Earthquake Brace & Bolt Grant Deadline Extended to March 26th – Don’t Miss This Opportunity!
by Gary Feb 20, 2025
Protect Your Home with Up to $3,000 in Retrofit Grants
If you’re a homeowner in Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, or surrounding areas, there’s great news—you still have time to apply for a grant of up to $3,000 through the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) Program! The application deadline has been extended to March 26, 2024, giving homeowners an extra chance to secure financial assistance for seismic retrofitting.
At Hillside General Construction and Electrical, we specialize in FEMA-certified retrofitting to help homeowners secure their properties against earthquake damage. If your home was built before modern seismic codes, this grant can help cover the cost of strengthening your foundation and cripple walls, reducing the risk of severe damage in an earthquake.
What is the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) Program?
The California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) offers the EBB retrofit grant to help homeowners reinforce their homes against earthquakes. If your home qualifies, you can receive up to $3,000 to cover the costs of:
✅ Foundation Bolting – Strengthening the connection between your home and its foundation.
✅ Cripple Wall Bracing – Reinforcing short, wood-framed walls to prevent collapse.
✅ Code-Compliant Seismic Retrofitting – Ensuring all work meets California Existing Building Code (CEBC), Chapter A3 standards.
Many homes in Southern California were built before modern seismic regulations, making them vulnerable to foundation shifting, structural failure, or even total collapse during a major earthquake. EBB retrofitting doesn’t make your home earthquake-proof, but it significantly reduces damage and helps ensure your home remains habitable after a quake.
Who Should Retrofit?
Seismic retrofitting is essential for homeowners and property owners in earthquake-prone areas like California. If your building has structural vulnerabilities, it may be at risk of severe damage or collapse during an earthquake. Retrofitting does not make a home earthquake-proof, but it significantly reduces the risk of major damage and increases the chances that your home remains habitable after a quake.
You Should Retrofit If Your Property Falls Into Any of These Categories:
🏡 Homes Built Before 1980 with a Raised Foundation
Older homes often lack proper foundation bolting and bracing, making them highly vulnerable to earthquake damage. Strengthening the connection between the foundation and the house frame can prevent structural shifting and failure.
🏚️ Homes with Cripple Walls That Are Not Braced
Cripple walls (the short wood-framed walls between the foundation and the first floor) can collapse during an earthquake if they are not properly braced with shear panels. Bracing these walls helps stabilize the structure and prevent excessive movement.
🚗 Homes with Soft-Story Conditions (e.g., Garages or Open Ground Floors)
Homes with large openings on the ground floor, such as garage doors or open parking areas, have weak lower levels that can collapse under the weight of upper floors. A soft-story retrofit reinforces these structures with shear walls and steel frames to improve stability.
🏢 Multi-Unit Buildings with Structural Vulnerabilities
Apartment buildings, condominiums, and multi-family properties often have structural weaknesses in their foundations or lower levels, making them susceptible to significant earthquake damage. Retrofitting ensures better structural integrity and improves safety for residents.
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Protect Your Home & Loved Ones – Retrofit Today!
If your home falls into any of these categories, don’t wait until the next earthquake strikes! Strengthen your home’s foundation, increase safety, and protect your investment.
Why Should You Retrofit Now?
1️⃣ Deadline is Quickly Approaching
The EBB grant was originally set to expire in February, but now homeowners have until March 26, 2024, to apply. That’s less than a month away! Time is running out, and spots are limited—don’t wait until it’s too late.
2️⃣ California is in an Earthquake Zone
California sits on some of the most active fault lines in the world. Scientists predict that a major earthquake could hit Southern California at any time—the question is not if but when. Retrofitting your home now can help prevent catastrophic damage later.
3️⃣ Financial Assistance is Available
A proper seismic retrofit can cost thousands of dollars, but the EBB grant can significantly reduce the financial burden. Many homeowners never take advantage of this free money—don’t be one of them!
4️⃣ Lower Repair Costs & Insurance Benefits
Retrofitted homes experience far less damage during earthquakes, saving homeowners thousands in repair costs. Plus, some insurance providers offer discounts to homes with seismic retrofitting—it’s a win-win!
How to Apply for the EBB Grant
Applying for the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) grant is quick and easy:
1️⃣ Check Your Eligibility – Visit the official EBB program website to see if your home qualifies.
2️⃣ Schedule a Consultation – Contact Hillside General Construction and Electrical for a free retrofit assessment to determine your home’s needs.
3️⃣ Apply Before March 26th – Complete your EBB application before the deadline to secure your funding.
4️⃣ Start Your Retrofit! – If approved, our licensed, FEMA-certified team will complete your retrofit quickly and efficiently.
Get Started with Hillside General Construction Today!
Don’t wait until it’s too late—March 26th is coming fast, and funding is limited. If you live in Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, or the surrounding Los Angeles area, we can help you secure your grant and retrofit your home before the next big earthquake strikes.
📞 Call us today at 818.896.5400
🌐 Visit
www.hillsidegeneral.com/retrofit to learn more and schedule your consultation!
