How can you make your house earthquake proof?

As an expert in structural engineering, I can provide you with some key strategies to make your house more resistant to earthquakes. It's important to remember that no house can be completely "earthquake proof," but there are significant steps you can take to increase its resilience. English Answer: 1. Foundation Bolting: Ensure that the house is securely bolted to its foundation. This involves checking for and installing thick bolts along the top of the sill plate, which is the first horizontal member at the base of the house. 2. Anchorage: Steel plates or anchor bolts can be used to connect the sill plate to the foundation. This helps to prevent the house from sliding off its foundation during an earthquake. 3. Cripple Walls: If your home has short wood frame walls (called cripple walls) between the foundation and the first floor, these areas should be braced and sheathed with plywood to prevent collapse. 4. Sheathing: The use of strong sheathing materials can help to tie the structure together, providing additional strength against lateral forces during an earthquake. 5. Retrofitting: For older homes, retrofitting can involve adding steel bracing or installing additional support beams to reinforce the structure. 6. Soft Story Retrofit: This is a common weak point in buildings with open spaces on the ground floor. Retrofitting these areas can involve adding steel beams and columns to provide better support. 7. Water and Gas Shut-Off: Install shut-off valves that can be easily accessed to quickly turn off water and gas in case of a quake to prevent further damage. 8. Non-Structural Elements: Secure heavy objects, such as bookshelves and appliances, to prevent them from falling and causing injury. 9. Professional Inspection: Have a professional structural engineer inspect your home to identify any weaknesses and recommend specific improvements. **

To check whether your house needs earthquake strengthening, go into the crawl space or basement and look for thick bolts along the top of the sill plate, and for steel anchor plates that tie an edge of the sill plate to the side of the foundation.