Earthquake Retrofitting in Sunnyvale, California
Don’t Wait for the Quake: Reinforce Today
What Makes Sunnyvale Buildings Especially Vulnerable?
Sunnyvale sits between the San Andreas and Hayward Faults, making it one of the Bay Area’s high-risk zones for seismic activity. When the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit with a magnitude of 6.9, unreinforced buildings across the region suffered devastating structural failures.
While Sunnyvale does not have a mandatory seismic retrofitting ordinance, local officials and engineers strongly recommend upgrades. By acting now, you can protect your property from severe shaking, safeguard your residents, and avoid the financial burden of post-quake reconstruction.
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Seismic Retrofitting Services That Protect Your Property
Our seismic retrofitting services strengthen your building before an earthquake can strike, saving you time and money while protecting your tenants:
Soft-Story Retrofitting
Buildings with wide-open ground floors, parking areas, or large windows are especially likely to fail in a quake. Our soft-story retrofitting adds steel frames, shear panels, and bracing systems to stabilize these weak lower levels and protect the entire structure above them.
Foundation Bolt & Brace Installation Services
Raised foundations and unanchored walls can shift dangerously during seismic shaking, leaving your building unstable. Our bolt and brace installations secure your structure with anchors, steel plates, and bracing systems that lock the frame to the foundation, keeping your property stable when the ground moves.
Foundation & Structural Risk Repair
We evaluate your building’s foundation, framing, and supports to identify risks. This allows us to target vulnerabilities and fix any foundation repairs with structural reinforcements tailored to your property.
Tenant Habitability Programs (THP)
We handle every aspect of your Tenant Habitability Plan (THP) to ensure full legal compliance and minimal disruption during seismic retrofit projects. Our team communicates clearly with tenants, coordinates logistics efficiently, and helps property owners avoid unnecessary delays, disputes, or penalties.
Decades of Retrofitting Expertise in the Bay Area
For more than 20 years, Retrofit1 has focused on one mission: keeping California buildings standing strong when earthquakes strike. With over 700 completed projects, we reinforce your property with proven seismic retrofitting solutions that last.
Here’s what you’ll get when you work with us:
- Professional soft-story retrofitting, foundation bolting, and shear wall installation
- Licensed contractors who meet every California seismic code requirement
- End-to-end project management, from inspections and engineering to permits and construction
- Tenant Habitability Program to keep disruptions minimal while upgrades are completed
Want to see what our experts have to say about your property’s safety? Let’s talk.
How We Retrofit Properties, From First Call to Sign-Off
When it comes to protecting your property, you need professionals. Our retrofitting process reinforces your building step by step, ensuring it remains fully secure and compliant with California seismic standards.
Structural Walkthrough & Risk ID
We walk through your property and inspect its foundation, framing, and structural supports. We look for weak connections, outdated materials, or areas that could fail during heavy shaking.
Tailored Retrofit Plan & Engineering
We create custom retrofit plans engineered for your building’s layout. This plan could include soft-story retrofitting, foundation bolting, or shear wall installation, depending on your building’s vulnerabilities.
Professional Installation & Code Coordination
Our crew installs reinforcements using heavy-duty materials to withstand seismic forces. We coordinate directly with city inspectors to make sure every upgrade aligns with Sunnyvale’s building requirements.
Final QA and City Sign-Off
Once our work is complete, we double-check every bolt, brace, and reinforcement to confirm your property is earthquake-ready. After our quality assurance process, we work with city officials to finalize approvals and provide official sign-off.
Areas We Service Throughout California
Common Questions
Answers to Your Common Retrofitting Questions
In most cases, your tenants can remain in place while we complete the retrofitting work. Our Tenant Habitability Program minimizes disruptions so residents and businesses can go about their daily routines with little interference.
Yes! Buyers and investors see retrofitting upgrades as a major advantage. A retrofitted building often commands a higher value, as it shows you’ve already invested in safety, stability, and compliance with seismic standards.
Soft-story properties with open ground floors, older multi-unit structures, or buildings built before modern seismic codes were in place are more at risk of collapse during a quake. If your property has wide storefronts, tuck-under parking, or sits on an unbolted raised foundation, it’s likely a strong candidate.
Pricing depends on your property’s size, condition, and the specific reinforcements required. A minor retrofit might only need foundation bolting, while a larger multi-story property could require steel frames, braces, and shear wall installation. We’ll provide a clear estimate upfront, so you know what to expect.
Book a Free Seismic Assessment for Your Building Today
Earthquakes won’t give you a warning, but you can be prepared. At Retrofit1, we’ve spent over 20 years reinforcing properties across California with soft-story retrofitting, foundation bolting, and seismic upgrades, keeping your building safe and stable when the ground shifts.
