Why Soft-Story Retrofitting Matters in Venice & Santa Monica
Venice and Santa Monica, known for their coastal charm and vibrant communities, are also highly susceptible to earthquakes. Many older multi-story buildings in these areas have a soft-story design, where the ground floor is open for parking or commercial space, making them vulnerable to collapse during seismic activity.
Soft-story retrofitting strengthens these buildings to withstand earthquakes and ensures compliance with California’s seismic safety mandates, protecting property and lives.
What is a Soft-Story Building?
A soft-story building is a multi-story structure with a weak or open lower level, often used for parking or commercial space. These buildings were commonly built before modern seismic codes were established, leaving them at high risk for collapse in an earthquake.
The Risks of Not Retrofitting
Without retrofitting, soft-story buildings face severe risks during seismic events:
- Structural failure and collapse
- Severe property damage
- High repair and rebuilding costs
- Liability risks for property owners
- Non-compliance with California’s retrofit mandates
What Does Soft-Story Retrofitting Include?
At Golden Retrofit & Foundation Repair, our expert team specializes in reinforcing soft-story buildings to meet seismic safety standards. Our process includes:
✔ Installing Steel Reinforcement Beams – Strengthening weak lower levels to increase structural integrity. ✔ Adding Moment Frames – Providing additional support to prevent collapse. ✔ Foundation Bolting – Securing the structure to its foundation for added stability. ✔ Shear Wall Installation – Distributing seismic forces to reduce strain on the building. ✔ Complying with Local Seismic Codes – Ensuring your building meets Venice, Santa Monica, and Los Angeles County retrofit requirements.
Who is Required to Retrofit?
The City of Los Angeles and Santa Monica have passed mandatory soft-story retrofit ordinances requiring certain buildings to undergo seismic strengthening. Property owners with multi-story buildings constructed before 1978 that have weak first floors must comply with these regulations.
Benefits of Retrofitting
- Protects lives and property during earthquakes
- Prevents costly damage and insurance issues
- Increases property value by meeting modern safety standards
- Complies with seismic safety regulations to avoid fines and penalties
Why Choose Golden Retrofit & Foundation Repair?
With years of experience in seismic retrofitting, foundation repair, and structural reinforcement, we provide top-quality retrofitting solutions in Venice, Santa Monica, and beyond. Our licensed experts handle every step of the retrofitting process, ensuring fast, efficient, and code-compliant solutions.
📍 Serving Venice, Santa Monica, and surrounding coastal cities.
Get a Free Soft-Story Retrofit Consultation
If you own a soft-story building in Venice or Santa Monica, don’t wait until the next earthquake strikes. Protect your property, tenants, and investment with professional seismic retrofitting.
📞 Call us at (800) 217-2458
