Seismic Retrofits Scientifically Designed to Protect Your Home and Family

Yes, the big one is coming. Seismologists are in full agreement that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is long overdue for a significant earthquake. Fortunately, since 1992, our family-owned company has been on a mission to make Portland area homes and families safer! In that time, we’ve led the way in designing and implementing seismic retrofits tailored to a building’s unique architecture and environment. Our seismic retrofit will keep your home securely on its foundation, so you can safely shelter-in-place during the long recovery period following a devastating quake. We believe that all Portland families should be protected, so we keep our costs competitive and affordable.


Call us for a free in-home consultation today.

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Let’s Talk Dollars. And lots and lots of Sense.

Protecting your lives and your most valuable asset will help you sleep well at night. You can’t put a price on that. Our customers are usually surprised to find that retrofitting their home costs less than they had anticipated: Most of our retrofits cost between $3,500 and $6,000, though costs depend greatly on size, construction type, and any finishes. To be sure, it’s money well spent when you consider it may mean the difference between sheltering in your own home (sheltering-in-place) and taking refuge in a community center.

Seismic Forces:
How an Earthquake Damages
Your Home

During a seismic event, the ground and everything on top of it rolls and sways. The seismic force in an earthquake is primarily “lateral.” Older, masonry buildings may collapse under these forces, and many unanchored wood-framed houses will be forced off their foundations, causing significant damage. 


We Follow Earthquake Retrofit Science for Greater Safety

Seismologists know that we are long overdue for a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. (Or one of our three local faults.) As Cascadia disaster specialist, Professor Yumei Wang said, “it’s like we’re 9-1/2 months pregnant.” But science also tells us how to prepare for this. Along with a full assessment of your home, we perform a calculation called the Base Shear Formula to determine how to correctly anchor your house to its foundation and shift loads to the strongest component. The goal is ensure that your house stays put, sustaining minimal, and likely only cosmetic, damage, so you can shelter-in-place.

Seismic Forces:
How an Earthquake Damages Your Home

During a seismic event, the ground and everything on top of it rolls and sways. The seismic force in an earthquake is primarily “lateral.” Older, masonry buildings may collapse under these forces, and many unanchored wood-framed houses will be forced off their foundations, causing significant damage. 


We Follow Earthquake Retrofit Science
for Greater Safety

Seismologists know that we are long overdue for a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. (Or one of our three local faults.) As Cascadia disaster specialist, Professor Yumei Wang said, “it’s like we’re 9-1/2 months pregnant.” But science also tells us how to prepare for this. Along with a full assessment of your home, we perform a calculation called the Base Shear Formula to determine how to correctly anchor your house to its foundation and shift loads to the strongest component. The goal is ensure that your house stays put, sustaining minimal, and likely only cosmetic, damage, so you can shelter-in-place.

Is Your Home Safe in an Earthquake?

Unfortunately, probably not. That’s because prior to 1974, houses in Oregon were not even required to be anchored to their foundation! Anchoring is the most important thing you can do to prevent a collapse of your home. The second most important thing is anchoring correctly. Unfortunately again, most earthquake retrofits have not, and continue not to be done according to best practices. Thanks to continuing research and testing, we know what works. Engineering techniques and approaches have improved dramatically. A correctly performed seismic retrofit takes into account your home’s size, orientation, height, and surrounding geology. There’s no cookie-cutter solution!

As featured on This Old House and OPB

Group 4

“… Every single person I dealt with at NWS was professional and grounded.I mean, honestly, there was no BS at all….The whole process was great. "

Kristen C.

Group 4

“I found them to be very professional. They did exactly what they said, when they said, and at the price that they quoted."

Michael K.

Group 4

“I think the best part is that they really know what they're doing… I felt very comfortable with [them]." 

Tamara O.

Group 4

“I wish contractors were all that easy to work with" 

Richard M.

Group 4

“… Every single person I dealt with at NWS was professional and grounded.I mean, honestly, there was no BS at all….The whole process was great. "

Kristen C.

Group 4

“I found them to be very professional. They did exactly what they said, when they said, and at the price that they quoted."

Michael K.

Group 4

“I think the best part is that they really know what they're doing… I felt very comfortable with [them]." 

Tamara O.

Group 4

“I wish contractors were all that easy to work with" 

Richard M.

Our Services

Purchase inspections

Are you looking at buying a home? Make an appointment to have us out to assess the foundation quality, and provide you with a quote for a retrofit.

Seismic Retrofitting

Seismic retrofitting is the process of transferring lateral loads generated in an earthquake from the house to the foundation.

Foundations

Does your home have a brick, block or crumbling foundation? Here at NW Seismic we have many solutions to your problem.

Gas Valves

Historically, post-earthquake fires have been responsible for a lot more home damage than from the earthquake itself.

SEE ALL SERVICES

Why Us

30

Years of experience

>5000

Successful projects

10

Trained professionals

MORE ABOUT US
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