EARTHQUAKE-PROOFED MY FIRST BUILDING AND IT ACTUALLY WORKED
Couldn’t agree more with this:
I’ll take a bolted sill plate over a fancy faucet any day.
Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked into a house where the owner’s just dropped serious cash on quartz counters—meanwhile, their foundation’s basically hanging on by a wish and some termite poop.
- You can always swap out fixtures, but try swapping out a failed foundation without taking out a second mortgage.
- Retrofitting isn’t sexy. No one’s showing off their new shear walls on Instagram. But you know what’s even less sexy? A house that’s slipped two feet off its foundation.
- I get it—everyone loves the shiny stuff. But if your cripple walls are just old 2x4s and hope, it’s like putting lipstick on a… well, you know.
One time I had a client who insisted on spending her whole budget on subway tile and pendant lights. Six months later, after a minor quake, she called in a panic because her doors wouldn’t close anymore. That was an awkward conversation.
Bottom line: paint colors can wait. Bolts and bracing first, bragging rights later.
Couldn’t agree more with the “bolted sill plate” comment. I’ve got a 1920s bungalow, and when we finally got around to retrofitting, I was shocked how much difference it made—doors actually stayed square, and the floors stopped creaking so much after a mild shake. Sure, my kitchen still looks like it’s stuck in the ‘70s, but at least I’m not worried about my house skating down the street during the next quake. Fancy tile can wait... stability first.
Fancy tile can wait... stability first.
That’s exactly what I keep telling myself, but I’m still a little confused about how much difference bolting the sill plate actually makes. Did you notice any new cracks or weird settling after the retrofit? I’m worried about messing up the old plaster walls.
Did you notice any new cracks or weird settling after the retrofit? I’m worried about messing up the old plaster walls.
I had the same worry, honestly. My house is 1920s with that crumbly plaster, and I was bracing for disaster. But after bolting the sill plate, I didn’t see any new cracks—if anything, things felt tighter. The only spot that got a hairline was right above a door frame, and it hasn’t grown. I think the key is going slow and using a good hammer drill. It’s nerve-wracking, but the peace of mind is worth it.
Yeah, I was sweating bullets about the plaster too—mine’s like ancient chalk. I did get a couple tiny cracks, mostly near the window trim, but nothing major. I actually expected a lot worse. Maybe I just got lucky? Or maybe those old walls are tougher than they look. Either way, I’d take a few hairlines over the whole house sliding off the foundation...
