- (800) 217-2458
- info@goldenretrofit.com
- Serving Los Angeles and surrounding cities
- (800) 217-2458
- info@goldenretrofit.com
- Serving Los Angeles and surrounding cities
OUR SERVICES
Living in Los Angeles means living with earthquakes. The question isn’t if the next big one will hit — it’s when. For homeowners, that makes earthquake retrofitting not just an upgrade, but a necessity.
At Golden Retrofit, we specialize in earthquake retrofit services in Los Angeles, strengthening homes to withstand seismic forces and helping families protect what matters most. Whether you own a 1920s bungalow, a mid-century house, or a newer home that needs upgrades, our team brings the expertise, licensing, and hands-on experience to secure your foundation and walls.
Earthquake retrofitting (sometimes called seismic retrofitting) is the process of reinforcing a home’s foundation and framing so that it can better resist the lateral forces of an earthquake.
Key retrofit methods include:
Foundation bolting – Attaching the wood frame securely to the concrete foundation.
Cripple wall bracing – Strengthening short stud walls between the foundation and floor with plywood shear panels.
Shear transfer ties – Fastening structural components together so floors, walls, and foundation move as one unit.
These techniques significantly reduce the risk of structural failure and collapse during earthquakes.
Los Angeles has one of the largest concentrations of pre-1980 homes in California — built long before modern seismic codes. Many of these houses sit on raised foundations with crawl spaces, which makes them especially vulnerable to lateral shaking.
Common issues we see:
Homes that have never been bolted to their foundation
Weak cripple walls that can collapse, causing the home to “slide off” its foundation
Deteriorated piers and supports that magnify risk during seismic activity
Without a retrofit, even a moderate earthquake can cause catastrophic damage costing $100,000–$250,000+ in repairs. By comparison, a retrofit is a fraction of the cost.
Retrofitting costs vary depending on your home’s size, foundation type, and condition. On average:
Basic bracing and bolting: $3,500 – $8,000
Foundation bolting + shear transfer ties: $6,000 – $12,000
Comprehensive retrofits with repairs: $15,000 – $25,000+
For a full breakdown of expenses and cost-saving options, see our Earthquake Retrofit Cost in Los Angeles 2025 guide.
The California Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) Program provides up to $3,000 in rebates to homeowners who retrofit qualifying homes.
Eligibility: Homes built before 1980 on raised foundations.
Application: Simple online process through the state or Long Beach Seismic Program.
Golden Retrofit advantage: We guide homeowners step-by-step through EBB applications and inspections, increasing approval success.
Learn how we help homeowners maximize savings with the EBB program.
Every retrofit starts with a free inspection, followed by a customized plan tailored to your home. Our process includes:
Inspection & assessment – Identify weaknesses in the foundation, walls, and crawl space.
Engineering design (if needed) – Create plans for larger or more complex homes.
Foundation bolting & bracing – Secure and strengthen the structure.
Quality assurance – Our licensed team ensures all work meets or exceeds seismic standards.
Final inspection & documentation – For your records and insurance requirements.
At Golden Retrofit, we offer a full range of earthquake retrofitting services tailored to your property’s specific needs. Whether you own a residential home or a commercial building, our team will evaluate your structure and recommend the best solutions to improve seismic safety.
Older homes often have weak cripple walls, which can collapse during an earthquake. Our expert team reinforces these walls by installing plywood sheathing and bracing systems to increase their strength and stability.
Foundation bolting secures the structure of your home to its foundation, reducing the risk of the building shifting or sliding during an earthquake. We install high-quality anchor bolts to ensure your property is tightly secured to its base.
Soft-story buildings, commonly found in multi-family residences with open spaces on the ground level (like garages), are highly susceptible to collapse during seismic activity. We provide comprehensive soft-story retrofitting solutions that include adding steel frames and strengthening existing walls.
Chimneys can be hazardous during earthquakes. Our chimney bracing services reinforce or replace older, unstable chimneys, preventing them from collapsing.
Shear walls provide additional strength to your building’s structure by distributing lateral forces during an earthquake. We install these walls to enhance your property’s overall seismic performance.
If you’re unsure whether your property needs earthquake retrofitting, look for these signs:
At Golden Retrofit & Foundation Repair, we’re committed to providing the highest-quality earthquake retrofitting services in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, and surrounding areas. Here’s why homeowners trust us:
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Strengthen your home and protect your family with professional earthquake retrofitting services from Golden Retrofit & Foundation Repair.
Contact us today to schedule your free assessment or get more information about our retrofitting solutions. We proudly serve Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Inglewood, San Pedro, Alhambra, Whittier, Burbank, Gardena, Lawndale, West Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Venice, Santa Monica, Altadena, South Pasadena, Culver City and all surrounding areas. Let us help you make your home safer and more resilient to earthquakes.
For a deeper look at the long-term value and protection it offers, explore the full benefits of seismic retrofit in our latest cost-benefit analysis.
Call us at 800-217-2458 or fill out our online form to schedule your assessment.
Explore our related services, including Foundation Repair, Pier and Post Support Systems, and Foundation Leveling, Crawl space Repair to ensure your home’s foundation is in top condition Also read our Blog section for more tips and insights. As well as checkout our Earthquake retrofitting projects and gallery.
We pride ourselves for the quality of the work we do and we care what our customers say about us.
Earthquake retrofitting is the process of reinforcing a building to make it more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion, and soil failure.
If your home was built before modern seismic codes were established (typically before the 1980s in California), retrofitting is highly recommended.
Depending on the size and complexity of your home, retrofitting can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Retrofitting strengthens your home’s structure, reduces the risk of major damage during an earthquake, and can lower insurance premiums.
The cost varies depending on the size of the home and the extent of the work needed, but it's a worthwhile investment compared to potential repair costs after an earthquake.
In most cases, you can stay in your home during retrofitting, as the work is typically done in the crawl space or basement.
