Replies

See that LOTS OF BRACES part? You won't see much of that in frame buildings in Indiana. And chickenwire wrap? Won't see that either. Florida came up with ways to hurricane proof your home. First thing you do is bolt the roof to the frame. Then, bolt the frame to the foundation. Put in braces.

What they mean by this California standard is LOTS OF BRACES ~ HUGE NUMBERS OF THEM.

And you want these diagonals put in too. Plus, bolt everything together.

It will do well unless you are on a rock (or gravel pile) that takes off down a hill.

Never fails to amaze me that many thousands die in other countries for lack of these basic and cheap techniques.

Muawiyah, I did forget to tell him about bolting everything together, especially the house to the foundation. Diagonals, which we New Englanders call wind-braces, are also crucial. Block walls have to have rebar passing through every course, and through the footing. Would certainly have saved many lives in Haiti.

Lost a house in '94 in Santa Monica. It looked perfect, and not a thing inside even broke, but ... you guessed it ... the ground underneath began drifting and six months later the place started wracking and had to be condemned.
Reckon I didn't get it to the house junkyard fast enough!

In the older parts of town, some big old houses literally jumped off their foundations, and a kid was killed when an old-time brick chimney collapsed into her room.