How to Reinforce Houses

Tie the floors together. This is easier than you might think. The only problem is to get to the division in the house that separates the first from the second floor. This can be done from the inside by removing part of the drywall or paneling on the floor of the second story. Several things can be done. First, a large bolt can be driven through the wall joists that connect the floors together. The other option is to bolt a metal strap that connects the floors. Because these are the weak points of the house during high winds, these bolting techniques will keep the house together. Several bolts per side is the normal number, usually one every 20 feet.

Inspect and replace the foundation anchor bolts. This is another weak spot. All homes have an anchor bolt, usually in each corner, that keep the house actually attached to the foundation. Usually, these are 5/8-inch or smaller and penetrate about a foot into the foundation concrete. If you replace them, you can get heavier bolts or simply add more of them. You will need a heavy concrete drill sized to the size of the bolt. Then, take an industrial power drill to push the bolt into the hole. The fit must be very snug. This will reinforce the foundation and the house's position atop it.

Build a basement sister wall. This is a simple method of using a set of cinder blocks to create a wall on the inside of the existing basement wall. This will more than double the thickness of your foundation wall and prevent much flooding damage. You need to measure the length and height of the project and get the requisite number of bricks. Then, stack the bricks atop the concrete floor with mortar. A good idea is then to fill the space between the sister wall and the original foundation wall with poured concrete. This will reinforce the two walls and create a strong bond between the two of them. Spray rubber liquid waterproofing on the finished wall. While this is a more expensive and time-consuming option, it will guarantee a much stronger and waterproof basement. This project makes sense for both flood and wind threats.