💡 Protect your home. Protect your family. Secure your future. 💡
Zinsco Electrical Panels
by Gary | Jan 27, 2023 | Panel Upgrade
Zinsco Panels in Older Homes
Zinsco Electrical Panels, commonly installed in older homes up until the 1970s, have been known to cause fire hazards and may need to be replaced. If your home still has its original wiring, electrical panels, and appliances, you may need to replace these soon to prevent possible fire danger and other issues. Be especially cautious when dealing with older wiring. A panel upgrade may be needed if your home still has the original Zinsco panel.
Are Zinsco Panels Safe?
According to the American Housing Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, more than half of all homes in the country were constructed before 1980 and would contain these panels if not replaced already. Zinsco panels often fail to function properly, putting homeowners and their homes at risk of electrical shock and fire. As many as 25% of Zinsco circuit breakers could fail to trip in response to an overcurrent or short circuit, creating a potentially hazardous situation.
Zinsco Box Breaker Box Problems
The electrical boards that have circuit breakers or fuses for all of your home's electrical circuits are referred to as circuit breaker panels. Circuit breaker panels are an essential home safety component. In the event of a power outage or overload, the breaker stops the flow of electricity. If a breaker can no longer trip in the event of an over-current or short circuit, an enormous quantity of power from the outside electrical supply surges into a home's panel and circuits. Once this occurs, it cannot be halted or turned off manually. Electricity will continue to burn until the fuel runs out or the wires melt. The panel could overheat and catch fire, endangering the home and its residents.
Zinsco Electrical Panel Fire Hazard
The old Zinsco panels are problematic due to the usage of aluminum bus bars. If a breaker melts to the panel's bus bar and can no longer appropriately trip in the event of an over-current or short circuit, an enormous quantity of power from the outside electrical supply surges into a home's electrical panel and circuits. Once this occurs, it cannot be halted or turned off manually. Electricity will continue to burn until the fuel runs out or the wires melt. The panel could overheat and catch fire, endangering the home and its residents.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the National Electrical Code(r) (NEC (r) to give advice for residential and commercial electrical safety requirements in the United States. It is updated every three years to guarantee that people are safe from electrical shocks, fire hazards, and other electrical hazards. However, since aluminum is utilized in these older circuit breaker boxes, the safety requirements do not apply to the Zinsco panels. It cannot assist people who are currently in danger.
Are all Zinsco Panels bad?
According to tests, approximately one-third of Zinsco panels did not trip, according to InspectAPedia. This could be a risky situation given that circuit panel is crucial to regulate the flow of electricity into your home. An older home's Zinsco panel might not be able to handle additional issues that will spring up as you begin upgrading your appliances. For example, the Zinsco panel would not be able to handle the power needed for a new air conditioning unit. When you anticipate needing a lot of power, it's critical to check that your electrical system is current otherwise you may need a panel upgrade.
Zinsco Panel Recall
The issues with the Zinsco electric panel should have led to the recall of the Zinsco panels. However, the company did not recall the panels. Instead, the business was sold in 1973. Then eventually the business shut down, so you can't get in touch with them to get your electrical panel upgraded.
Does your home insurance cover your electric panel?
Please contact your insurance agent if you have any queries about your coverage or if your home cannot be insured because of your panels and circuit breakers.
Zinsco Class Action Lawsuit
In a 2002 class action lawsuit over their hazardous electrical panels, Zinsco and Federal Pacific Electric were found guilty of fraud by the New Jersey Court for failing to test their circuit breakers to ensure they operated by the required standard. According to the Consumer Fraud Act, businesses are required to be transparent and upfront about the testing and goods they use. Companies were unaware of the breaker's existence because of its high failure rate.
New Insurance Policies will consider all Risks
When an insurance company, is presenting you with a policy, they must take all risks into account. Due to the potential for electrical shock, Zinsco panels have a history of starting fires or seriously hurting people. As a homeowner, you are liable for any injuries that occur on your property. This is especially true if you were aware that it was possible that someone could be injured, but you did nothing about it. Zinsco panels are a dangerous product and need to be upgraded.
A Zinsco electric panel can be used to increase the cost of insurance on your home. Even if you locate a firm ready to sell you a policy, your premium for home insurance will most likely be greater than you anticipated. Home inspectors pay special attention to a house's electrical panel since it may pose a safety risk. The inspector will look at the wiring, electrical panels, and outlets. Zinsco electrical panels, which are no longer approved by the electrical code, may cause you to fail a home inspection.
Zinsco Breaker Panel Replacement Cost
A new electric panel costs between $5000 and $7,500. However, if you have an older home, you may require further work. A licensed electrician should replace a Zinsco circuit breaker panel to ensure safety. Replacing the Zinsco circuit breakers may be less expensive than dealing with the added dangers. Licensed electricians should be insured and bonded to ensure that you can trust their services. The safety of your family is more important than the cost of the work. It is critical to make sure that your home is not a fire hazard and that you have adequate insurance coverage. While it is impossible to predict every possible consequence, you can reduce this risk by getting a panel upgrade.
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