What Are Joist Hangers and Their Purpose in Seismic Design
Joist hangers represent one of the most fundamental yet critical connections in residential structural systems. A joist hanger is a metal connector designed to support floor joists, roof rafters, or deck joists at their ends, connecting these horizontal members to supporting beams, headers, or ledger boards. When properly specified and installed, joist hangers create secure connections that transfer vertical loads while also resisting uplift and lateral forces during seismic events. For Bay Area homes, where ground motion can be severe, these connections are essential to maintaining structural integrity in floor systems, deck structures, and roof framing.
In conventional framing, joists often rest directly on top of beams or ledgers with simple toe-nailing providing the connection. This traditional approach may be adequate for gravity loads under normal conditions, but it is insufficient for seismic loading where uplift, shear, and cyclic forces can overwhelm simple nailed connections. Joist hangers address these deficiencies by providing mechanical connection that engages the joist through multiple fasteners, properly sized and positioned to resist the full range of forces that occur during earthquakes.
The seismic performance of joist hangers derives from several design features. First, the hanger provides vertical support that carries the joist’s gravity loads while preventing the joist from rotating or deflecting downward under load. Second, the hanger provides uplift resistance through fasteners that engage the joist end in tension, preventing the joist from lifting away from its support during vertical acceleration. Third, the hanger provides some lateral restraint that resists horizontal movement and helps maintain the joist’s alignment. This combination of vertical support, uplift resistance, and lateral restraint creates comprehensive protection for floor and roof systems.
Simpson Strong-Tie manufactures an extensive selection of joist hangers engineered for different applications and loading conditions. The HUS, LUS, IU, and H series offer solutions for various joist sizes, framing configurations, and performance requirements. Understanding which joist hanger is appropriate for a given application requires professional structural evaluation, as improper selection can compromise the entire floor system or create failure points during earthquakes.
For Bay Area homeowners with wood-framed floor systems, elevated decks, or roof structures requiring joist support, joist hangers are not optional hardware—they are essential seismic protection components that ensure your horizontal framing remains connected and supported during earthquakes. When the ground shakes, properly installed joist hangers help ensure that floor joists, roof rafters, and deck joists stay connected to their supports, preventing catastrophic failures that could endanger occupants and property.
How Joist Hangers Connect Floor Joists to Beams and Headers
During an earthquake, ground motion accelerates your structure in multiple directions, and floor systems experience complex loading combinations that demand robust connections. Joists that rely on simple toe-nailing or other inadequate connections can lift away from their supports, rotate downward, or slide laterally. Each of these failure modes can lead to progressive floor failure, making proper joist hanger selection critical to overall structural performance.
The joist hanger creates a mechanical connection between the joist and the supporting member through several mechanisms. One mechanism involves bearing support that carries vertical loads. The joist sits within the hanger seat and rests on the supporting beam or ledger through the hanger’s base plate. This bearing surface distributes loads evenly and prevents the joist from crushing the supporting member or rotating downward under gravity loading. The hanger seat provides continuous support along the joist’s bottom edge, not just at discrete nail points.
A second mechanism involves uplift capacity that resists vertical acceleration. The joist hanger fastens to the joist end using nails or structural screws that engage in tension when uplift forces try to lift the joist up. These fasteners are positioned to maximize tension capacity while avoiding edge splitting or other wood failures. The hanger itself also provides uplift resistance through its connection to the supporting beam or ledger. When the ground shakes vertically during earthquakes, the hanger prevents the joist from detaching from its support.
A third mechanism involves lateral restraint that helps maintain joist alignment. While joist hangers are not designed as lateral bracing elements themselves, they provide some resistance to horizontal movement by engaging the joist through fasteners and by constraining the joist position within the hanger seat. This lateral restraint helps prevent joists from sliding off their supports or from becoming misaligned during earthquakes, which is particularly important for long-span floor systems where minor displacements can accumulate.
The continuous load path concept applies directly to joist connections. Seismic forces must travel from the floor diaphragm through the joist, into the joist hanger, into the supporting beam or ledger, through the beam connections, and ultimately into the foundation or shear walls. Any weakness in this path represents a potential failure point. Properly specified joist hangers ensure that the joist-to-support connection does not become the weak link in the structural system. For floor systems that contribute to diaphragm action, joist hangers also help ensure that the diaphragm can transfer forces to the shear walls without failing at joist connections.
Types of Simpson Strong-Tie Joist Hangers
Simpson Strong-Tie manufactures multiple joist hanger types to address different structural requirements. Understanding the differences between these types helps explain why professional evaluation is essential—your engineer will select the appropriate hanger based on the specific conditions at each joist location.
