Furnishings Securing Service Preventing Injury - Keeping Exits Clear - Protecting Your Valuables From Damage
What You Need To Know About Earthquakes And Your Home
See What Can Happen In Your Home. Shake Table Earthquake Test
If you want to keep it, and keep it from hurting
you, secure it!
80% of injuries in earthquakes come from items in
the home striking family members.
An earthquake as
small as magnitude 4.0 can topple furniture.
The Bay Area has a 100% probability of a 5.0
Mb earthquake within the next 5 years, and may
suffer several.
The service: Securing furniture, appliances,
electronics, and wall hangings to prevent damage and
injury in the event of an earthquake.
Process: Upon arrival at your home, we review all items to be secured and describe the process for each item with the you. Wall hangings on open hooks are replaced quickly with earthquake secure hangers, usually taking about 5 minutes per item. Floor items, like dressers, hutches, cabinets, take between 15 and 25 minutes depending on the size and number of attachments. You are there with us to answer any questions along the way. (Many customers that have just a few items secured on our first visit call us back in to secure the rest of their belongings.)
How we do the work:
Floor furniture, (i.e. a buffet): The buffet
is cleared of all surface items by the homeowner,
items in the buffet can normally remain, and the
item is moved away from the wall. The buffet is
measured in height, and that height is used to
determine the placement of the wall bolt. The studs
are located in the wall behind the buffet and the
wall sections of the straps are secured to the studs
and wall. We can use a Velcro attachment or screw
attachment on the buffet, these are attached and the
buffet is moved back into place and secured. This
process is followed for all floor furniture that is
to be secured. Multiple straps are often necessary
for large or tall furniture, or for furniture that
is stacked, as is the case for some display cases or
bookcases. Full size bookcases can be secured in
place using large wood screws and pressure washers,
often called fender washers, secured through the
bookcase and into the wall stud behind the case.
Books are held in place using bookcase straps,
elastic straps secured at both ends of a section of
the case. Special needs furniture like Grandfather
clocks for example, may need combinations of straps
to secure them properly.
Wall hangings: Pictures, paintings, and other
wall items are secured using earthquake hangers
designed to stop the hanging wire from jumping off
the wall. The hangers are nailed or stud mounted,
depending on the weight and placement of the item.
Wall hanging that do not have a secure wire or bolt
hole, will need to have one added, and we do this
with high grade picture wire and eyehooks mounted on
the frame of the item.
Electronics, (i.e. televisions and cable/satellite
receivers): Electronics are secured in place, using
straps with Velcro or clips to allow access to the
device.
Appliances (i.e. washer/dryer, refrigerator):
Appliance straps designed for heavy items, are stud
mounted to secure heavy appliances.
What we use do the work: We use Quake HoldTM
products designed for strength and ease of use for
the homeowner. Quake HoldTM
is an industry leader in
earthquake preparedness products.
Pricing: The service is $85 per hour plus
material costs. We purchase our materials directly
from the manufacturer, allowing us to price these
items well below regular retail, adding only the
shipping and handling costs that we incur.
Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering(or CUREE)
University of California at San Diego
Federal Emergency Management Agency
You have beautiful furniture
Protect It! Strap It!
Flat Screens & Monitors
Electronics & TV's
Bookcases & Appliances
QuakeHold!
Furniture
Safety Straps
Quick Quote Request Form
Sample Items to be secured
Living room
Sofas
Chairs
Coffee tables
End tables and contents
Television/VCR
Wall hangings
Radio/stereo/DVD
Compact discs/records/tapes
Bookcases
Books
Musical instruments
Planters/plants
Mirrors
Collectibles/knickknacks
Kitchen
Tables
Chairs
Cabinets
Lighting fixtures
Refrigerator
Stove
Freezer
Washer
Dryer
Small appliances
Clocks
Radios
Television
Microwave
Wall hangings
