How to Reinforce External Walls With Siding From an Earthquake

Expansion Bolts

• 1

  Go to a corner in the crawl space under your home. Measure about 9 inches from the corner along one wall and make a mark with a pencil.

• 2

  Measure about 4 feet horizontally from the mark and make another mark. Continue in this way around the perimeter of the mud sill, making marks every 4 feet. Keep the marks about 9 inches from the corners.

• 3

  Take a rotary drill with a carbide bit and drill a hole at one of the marks that reaches at least 5 inches into the concrete foundation. Clean the dust from hole with a can of compressed air. Do this for all of the marks you made around the perimeter.

• 4

  Place an expansion bolt into one of the holes and hammer it until the head is close to the wood. Finish tightening with an adjustable wrench. Repeat for the entire perimeter of the crawlspace.

Anchors

• 5

  Use anchor brackets, if the distance between the mudsill and the sole plate does not give you room to drill the holes for the expansion bolts. Place the brackets, or plates, at 4-foot intervals.

• 6

  Drill two 4-inch-deep holes on the side of the concrete. Fit the bottom of the bracket over the holes and screw in two 1/2-inch-thick bolts into the concrete.

• 7

  Nail the top part of the bracket to the mudsill with a 10d nail at every opening.