With buildings in California, as with people, the term old is relative. That is, unless the house was built before 1980. If it was, it qualifies as an old home in one important way: earthquake safety. Most modern seismic building codes did not take effect until the 1980s, so if the home was constructed before then, it’s probably at higher risk of sustaining major damage in a temblor.
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up your beloved Victorian or Craftsman house. Most older homes can be retrofitted to be safer and more stable. The process is typically simpler and less expensive than you might expect.
“Spending a smaller amount of money to help prevent damage can help avoid a much bigger repair bill after an earthquake,” says Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). “Whatever the cost, it is a relatively small price to pay to protect the value of your home and, more importantly, make it safer for your family.”
To retrofit your home, contractors will likely go into the crawl space underneath it to brace the walls and bolt the structure to the foundation. Depending on the type of retrofit your house needs, the job usually takes a few days. In most cases, contractors can complete the project without ever entering your home.
