A soft-story, or a soft-story building, is an older building with a ground floor garage or other large openings in the center of the building. The ground floor was built without any vertical support and was intended for parking or other uses. When the ground shakes during an earthquake, these buildings can fail in a catastrophic way.
Soft-story buildings are at high risk of collapse during earthquakes. The lack of vertical support makes them more vulnerable to seismic activity and windstorm damage. They are also more likely to suffer major damage from fires after earthquakes. Damage to these buildings can lead to extensive property loss and even loss of life.
Benefits of Soft Story Seismic Retrofitting
Soft Story Seismic Retrofitting is a method of strengthening residential structures against earthquakes by means of inserting steel rods into masonry walls, which are then anchored to the foundation. This can be done during new construction or after the building has been constructed. The procedure can be completed in one day and does not require any disruption to surrounding structures or occupants.
The following are five benefits of Soft Story Seismic Retrofitting:
Safety for Residents
When an earthquake occurs, the upper floors of soft-story buildings collapse onto the floors below them, causing significant damage to residents inside their homes and apartments. This problem can be eliminated by reinforcing the structure with steel rods and by creating a stable wall that will not collapse during an earthquake.
Increased Property Value
There is no doubt that when you invest in home improvement projects like soft story retrofitting, your property value will increase significantly over time. This is because you are ensuring that your home will be safe and secure during an earthquake event, which will make it more desirable to potential buyers when you decide to sell your property at some point in the future.
Reduce property damage
Soft story seismic retrofit can help reduce property damage by increasing the strength of your building's frame and walls. This will help you save money on repairs or rebuilding after an earthquake.
Reduce insurance costs
Soft story seismic retrofits can reduce insurance costs by making your home safer to live in, which means fewer chances of loss from fire, theft, and vandalism and lower premiums because of increased safety features like fire sprinklers or fire alarms installed in your home through these improvements! It may even qualify for lower homeowner's insurance rates!
Improved structural integrity
A soft-story building is inherently more susceptible to damage during an earthquake. By adding steel bracing and shear walls, you can greatly improve the structural integrity of the building. This reduces the risk of collapse during an earthquake and helps protect your home or building from damage.
Soft Story Retrofitting is a great way to keep your home safer in an earthquake. It helps reduce the amount of damage to your home by strengthening soft-story areas like garages and laundries. Soft Story Retrofitting also helps prevent injuries to you and your family from falling debris. Overall, Soft-Story Seismic Retrofitting can help save you a lot of time, money, and heartache if you live in an earthquake country, especially building or remodeling.