stretch the job out. [Back to the top] How much does a seismic retrofit cost? Part of our free consultation deals with the financial end of things as there is no "one size fits all." A straightforward project with either an unfinished basement or a crawlspace under a 2 story house would usually run between $4,500.00 and $8,000.00. That would include whatever was necessary for the project- plans, permit, portapotty, etc. [Back to the top] Do you have to have a building permit? To be legal - yes! All the municipalities in the greater Seattle area require a building permit for this important type of structural work. It is for your protection as well as a permit ensures that there are several sets of eyes looking out for you through the planning and for the actual work in the field. Plus, it gives a paper trail for insurance needs and resale value. [Back to the top] Can a homeowner do the work themselves? Yes. There are folks who have successfully done a seismic retrofit on their home. To be honest though, our experience is that they are in a very small minority. Many more start or think about starting than actually get the job done. There are homeowner's classes done by the City of Seattle and by some neighborhood associations which are critical to a successful conclusion to this work. [Back to the top] If we have earthquake insurance, do we need a retrofit? It depends on what you are after and how you perceive the threat. Some insurers will not issue an EQ policy unless the house has been properly retrofitted, others adjust the premiums once the work has been done and certified. Either way most EQ policies have large deductibles on the whole property value, not on any incurred loss, so there is a sizable risk in that. Also, following a large damaging quake, anyone who can swing a hammer will be booked for months on end. Obviously, we encourage the ounce of prevention method. [Back to the top] Our basement is finished- can this work still be done? Certainly, but, since a retrofit is applied to the actual structural load bearing lengths of the perimeter walls, we need to get behind the pretty finishes to make our attachments. If there are some areas, like a furnace room, that are unfinished we would use those first to minimize the disruption. Then, when the retrofit is done, we need to make it pretty again. [Back to the top] Do you work outside of Seattle? Yes, we work throughout King, Snohomish and Skagit Counties. [Back to the top] Do you charge for estimates? At this time we do not charge for a pre-retrofit consultation with potential clients. We speak on the phone first, to ensure that there is a "fit" and then schedule an on site visit where appropriate. Click here for  free consultation [Back to the top] Why a certified seismic retrofit technician- why not a handyman? Our houses are our biggest investments and although this work is not rocket science, it is crucial that it be done correctly. A certified and experienced team will design and carry out a plan using either a prescriptive design or one customized by a structural engineer. They will also have come across (and overcome) the idiosyncrasies that many Seattle area homes can throw at them. [Back to the top] |