A house better prepared for the next big quake. We look at how your home is built and the ground it sits on, then bolt it to its foundation, brace the cripple walls and add shear walls where it needs them.
Typical: foundation bolting, cripple wall bracing, shear walls, water heater and furnace strapping.
First, your seismic risk
Every house shakes differently. John starts by looking at how yours is built and what it sits on:
What it sits on
- The soil and geology under the house
- A hillside lot
- Whether the foundation itself is adequate
How it is built
- One story or two
- The structural layout
- Open, vaulted ceilings
What holds it together
- Whether the house is bolted to its foundation
- How much the shear walls can take
- The quality of earlier work
The work
Bolting and bracing
Bolt-downs that tie the house to its foundation, cripple wall reinforcement (the short walls between the foundation and the first floor), and shear walls where the house needs them.
Water heater and furnace
Strapping for the water heater and the furnace, so they stay upright when the house shakes.
Gas and water shutoffs
A wrench kept at the gas meter and a water shutoff you can reach quickly. Have your shutoffs been tested? They can get stuck shut or stuck open.
Inside the house
Securing bookshelves, TVs and heavy objects up high, so they stay put when the house shakes.
Ready for the days after a quake, too? See our emergency supply caches.
Did you know?
- The U.S. Geological Survey puts the chance of at least one magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the Bay Area at 72 percent before 2043. Source: USGS
- California law requires every home's water heater to be braced, anchored or strapped against earthquake motion, and a seller must certify it in writing. Source: Health and Safety Code 19211
- After the 2014 South Napa earthquake, FEMA warned that wood-frame homes with cripple walls and too little bolting to the foundation are vulnerable to damage. Source: FEMA P-1024
- California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt program gives up to $3,000 toward a code-compliant retrofit of a qualifying home: wood-framed, built before 1980, on a raised foundation, in an eligible ZIP code. Many Marin ZIP codes have been on its list. Registration opens for a limited time each year. Source: Earthquake Brace + Bolt
- PG&E advises keeping a 12- to 15-inch adjustable wrench near your main gas shutoff valve. Source: PG&E gas safety
What clients say
We've use Leimer for several projects and have been really happy with their quality of work – plus the whole team is super nice. We had a large deck done, a shed built, and an entire bathroom remodel too. I'd highly recommend John and his team.
John and his crew recently completed a remodel of our outdated kitchen in Mill Valley to our complete satisfaction. After interviewing half a dozen contractors, we chose John because of his strong references, trust-inspiring personal style, competence and availability at the desired time.
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The project involved removing and replacing cabinets, counters, backsplash, appliances, painting, plumbing, windows and refinishing floors with more contemporary materials. John is very organized and efficient and is a great communicator. Happily, his team finished the project in 3 months, with little to no lags in between. They went out of their way to be accommodating and considerate, and followed through with every detail up to the very end. We have such a high regard for John and his right-hand man, Brad, whose professionalism, expertise, perfectionism, responsiveness and thoughtfulness surpassed our expectations; in fact, all the subs were terrific. We really enjoyed working with them; they actually made our remodel a pleasant experience. Thanks to John and his team, our kitchen transformed into a beautiful, contemporary gathering place. I highly recommend Leimer Construction!
We used Leimer Construction for a three floor home remodel and were very impressed with the craftsmanship, integrity and professionalism of John Leimer and the skilled trades he utilizes. His Foreman named Scott worked on difficult structural elements of our house, and he is a master carpenter who is very detailed yet works efficiently.
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John Leimer has excellent communication skills and works hard to keep projects on schedule, on budget, and meeting all expectations. We were lucky to find this company!