Will Your House Survive The Next Big Earthquake?

You are enjoying a lovely summer staycation with your family in New Zealand. Suddenly you feel a strong jolt on the couch you are sitting on, and before you know it, the shed outside falls apart like a pack of cards.

We can’t predict small earthquakes, let alone large ones. You never know; the next life-changing jolt might happen while you read this article.

Seismic Rules

People living in earthquake-prone areas are to make the interior as safe as possible. Living in an earthquake-prone country brings a sense of uncertainty in life.

Though large earthquakes do not happen frequently, they constitute one of the most devastating dangers for the built environment. It’s time to feel secure by building ‘earthquake-proof’ homes. Take a few simple steps, minimise risks, and get sound sleep through the night.

Here are some helpful tips to improve safety and survivability if and when disaster hits.

Tip #1. 
Move tall, heavy furniture or objects away from where people usually sit, eat or sleep.

Tip #2.

Fasten your heavy furniture to the wall using earthquake-safe and strong straps.

Tip #3.

Shift heavy items closer to ground

Tip #4.

Minimise the risk of shattering glass pieces by using protective plastic window film or moving heavy furniture away.

Tip #5.

Store glassware inside secure cabinets.

Pro Tip: 
If you are often away from home, consider installing an automatic valve that will shut your gas supply off in the event of an earthquake.

Earthquakes Do Not Kill People, But Buildings Do

A common saying is that earthquakes do not kill people but falling and flying objects do. Now that you have understood how to arrange your home’s interiors let’s look at the exterior as well.

Even though the most hazardous are your household's flying and falling objects, one must not overlook the building’s foundation, especially if it was built two decades ago.

Begin by checking the perimeter walls. Typically seismic strengthening of houses involves foundation bolting and cripple wall bracing. Homes built directly on concrete slabs do not have crawl spaces, but they will have anchor bolts or straps.

You can strengthen your home’s foundation by seismically retrofitting the basement. You can hire a licensed engineer to inspect your home and locate structural weaknesses that require a retrofit.

Pro tip: 
Water and soil conditions affect a home’s foundation. Keep your roof gutters clean and ensure rainwater runs into drains instead of under the roof.

The tasks may seem daunting initially, but if you take one step at a time, you will get used to them soon enough.

About SB2Build

SB2Build is a leader in renovations, commercial and new builds. Situated at 54 Argyle St

Dunedin, the founder's Sam Barnett and Simon Bone have been in business since 2017, catering to a wide range of clientele. They make building processes enjoyable and stress-free. Find out more about them.

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