As a property owner, you can’t predict the next earthquake, but you can keep your building and its residents safe with earthquake retrofitting in Santa Clara. Retrofit1 has 20+ years of experience protecting properties like yours with safe, code-compliant reinforcements. With brace and bolding, soft-story retrofitting, and more, we prevent dangerous collapses to save you money and protect tenants when the ground starts to shake.
California Retrofit Grants Now Available for Homeowners
Santa Clara homeowners can access up to $10,000 in combined grant funding to strengthen their homes against earthquake damage. If your home was built before 1980 with a raised foundation, or has living space over a garage, you may qualify for financial assistance through California’s residential mitigation programs.
Available Grant Programs:
- Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB): Up to $3,000 for homes built before 1980 in Santa Clara ZIP codes 95050, 95051, 95054, and 95055. Income-eligible households earning $89,040 or less annually qualify for an additional $7,000 supplemental grant.
- Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS): Up to $13,000 for homes with living space above the garage—one of the most vulnerable structural configurations during seismic activity.
As certified EBB contractors with over 20 years of experience, Retrofit1 manages the complete grant application process. We handle permit coordination, structural engineering, and all inspection documentation required for grant approval.
Additional Financial Benefits:
- Property tax exclusion under Revenue & Taxation Code Section 74.5 prevents seismic improvements from triggering reassessment
- Earthquake insurance discounts up to 25% for completed retrofits
- Increased home value of $15,000 to $30,000 in real estate transactions
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Seismic Vulnerability in the Shadow of Major Fault Lines
Santa Clara sits approximately seven miles from the San Andreas Fault and fifteen miles from the Hayward Fault, two of California’s most active seismic zones. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake demonstrated the vulnerability of unreinforced structures throughout Silicon Valley, causing extensive damage across the Bay Area.
Homes Built Before 1980 Face the Greatest Risk
Properties constructed during Santa Clara’s rapid post-war expansion in the 1950s through 1970s were designed to building codes that predated modern seismic engineering standards. These homes, concentrated in neighborhoods like Rivermark, Old Quad, Westgate, and Central Park, often feature raised foundations with inadequately braced cripple walls.
During seismic activity, these short wood-frame walls between the foundation and first floor are prone to lateral collapse. The result: your home slides off its foundation, causing catastrophic structural damage.
Soft-Story Vulnerabilities
Properties with tuck-under parking, carports, or large window walls on the ground floor face additional risk. The open configuration creates a “soft story” condition where the ground level cannot adequately resist horizontal forces during an earthquake.
Local Soil Conditions Amplify Risk
Santa Clara’s soil composition includes areas of bay mud and artificial fill that can amplify seismic waves and increase ground shaking intensity. Our engineering team designs retrofits specifically calibrated to these localized geological conditions throughout Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino.
“From the first inspection to the final repair, they were super responsive and professional.” – Natassia Y.
Proven Results. Safer Buildings. Happy Clients.
Foundation Strengthening and Structural Reinforcement
Retrofit1 delivers professional seismic retrofitting services designed to address the specific vulnerabilities found in the local residential building stock. Our engineering team evaluates each property’s construction type, foundation condition, and structural configuration to develop targeted reinforcement strategies.
Foundation Bolting and Repair
Anchors your home’s wooden frame to its concrete foundation using steel bolts or foundation plates, preventing horizontal sliding during ground motion. When foundation damage such as cracks, settling, or deterioration is present, our foundation repair services restore structural integrity through pier installation, crack sealing, and leveling before implementing seismic upgrades.
Cripple Wall Bracing
Reinforces the short vertical walls in crawl spaces beneath raised foundations. We install structural-grade plywood or OSB sheathing along these walls, transforming them from weak points into rigid structural panels. This bracing, combined with foundation bolting, forms the core of California’s Earthquake Brace + Bolt program and represents the most cost-effective seismic upgrade for single-family homes.
Soft-Story Retrofitting
Addresses the unique vulnerabilities of homes with living space above garages or open ground floors. We install steel moment frames, reinforced shear walls, and additional structural supports to strengthen weak points and prevent upper-story collapse.
This specialized work requires detailed engineering analysis and qualifies for higher grant amounts through the ESS program.
Shear Wall Installation
Provides additional lateral resistance in properties requiring enhanced structural capacity. These engineered wood panels, properly fastened to floor and ceiling framing, distribute seismic forces throughout the structure and prevent racking or collapse.
Tenant Habitability Program (THP) Navigation
For landlords and apartment owners, we manage the complexities of the Tenant Habitability Program. We develop a clear plan to ensure tenant safety and minimize disruption during the process, handling all necessary notices and requirements.
