Hiring Contractors for Home Retrofitting

Retrofitting your home is an important step to increasing your home's structural integrity for an earthquake. This does not mean that retrofitting will "earthquake proof" your home (there is no such thing).

We cannot recommend specific contractors, so we suggest that homeowners do additional research, including checking references, experience, and current professional standing before selecting a contractor to help with home projects. We recommend YOU, as the homeowner, also attend a FREE 2-hour Homeowner Class to be a better informed consumer when working with a contractor. Many of your retrofit questions and guidance on how to work with a contractor will be answered in the Homeowner Class. Find out when our next class is offered by checking our calendar.

Make sure a contractor is registered, with a bond and insurance, and is certified (licensed) in Washington. You are strongly encouraged to check with the Department of Labor & Industries for any changes in licensing status. Labor & Industries can be reached at 1-800-647-0982, or by accessing their web site. Beware of unregistered contractors for earthquake damage repairs.

Consumer tips on hiring contractors:

• Home Retrofit is permit driven, with a "fast-track" permit process. Do not let a contractor talk you out of obtaining a permit or out of the required inspections by the building department -- particularly the final inspection. This is your assurance the retrofit is completed per the plan, which is to make your home safer against earthquake movement.
• o An authorized final inspection can be proof your home was retrofitted according to the permit which may assist you in qualifying/maintaining earthquake insurance, or may assist in the future sale of your home.
• The Labor & Industries brochure and tips on hiring contractors
• Hiring a Contractor or Remodeler (PDF)
• Contractors

Earthquake Home Retrofit Workshop for Building Professionals

For a number of years our office has offered training to building professionals interested in learning about a consistent, approved Regional approach to the seismic retrofit of older, wood-frame homes. The construction contractors who complete the Professional Home Retrofit Training offered by the University of Washington Extension Program go through a six-hour course which includes:

• Background information about principles of seismic design for retrofitting residential buildings;
• Seattle Department of Planning & Development (and other participating building departments) permit and code requirements for residential retrofitting;
• Details about completing a Standard Earthquake Home Retrofit (SEHR);
• A brief presentation of important legal issues.

Typically this training is offered once a year in the spring time. If you are a contractor wanting to attend the next class, click here.

We do maintain a Trained Contractor List of those individuals who have attended our six-hour building professionals training. At the time of the printing of this list, these contractors held valid Washington State contracting licenses. Contractors listed may offer other services in addition to residential retrofitting, such as new construction and remodeling. Unless otherwise noted, they are licensed as general contractors.

Call 1-877-2-BOLT-IT for more information on this and to receive a free package of information.