SF and Daly City: Scarier than Halloween: Earthquakes
Tuesday’s 5.6 earthquake is a less than gentle reminder that Bay Area residents live on top of several fault lines. And fault lines shift. Homeowners, prospective homeowners, and renters alike have reason to wonder if their homes are safe. Resources to draw on include”Liquefaction Maps” which highlight areas most likely to liquify in a large earthquake. These maps can help you chose homes which are built on land less vulnerable to such a terrifying phenomenon.
Another resource, perhaps one to help your home not become liquid at all (yes, please?), is the foundation upon which your home rests. Many homes on the market today include reinforced foundations that are retro-fitted for seismic safety. This improvement is in fact a major selling point, and one you should consider when selling or buying.
Concrete and steel in foundations and construction are among two of the strongest, most reliable materials for durability. Studies show that “Homes built with reinforced concrete walls have a record of surviving earthquakes intact, structurally sound and largely unblemished,” and that ”the combination of concrete and steel provides the three most important properties for earthquake resistance: stiffness, strength, and ductility”:
(Source: http://www.cement.org/homes/brief10.asp)
Want some strength in your foundation? Stay tuned: I’ll be posting some current listings that offer concrete, steel, or a combination of the two; such construction is your best defense against one of the Bay Area’s major faults: its fault lines.
Photo credit: http://www.laughingsquid.com