HUS Joist Hangers: Heavy-Duty Face Mount Solutions
The HUS series represents Simpson Strong-Tie’s heavy-duty face mount joist hangers designed for high-demand applications. These connectors feature robust construction with increased steel gauge and additional fastener capacity compared to standard hangers. The HUS design provides enhanced uplift resistance and larger bearing capacity, making it suitable for applications where seismic demands are high or where joist loads are substantial.
The HUS hanger incorporates several design features that contribute to its superior performance. The face-mount configuration allows installation after the joist is in position, which is particularly valuable in retrofit applications. The larger hanger seat provides increased bearing area and accommodates joist deflection without compromising connection. The reinforced web and seat resist deformation under heavy loading. The fastener schedule typically includes more nails or screws than standard hangers, providing increased capacity for both gravity and seismic loading.
In Bay Area homes with large open floor plans, heavy floor loads, or high seismic demands, the HUS may be specified where standard hangers do not provide adequate margin. These heavy-duty hangers are particularly valuable for supporting long-span joists, for carrying heavy loads from above, or for applications where the floor system must provide diaphragm action during earthquakes.
LUS Joist Hangers: Standard Face Mount Configuration
The LUS joist hanger represents Simpson Strong-Tie’s standard face mount configuration for most applications. This versatile connector provides reliable support and uplift resistance for typical joist framing requirements. The LUS features a formed steel design that accommodates various joist sizes while maintaining consistent performance characteristics across the product line.
The LUS is available in numerous sizes to accommodate different joist dimensions and different load requirements. Each size has rated capacities based on the number and placement of fasteners, the joist size, and the lumber grade. The face mount design facilitates installation in new construction and retrofit work alike, as the hanger can be installed after the joist is positioned. For most Bay Area floor systems, deck framing, and roof applications where demands are within standard limits, the LUS frequently meets the requirements while offering straightforward installation details that contractors can efficiently implement.
IU Joist Hangers: Engineered I-Joist Solutions
The IU series addresses the unique requirements of engineered I-joist construction. Engineered I-joists have different geometry and different fastening requirements compared to solid sawn lumber, requiring specialized connectors designed specifically for these members. The IU joist hanger accommodates the thin web of I-joists while providing proper bearing support and uplift resistance without damaging the web or causing premature failure.
I-joist connections present several challenges that the IU hanger addresses. The thin web cannot accept nails in the same way as solid lumber, so the IU hanger uses specialized fasteners and fastener patterns that engage the web properly. The hanger seat must support the bottom flange without stressing the web. The connection must accommodate potential web deflection without compromising capacity. Simpson Strong-Tie has designed the IU series specifically for these requirements, ensuring that I-joist connections perform as intended.
Modern Bay Area homes frequently incorporate engineered I-joists in floor systems due to their dimensional stability and long-span capabilities. These homes require IU joist hangers or other specialized connectors rather than standard hangers designed for solid lumber. Using the correct connector is essential for I-joist performance—improper connections can cause web failures or undermine the advantages that engineered joists provide.
H Series Joist Hangers: Various Sizes for Standard Applications
The H series encompasses a range of joist hanger sizes designed for standard applications across residential construction. This product line includes hangers for various joist depths and widths, providing engineers and contractors with options to match specific project requirements. The H series represents one of the most commonly used joist hanger families, offering reliable performance for typical residential framing conditions.
The H series includes multiple configurations to address different installation requirements. Some models face-mount to the supporting member, while others install onto the joist end itself. Some models provide standard seat dimensions, while others offer extended seats for special conditions. The variety within the H series allows detailed specification that matches each joist connection’s exact requirements, rather than forcing all connections into a one-size-fits-all approach.
For most Bay Area residential construction, H series joist hangers provide the needed capacity and performance for standard framing conditions. These hangers have been extensively tested and rated, providing engineers with the confidence to specify them for a wide range of applications. Professional evaluation will identify which H series hanger size and configuration is appropriate for each joist location based on load calculations and framing conditions.
Simpson Strong-Tie’s complete joist hanger catalog provides detailed specifications, capacity tables, and installation guidance for the full range of joist hanger products, helping engineers select the correct model for each application.
Applications: Where Joist Hangers Provide Critical Connections
Joist hangers serve critical functions at various horizontal framing locations throughout a structure. Understanding these applications helps homeowners appreciate where professional engineers focus their attention during a structural evaluation.
