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Grants for quake-retrofits available to more homes around LA
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A contractor with Seismic Safety shows the proper technique for applying plywood braces to a cripple wall.
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Good news for homeowners worried about earthquakes. The state is giving out more grants to certain single family homes in need of a critical type of retrofit.
The houses that qualify are wood-frame structures built before 1979 that sit on a concrete foundation, sometimes with nothing but gravity keeping them in place.
They also must be built on level or low slope ground and have a raised foundation with what's called a cripple wall under the first floor (it should be no taller than four feet).
This type of home can slide off its base during a quake, resulting in severe damage. That happened to several structures during last year's 6.0 temblor in Napa.
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Fixing the problem is relatively easy, as far as retrofits go.
It involves bolting the frame to its foundation and using plywood to brace the structure against shaking. The work typically costs between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the home.
To help offset the expense, the California Residential Mitigation Program will offer grants of up to $3,000 to qualified homeowners looking to make the fix.
It’s an expansion of a program officially launched earlier this year called Earthquake Brace and Bolt.
During the first phase, money was offered to more than 500 homeowners. This time officials are hoping to sign up 1,000 more.
CRMP will start taking applications in January 2016.
However, only homes in certain parts of Los Angeles, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and San Bernardino can apply. See below for a full list of qualified zip codes.
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Los Angeles: 90004, 90005, 90006, 90012, 90013, 90014, 90015, 90017, 90019, 90020, 90021, 90023, 90026, 90027, 90028, 90029, 90030, 90031, 90032, 90033, 90036, 90038, 90039, 90041, 90042, 90057, 90063, 90065, 90068, 90071, 91604
Pasadena: 91101, 91102, 91103, 91104, 91105, 91106, 91107, 91108, 91110, 91114, 91115, 91116, 91117, 91118, 91121, 91123, 91124, 91125, 91129, 91131, 91175, 91182, 91184, 91185, 91186, 91187, 91188, 91189, 91191
South Pasadena: 91030, 91031
Santa Monica: 90401, 90402, 90403, 90404, 90405, 90406, 90407, 90408, 90409, 90410, 90411
West Hollywood: 90046, 90048, 90069
San Bernardino: 92404, 92405
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