Code Compliance
All retrofitting work is performed in accordance with California Existing Building Code Chapter A3 and follows FEMA P-1100 guidelines for residential seismic strengthening. Our installations are designed for inspection and certification by Santa Clara County building officials.
Two Decades of Seismic Retrofitting Excellence
Retrofit1 brings over 20 years of specialized seismic retrofitting experience to every Santa Clara project, having completed more than 700 residential and commercial retrofits throughout California. We serve the entirety of Santa Clara County, and provide earthquake retrofitting in San Jose, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill.
Certified CRMP Contractors
We hold California License #1003868 with full liability and workers’ compensation coverage. Our team is CRMP certified for EBB and ESS retrofits and trained by FEMA, ensuring your project can qualify for available grant funding.
Local Expertise That Eliminates Delays
Our engineers understand Santa Clara County soils, seismic hazard zones, and building types. We coordinate directly with the Santa Clara Building Department to streamline permits and inspections and keep projects moving.
Transparent Pricing, No Surprises
You receive a detailed scope, realistic timeline, and upfront pricing before work begins. Project managers handle all inspections and maintain schedule control without hidden fees.
Value Engineering Without Compromising Safety
We review structural plans to identify cost efficiencies, removing unnecessary redundancy while meeting code. The result is an effective, safe retrofit delivered at competitive pricing.
Areas We Serve Across California
The Retrofit1 Approach to Foundation Protection
Our streamlined process ensures your retrofit is completed efficiently, meets all code requirements, and qualifies for available grant funding.
Step 1: Comprehensive Structural Assessment
Our licensed engineers conduct a thorough on-site inspection, examining your foundation, framing, and load-bearing walls to identify specific vulnerabilities including inadequate bracing, loose connections, and soft-story openings. This assessment determines your required retrofit scope and verifies eligibility for EBB or ESS grant programs.
Step 2: Custom Retrofit Design and Engineering
We develop a tailored retrofit plan that maximizes earthquake resistance while controlling costs and minimizing interior disruption. For grant-funded projects, we prepare all required documentation and coordinate with the Santa Clara Building Department to obtain necessary permits.
Step 3: Professional Installation
Our licensed crews install foundation bolts, cripple wall bracing, shear walls, and structural reinforcements using high-grade materials including Simpson Strong-Tie connectors and hot-dipped galvanized hardware. Most standard retrofits are completed in 3 to 5 days with work performed primarily from crawl spaces, requiring no interior access.
Step 4: Final Inspection and Certification
We coordinate the final inspection with Santa Clara County building officials and provide all official documentation certifying your building meets California building codes and grant program requirements. This certification is necessary for claiming earthquake insurance discounts and satisfies all program obligations for grant recipients.
Secure Your Foundation Before the Next Seismic Event
Every seismologist agrees: a major earthquake will strike the Bay Area. The only question is when. Contractor availability is limited, grant funding is finite, and the cost of inaction far exceeds prevention. Retrofit1 has immediate availability for Santa Clara projects and can complete your initial assessment within days.
Don’t wait for the next earthquake to make this decision for you.
Common Questions
Addressing Homeowner Concerns About Earthquake Retrofitting
No. Most Santa Clara retrofits are completed entirely from crawl spaces with no interior access required. You can remain in your home throughout the 3 to 5 day process. Soft-story retrofits may require temporary vehicle relocation from garages, but living spaces remain accessible.
We carefully cut access panels in walls or floors, complete the project, and restore finishes to match existing conditions. Properties with extremely limited crawl space height require alternative reinforcement strategies, which we design on a case-by-case basis.
No. Structural engineering is included in our service for standard retrofits. Complex properties such as hillside homes or buildings with existing structural damage may require additional third-party engineering analysis, which we coordinate on your behalf.
EBB registration opens in January and August at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com. Applicants are selected through random drawing due to high demand. Once accepted, Retrofit1 handles all program documentation, inspections, and final verification required for grant disbursement.
Retrofit costs are not tax-deductible as personal expenses. However, FEMA-funded grants through CRMP programs are not taxable income under IRS Section 139, which excludes disaster mitigation payments from taxable income at both federal and California state levels.
Non-grant projects typically complete within 2 to 3 weeks from initial consultation to final inspection. Grant-funded projects follow program timelines, generally allowing several months for completion after acceptance.
No. Under Revenue & Taxation Code Section 74.5, seismic retrofitting improvements are specifically excluded from property reassessment in California. Your investment does not increase your assessed value or property taxes.
Unreinforced homes risk sliding off foundations, leading to catastrophic damage and repair costs frequently exceeding $100,000. Many homes become uninhabitable for extended periods, displacing families during recovery. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage—only dedicated earthquake insurance policies provide this coverage, with significantly higher premiums for unreinforced structures.