Floor Systems and Interior Framing
Bay Area homes feature extensive floor systems that must support living loads, dead loads, and seismic forces. These floor systems rely on joist hangers at multiple locations where joists connect to beams, girders, or load-bearing walls. Each connection represents a potential failure point if not properly detailed. Floor joists that lift away from their supports during earthquakes can cause progressive floor failure, collapse of finished flooring below, and jeopardize the entire diaphragm action that the floor provides.
Joist hangers in floor systems create secure connections that maintain floor continuity during seismic events. The hangers prevent joist uplift, support gravity loads, and help maintain diaphragm integrity. For homes with open floor plans where floor joists span large distances without intermediate support, proper joist hanger specification becomes especially critical. Long-span joists experience larger deflections and greater seismic forces, demanding robust connections that only properly engineered joist hangers can provide.
Deck Framing and Exterior Structures
Bay Area homeowners frequently invest in outdoor living spaces including elevated decks, porches, and covered patios. These structures rely on joist hangers to connect deck joists to ledgers, beams, and rim joists. Deck connections present particular challenges because they are exposed to weather, they carry occupant loads, and they often lack the bracing and restraint that interior walls provide to floor systems.
Joist hangers at deck connections create essential protection against several failure modes. The ledger-to-joist connection must resist both vertical loads and lateral loads from deck movement during earthquakes. Joists that lift away from ledgers can cause deck collapse. Improperly connected joists can also allow rim joists to pull away from the structure, causing perimeter failure. Joist hangers designed for exterior applications provide the needed uplift resistance and weather protection when properly specified and installed.
Roof Framing and Rafter Connections
Roof systems rely on joist hangers where rafters connect to ridge beams, where purlins support rafters, and where roof joists connect to supporting walls or beams. These connections must carry heavy roof loads including the weight of roofing materials, snow loads where applicable, and seismic forces from the roof’s mass. Roof connections are particularly vulnerable to uplift due to the large roof area and the potential for vertical acceleration during earthquakes.
Joist hangers in roof framing provide secure support that prevents rafters and roof joists from detaching during earthquakes. The hangers support gravity loads while resisting uplift forces that would otherwise cause roof failure. For homes with complex roof geometries including hips, valleys, and multiple ridges, proper joist hanger specification at each connection point becomes essential to maintain roof integrity. Professional evaluation of roof framing will identify all critical joist hanger locations and specify appropriate products.
Retrofit Connections in Existing Homes
Many Bay Area homes were constructed with inadequate joist connections—simple toe-nailing, too few fasteners, or no mechanical connection at all. These existing connections represent significant vulnerabilities that professional evaluation will identify and address. Retrofit work often involves adding joist hangers where none exist, replacing inadequate connections with properly engineered hangers, or reinforcing existing connections to meet modern seismic standards.
Retrofit joist hanger installation presents unique challenges compared to new construction. Existing conditions may limit access to connection points. Existing joists may have deteriorated at their ends due to moisture or insect damage. Existing supports may have insufficient bearing area or may have been modified over time. Professional evaluation must assess these existing conditions and develop retrofit solutions that address them effectively. Simpson Strong-Tie manufactures joist hangers specifically designed for retrofit applications, including face-mount hangers that can be installed after framing is complete.
Why Proper Joist Connections Matter in Earthquakes
Understanding the seismic behavior of floor systems helps explain why proper joist connections are essential. During earthquakes, floor systems experience forces that exceed what simple gravity connections can resist.
Uplift Forces from Vertical Ground Acceleration
Bay Area earthquakes generate significant vertical acceleration in addition to lateral shaking. Near-fault earthquakes can produce vertical motions exceeding 1.0g in some locations. This vertical acceleration creates uplift forces on floor joists that try to lift them away from their supports. Joist hangers provide the tension capacity needed to resist these uplift forces and prevent joist detachment. Without proper joist hangers, joists can lift completely off their supports, causing immediate floor failure.
Cyclic Loading and Connection Fatigue
Earthquakes subject structures to cyclic loading—repeated back-and-forth motion. This cyclic loading can cause connections to fatigue or to fail progressively after multiple cycles. Joist connections that rely on simple toe-nailing are particularly vulnerable to cyclic loading because nails can work loose, wood can fracture around nails, or nailed connections can lose capacity after repeated loading. Joist hangers with multiple fasteners provide redundant capacity and resist progressive failure under cyclic loading.
