Could Your Contracting Business Participate in Seismic Retrofits?

Making sure that existing buildings can sustain impacts from an earthquake is an important job. The Earthquake Brace & Bolt program offers a reimbursement for homeowners who hire a licensed contractor with the proper training to do the work. Here are the details of the program, and how you might use it to expand your contracting business.

Why Are Seismic Retrofits Necessary?

It might seem that, in an earthquake-prone state like California, everyone would already understand the importance of seismic protection. The trouble is that technological innovations sometimes render old codes and building styles less effective. When older homes sustain damage after an earthquake, they can create a lot of pressure on the region to provide the necessary repairs. Seismic retrofits may, in a lot of cases, be able to minimize or mitigate the damage in advance of a serious earthquake.

What Is the EBB Program?

Back in 2011, state administrators realized that older homes without seismic retrofits had become a serious problem with broad implications. They created the California Residential Mitigation Program (CRMP) to help homeowners protect their homes from the worst of earthquake destruction. Under the CRMP, the Earthquake Brace & Bolt Program provides as much as $3,000 to homeowners who want to make an appropriate upgrade. The retrofit mainly bolts the house to its foundation and installs extra bracing around the crawl space.

What Are the Requirements of the Program?

Not everyone is eligible for the EBB program, so interested applicants should confirm the rules before they get too invested. First, EBB funding is only offered to residents of certain zip codes. Second, the home must be their primary residence and under their ownership. Third, they cannot already have taken on a seismic retrofit. Fourth, the house has to meet certain building requirements. They also have to obtain the proper building permits before beginning any work.

How Do Contractors Gain Access?

Although the EBB program does not require homeowners to use a licensed contractor to do the work, the site maintains a list of contractors who have gone through the appropriate training. Contractors only need to complete a free training session in the rules of the retrofit and maintain a California contractor’s license in good standing. If you go through each module and pass the exams at the end, you have the ability to enter your information into the site for referrals. The program indicates that the vast majority of people who look for EBB funding end up finding a contractor through the website.

What Are the Benefits of Participating?

The EBB program estimates that a seismic retrofit of this kind should cost between $3,000-$7,000. Homeowners who don’t have a lot of spare savings might have to use their home equity or put the payment on a credit card. As such, the $3,000 in funds from the program might save them most of the cost of the upgrade. The goal is to ensure that more property owners go through the program, which creates paid work for people like you. If you complete the requirements to participate in the program, you can tap into the funds for your business and help homeowners in your area get this necessary improvement.

How Can Contractors Alert Clients About the Program?

Passing the training allows you to list your name on the EBB website, but this isn’t the only way that you can let clients know about the program. As long as you obey the terms of use for the program, you are allowed to mention that you have completed the training. This means that you can tell prospective clients about the program if you think it’s a good fit for their needs, and say that you are able to complete those retrofits. You just have to avoid using certain terms like “endorsed” or “qualified,” according to the CRMP’s terms of use.

Funding programs for seismic retrofits can be a boon for homeowners and contracting businesses alike. If you invest the time to complete the training for the EBB program, you may be able to reap the benefits for your business. To get started on your contracting career, visit CSLS today!