[dfphoto]

Hi group, my mom has a smaller 1950's house, in the Beach area of Los Angeles, Ca. The house has not been bolted to the foundation and I was wondering if this is something I could do.

From research it looks like a 3 step process.
1. drill (hammer drill) through the 2x4 into the cement blocks every 4-5' add a cement screw (forgot the name at the moment designed for bolting) add a washer and tighten. I forgot I'm suppose to use a shop vac to clear out the hole.
2. add 2x4's in vertical and horizontal support above the the foundation.
3. 3/4-1" panels cut with breather holes with mesh to suppress rodents and screw them in over the above modifications.

In my mom's particular home the crawl space is about 18" tall to the beams and another 1' or so to the subfloor.

The house is 1100 sq. about 35x35 single story. This seems like it would take me about 7 days, there are l type brackets should there be areas where I cannot use a hammer drill straight down.

My questions are, companies make the bolts in different sizes from 1/4" to about 3/4" 3-7" I believe, I was going to try a 1/2" x 4-5" depth, on the 2x4s I was going to go for treated wood (brown stuff) and use wood glue and maybe nails unless screws are better (stainless or deck screws at 3")

On the panels not sure about that type of wood, wondering if anyone has done this, it costs about 5-8' for a crew to do it, I don't have that type of cash I think materials will be about 500-700 I have a palm nailer, compressor, screw gun, hammer drill shop vac, miter saw, and I've been under there a bit doing insulation. I think I'm about an intermediate level diy.

Hope anyone can give me some advice. Thanks Dave

 

[Ron6519]

There are various connecting hardware you can use. Unless the block is filled with concrete, bolts will not work. In any case, screws will not do the job.
Are the blocks filled with concrete or are they hollow?

 

[Oso954]

You are in an earthquake zone. If you want an earthquake type retrofit, you need to get an engineer to inspect your foundation to detirmine it's adequacy. He can design the type(s) of tie downs and identify any reinforcement you should use for your foundation.

Some of the concrete block foundations are inadequate and the reinforcement costs are high enough that the recommendation comes back to replace the block with a poured foundation. I hope that is not the case for you.

Based on the engineers design, you can make the detirmination on whether you can tackle the job.

 

[Mingledtrash]

I urge you to hire a structural engineer for 1. some walls may need more bolts than others, you may need to add hold downs. 2. If you have a structural report detailing a modernization and inspection by the city. then, if and when, you go to sell the house this will significantly increase the value.

That being said if you just want to increase safety any bolts are better than none. You need to use 1/2 x 6 in. anchors. IRC says maximum of every 6 ft. and within 12 in. of plate ends but it could be different for your location and/or seizemic zone. Where i am at they are almost always put in maximum every 32 in.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-...Screw-Anchor-2-Pack-THD50600HMG-RP2/100375203

and
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-...late-with-1-2-in-Dia-Bolt-LBPS-1-2Z/100506804

when using titen hd poring a little water down the hole will help them go in easier.

you may need these as well
http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/LTT-HTT.asp

hear is an example.

 

[carpdad]

I'd like to ask why you want to reinforce that area? Are you assuming or did you get a specific information about your house frame to foundation connection? I am not an engineer, a carpenter, and am saying this under my own assumptions. It seems to me that if an earthquake is strong enough, a frame house will rack first. So if I live in a house that is not reinforced, I'd start with walls first, and that is because the walls support the roof and the roof falling on my head would be the most dangerous thing, as far as the structure is concerned. I don't know just how much the house can move from its position on the foundation. I am thinking the wall will rack first before the house moves from the foundation.
If you are worried about the earthquake, I would start with getting free estimates for the whole house. Start the research and learn a lot more.

 

[Oso954]

If a house is not bolted down, it will walk around or off of its proper place on the foundation. Bolting it in place to the foundation is the first step.
The house pictured below probably would have escaped with minor plaster or drywall damage had it been properly secured.

 

[ron45]

No mentioning of the home moving.??
Home has been there about 60 to 66 yrs.?

And now you want to add bolts.?