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Wood framing for a large two-story custom home with arched window openings and a tower element

Seismic Retrofits · Ventura, Ventura County

Seismic Retrofitting in Ventura, CA

Bracing and bolting older raised-floor homes in Midtown, downtown and the Westside, by a registered Earthquake Brace + Bolt contractor.

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Seismic Retrofits for Ventura homes

Ventura's older neighborhoods have a large stock of the house type seismic retrofits are designed for: wood-framed homes built before 1980 on raised foundations with short cripple walls. Many Midtown, downtown and Westside houses from the 1910s through the 1940s were built with few or no anchor bolts and unbraced cripple walls.

We are a registered Earthquake Brace + Bolt contractor. We inspect the crawlspace, repair any rotted sill, brace the cripple walls, bolt the house to the foundation and strap the water heater, with the City of Ventura permit and program paperwork handled.

This page covers Ventura specifically. For materials, process and costs in general, see our seismic retrofitting page, and for permits and neighborhoods, our Ventura service area page.

Ventura at a glance

Permits
City of Ventura Building & Safety
From our office
9–16 miles, about 15–35 min
ZIP codes
93001, 93003, 93004

Common seismic retrofit issues in Ventura

  • Unbolted older homes

    Pre-1940 houses often have few or no anchor bolts.

  • Unbraced cripple walls

    Short walls under older homes often have no structural panels.

  • Rot at sill plates

    Old leaks and termites weaken sills that bolts need to grip.

  • Old foundations

    Some of the oldest foundations need engineering instead of the standard plan.

How we approach it

  • Inspection first

    Cripple wall height, anchors, sill and concrete checked.

  • Standard plan or engineer

    Retrofit to the EBB standard plan when the house fits.

  • Paperwork handled

    Permits, photos and EBB documents prepared.

Planning a seismic retrofit in Ventura

Many downtown and Midtown Ventura homes were built before modern foundation anchoring, on raised foundations with short cripple walls. Those houses can slide or tip off their foundations in a strong earthquake. A retrofit bolts the house to the foundation and braces the cripple walls with plywood.

We start with an inspection of the crawlspace, the foundation, the sill plate and any older additions, which may sit on different foundations. For houses on flat lots with typical cripple walls, the California standard retrofit plan usually covers the work. Hillside homes with tall cripple walls need an engineer's design.

The City of Ventura permits the retrofit. The inspector checks the bolts and bracing before the plywood is covered, and we schedule around the counter's Monday-to-Thursday hours.

If your ZIP code is eligible during an Earthquake Brace + Bolt registration period, the program can help with the cost. We can help you check eligibility and prepare for registration.

From our clients

Real Google reviews from LE Construction clients, quoted word for word.

EXCELLENT

5.0 out of 5, based on 17 Google reviews

  • Shawn Whelan

    April 2024 · Google review

    "Luis and Fernando were great to work with all the way through on our Foundation Retrofit. Luis took the time to set up extra meetings and ensure the entire job was done correctly, quickly, and at a great price. He also took charge of all permits and navigating the EBB process to ensure we got our State refund check."
  • Taylor Wilson

    October 2022 · Google review

    "He was easy to schedule and very timely working with the ebb program which is very strict with its rules to qualify. He was able to complete the job quickly, answered all questions, offered up suggestions for future projects, and cleaned up all material and equipment before leaving the job site."

Read all reviews on Google

Brace and bolt your Ventura home

We will inspect the crawlspace and give you a written price.

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Seismic Retrofits in Ventura: FAQs

Do Midtown Ventura homes need seismic retrofits?

Many do. Houses built before modern codes on raised foundations often lack adequate anchor bolts and cripple wall bracing. If your home has a crawlspace and was built before 1980, it is worth having it checked.

Are Ventura ZIP codes eligible for Earthquake Brace + Bolt?

The eligible ZIP code list changes from one registration period to the next. Check the current list when registration opens. We can inspect your house beforehand.

Who permits retrofits in Ventura?

The City of Ventura's Building & Safety Division for addresses in city limits. Old Town Saticoy and other unincorporated areas go through the County. We handle the permit.

Can a retrofit be combined with other work on my Ventura home?

Yes. Pairing a retrofit with a remodel that already involves the crawlspace is efficient. For EBB grant jobs, the permit must be for the retrofit alone, so we keep those permits separate.

Can a Ventura retrofit be finished in a week?

Many standard retrofits take a few days of work in the crawlspace, plus the time to schedule inspections. Engineered retrofits or homes with foundation repairs take longer. We give you a schedule with the estimate.

Other services in Ventura

Nearby areas we serve

Related pages

Serving Ventura and Surrounding Neighborhoods

Seismic Retrofits for homes across Ventura, about 15–35 min from our office in Santa Paula.

ZIP codes we serve here: 93001, 93003, 93004

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