Retrofitting Post-and-Pier Type Houses
Notes:
Note to Instructor: Much of this section is repetitive with previous sections and is included for completeness. This should take about 15-20 minutes of instruction time.
- Proposed prescriptive method for post and pier type houses
- This section describes a prescriptive method for the seismic retrofitting of post and pier type houses
- What is a post and pier type house?
- Existing housing that is supported along its perimeter walls by a series of wood posts set on top of individual concrete pier pads.
- Post and pier houses are very susceptible to damage because they have an inadequate bracing system to resist earthquake forces below the first floor level.
- An effective bracing system can be provided by:
- installing new “L” shaped partial perimeter foundations at each corner,
- properly connected to the existing first floor framing, or
- using a combination of new partial foundations and new braced cripple walls connecting the existing floor to the new cripple walls.
- Before using this retrofit method, always check with the local building department first