How Strong Is Your Home Structure When An Earthquake Hits?

The ground beneath us has been moving since the beginning of time. Earth itself is a living planet, its inner core shifting from left to right, up and down, causing tremors to the surface ground. These movements, whether light or vigorous, create minimal to destructive effects on houses, buildings, and any other type of structure standing upright.

From a government earthquake report posted in March 2016, a total of 21 earthquakes in Texas were recorded in 2015. This is a comparably small figure to Oklahoma’s 888 ground movements in the same year, or to a whopping 1575 quake recordings in Alaska. Houston, Texas may not be as prone to this natural phenomenon as the other states with higher numbers, but it doesn’t mean everyone can relax.

News across the globe about earthquakes ranging from magnitude 6 to 8 has resulted to several deaths due to buildings collapsing, roads caving in, and sudden sinkholes appearing. Unfortunately, no machine or gadget has been able to predict the coming of an earthquake. The question now is how can you remain safe in your own home?

The Strength Of The Housing Structure

Some families, as a precautionary measure, would choose to sell my house Houston to relocate in a community with lesser quake movements and fewer natural disaster occurrences. While this is a good way to keep your family safe, it may be relatively impractical. Experts on structural issues would recommend strengthening the conditions of a house or building.

In Houston, we buy houses from families with difficult building issues. In as much as possible, we provide solutions and practical advice on the most common housing problems to homeowners who still wish to keep the property. Below is a checklist for an earthquake resistant house.

#1 Who built or designed the house? – Was it designed by a licensed architect? Was it built by a licensed builder?

#2 How old is the house? – The more recently the structure has been built, the better the chances more natural disaster precautions and updated best practices have been utilized in the planning and building… especially in earthquake-prone regions.

#3 Was the property damaged by previous earthquakes or other natural acts? – Has it been properly repaired? Has it been treated for structural issues?

#4 What is the condition of the property? – Are walls and foundations straight or curved and bulging? Has it been remodeled, expanded or extended?

#5 What is the foundation made of? – Were stones used or reinforced concrete?

#6 What about the house’s overall condition? – Do you have a fairly new house, newly renovated, twenty years or older, or has undergone several repair jobs?

If your answers to the questions in the checklist are leaning to the positive side, then your property should withstand minimal shaking of the ground. You can also consult a structural engineer to conduct a thorough inspection and provide expert input on improving the building structure of your house, fix existing structural issues or prevent a structural collapse.

Know That You Have An Option

Every family is allowed to settle in a neighborhood that can offer safety and comfort. If the news on any recent earthquakes and other disastrous occurrences near you has you concerned, or you are dealing with any kind of financial crisis you have the right to sell my house Houston any time.

SellAnyHouse.com will help you with speeding up the process of selling your property. Our process often gets completed in as little as 5 days without charging any closing fees. Therefore, you can rest well and avoid stress while you look for a new place to live. We make it simple, hassle-free, and fast.

We are a click away if you need assistance!

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