I recently bought a single-story wood house from 1947 in Marin County, California. It doesn't have any foundation issues, but it does have some seismic retrofitting done. About 20 feet of the foundation has a cripple wall that's roughly 3 feet high, while the rest is on concrete posts and piers. I had a company inspect it, and they provided an estimate for further retrofitting to meet current code standards. The necessary work includes foundation to mudsill anchoring, mudsill to top plate anchoring, and updating the shear walls on the cripple walls, all costing around $13k after a grant. The house is already bolted to the foundation with washers, and there are plywood shear walls in place that seem decent, although it appears to be a DIY job. I'm trying to decide if the additional work and cost are worth it, considering what I've already got in place. Will the existing seismic features hold up, or should I invest the $13k to bring it all up to code?
4 Answers
I say just go for it. Spending $13k on safety is totally reasonable. Plus, if you ever sell, you'll likely have to disclose what you know about the condition, so it's better to be safe now rather than later.
Definitely consider applying for the Earthquake Brace and Bolt program if you're in California! They usually cover half the retrofit cost, and it's worth checking out. The process is straightforward and can help ease the financial burden.
Your house has lasted nearly 80 years, so it’s doing okay. But if there’s any chance of an earthquake, it’s worth considering the upgrade just for the safety aspect.
I’d recommend doing it. Living in Marin, $13k is likely a small portion of your home’s overall value, so it could be a smart investment for safety and peace of mind.
Absolutely! I applied and got it the second year after waitlisting. The contractors are vetted, and they took care of most of the paperwork. It really gives you peace of mind knowing your home is safer.