No matter how much we humans portray ourselves to be strong and powerful, with regards to to the power of nature, we stand no chance. Like for example each time a quake hits, we are rendered nothing but as sitting ducks. Regardless of being so technologically innovative, we can hardly fight against the power of an earthquake. Every year we get to learn in the news that buildings have been shattered, humans are injured and places have been uprooted because of earthquakes. It is true that we cannot fight against such great power but the least we can do is at least secure our homes against such destruction.
There are several new technologies that have come up which promises to aid secure our houses during a quake. For example earthquake brace bolt is actually meant for protecting our houses against quakes and that is how it gets its name. Today, in this article we are going to find out about the different methods that can help us keep our houses safe during the time of an earthquake. For those who reside in an earthquake-prone area need to give this article a read.
The Various Ways to Improve Your Home during an Earthquake
The different ways that are cited below can actually help you get your house earthquake ready. Even if you don’t reside in an earthquake-prone zone you must follow these ways because you never know when Mother Nature strikes you hard.
1. Repairing and Bolting the Foundation: You should ask yourself the question that whether your house’s foundation is powerful enough to endure an earthquake or not. If you do not get a clear cut respond then, you are aware that it is unsecured. You need to remember that older residences and houses with weaker foundations are in fact that are more prone to earthquakes. This is actually the reason why that you should always build your house on a tough foundation. In cases like this, you may opt for seismic retrofitting. How to Apply Earthquake Brace Bolt? This particular process means repairing a weak foundation of a house. With the help of this process, you can actually make the foundation of your home safer, secure and proof against damage that may be the result of an earthquake. You should also ask the contractor that whether your house is properly attached to its foundation or not. Foundation bolting or earthquake brace bolts are known to attach the wooden frame of your house to the foundation with the help of anchor bolts and metal plates.
2. Bracing The Unreinforced Chimneys And Walls: A lot of the old houses have walls and chimneys made of bricks or another masonry. These are obviously not braced securely and one hit could make them fall down. These type of structures are more likely to crumble down during an earthquake. Therefore, you should get them braced properly by a capable engineer. If any repair is to be done then the engineer can inform you that. If it has been really long that you’ve not got your chimneys and walls checked then, you must do it now. Don’t take all these things lightly or else you may have to be sorry afterward.
3. Bracing The Cripple Walls: Another important thing to consider is the condition of your walls. After all, the walls of your house tend to be more than half of the weight of your roof and so, they really must be strong enough or possibly there can be a huge problem. If you have crippled walls then you need to get them braced as well. In this matter, you should add plywood sheeting in order to shore the crippled walls of your house. It is also wise to use this kind of bracing on the short wood wall that extends from the foundation to underneath the floor of your house. In case if the cripple wall is not strong enough then it may cripple the main floor of your home. These kind of walls could actually crumble down when it comes under the pressure of an earthquake.
4. Check for Damages: Another important thing that most of us often ignore is to check for any damages in our house. A simple crack may also lead to the collapse of the entire structure in the time an earthquake. This is the reason why you should check for damages in your house and get them restored immediately. Be sure that you hire an experienced engineer or contractor to do the job. After all, it’s the security of your home that we are referring to here. So you can’t afford to take it lightly. You should get your whole house examined by an engineer to identify out any concerns so that you can fix them before, it gets too late. After all, a quake does not come knocking at the door but it factually shatters your entire house if maintenance is not taken.
Well, this is how you can make your house earthquake ready. It may not be extensive protection but doing something is always so much better not doing anything.
Thus, from the preceding discussion, it may be concluded that an earthquake is a deadly disaster and therefore, you simply cannot take it lightly specially when you are living in an earthquake-prone zone. You never know when it strikes and thus, it is very crucial to be ready for it. The most vital thing to do is make your home safe which you can do following the various ways that are mentioned above. These ways are not intended for only the people that reside in a quake-prone area but also for the ones who do not live in such areas. After all, you never know what happens and therefore, you cannot take this lightly. We are talking about the matter of life and death here.
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