Diaphragm Action and Force Distribution
Floor systems act as diaphragms that distribute seismic forces from the structure to the walls. For a diaphragm to function effectively, individual joists must remain connected to the supporting elements. If joists detach from beams or ledgers, the diaphragm can lose its ability to transfer forces, concentrating loads at remaining connections and potentially causing progressive failure. Proper joist hanger connections ensure that the floor diaphragm functions as intended during earthquakes.
Progressive Collapse Prevention
When one joist fails during an earthquake, the load it carries redistributes to adjacent joists. This redistribution can overload adjacent joists and their connections, causing them to fail in turn. This progressive collapse can cause entire floor sections to fail catastrophically. Joist hangers provide robust connections that resist this progressive failure by maintaining support capacity even when individual joists experience high loads. The redundancy provided by properly engineered joist hangers helps contain failures rather than allowing them to spread.
Life Safety Hazards from Floor Failure
Floor failure during earthquakes creates catastrophic life safety hazards. Occupants below collapsing floors face injury from falling debris and from the collapse of the floor surface itself. Occupants above collapsing floors may fall through openings or become trapped in damaged spaces. Emergency responders face additional hazards from unstable floor systems during rescue operations. Proper joist hanger connections directly reduce these life safety hazards by maintaining floor integrity during earthquakes.
Installation Process Overview
Proper installation of joist hangers requires attention to detail and adherence to manufacturer specifications. While the general approach is straightforward, each installation detail affects performance.
Fastener Selection and Placement
Simpson Strong-Tie specifies exact fastener requirements for each joist hanger model. This includes nail size, screw size, quantity, and placement patterns for both the hanger-to-support connection and the hanger-to-joist connection. Using the correct fasteners in the correct locations is essential for achieving the rated capacity. In seismic applications, structural screws are often specified in place of common nails for improved performance and ductility.
Fastener placement must engage sufficient wood material to develop the full connection capacity. Fasteners must be spaced according to code requirements to prevent wood splitting and ensure proper load distribution. Edge distances and end distances must meet minimum requirements to prevent fastener pullout or wood failure. Simpson Strong-Tie provides specific fastener schedules for each joist hanger model, and deviating from these schedules can significantly reduce capacity.
Hanger Alignment and Setback
The joist hanger must be properly positioned relative to the supporting member and the joist itself. The hanger should be set flush against the support face without gaps or rocking. For face-mount hangers, the hanger centerline should align with the joist centerline to ensure proper support. The hanger must be positioned at the correct setback from the support end to accommodate the joist length without creating gaps or overhangs.
Improper alignment can reduce capacity or create unexpected failure modes. A hanger that is not flush against the support can cause the joist to bear unevenly or can cause the hanger to deform under load. A hanger that is misaligned from the joist centerline can cause eccentric loading that stresses the connection beyond design capacity. Proper positioning requires careful layout and verification before installation.
Joist End Preparation
The joist end must be properly prepared to receive the hanger. For engineered wood products like I-joists, the web must be in good condition without damage or deterioration that could affect fastening. For solid sawn lumber, the joist end should be cut square without splits or checks that could weaken the connection. The joist should be fully seated in the hanger with full bearing contact on the hanger seat.
In retrofit applications, existing joist ends may have deteriorated or may have been cut or modified in ways that affect connection performance. Professional evaluation must assess joist end conditions and specify repair or reinforcement where needed before new joist hangers can be installed. Deteriorated joist ends may require end repair materials or joist replacement to provide adequate connection capacity.
Support Member Preparation
The supporting beam, ledger, or header must be capable of receiving the joist hanger and transmitting loads. The support face should be flat and true without protrusions that could prevent proper bearing. For new construction, the support should be designed to accommodate the required fastener spacing without edge failures. For retrofit applications, the existing support must be evaluated to ensure it can carry the joist loads through the new hanger connection.
Support member inadequacies can undermine joist hanger performance. A ledger that is undersized or improperly fastened to the wall may fail before the joist hanger reaches its capacity. A beam that is undersized or damaged may deflect excessively, causing joist connections to fail. Professional evaluation must assess the entire load path—not just the joist hanger itself—to ensure that all components can perform together.
Corrosion Protection
Joist hangers in exterior applications or in damp environments must be protected from corrosion. Simpson Strong-Tie offers galvanized and stainless steel options for different environmental conditions. Using the appropriate corrosion protection ensures that joist hangers will maintain their strength throughout their service life. In Bay Area coastal areas where salt air exposure is a concern, specifying stainless steel connectors may be appropriate.
Corrosion protection also applies to fasteners. Using galvanized or stainless steel fasteners that match the connector’s corrosion resistance ensures that the entire connection will maintain performance. Mixing dissimilar metals can cause galvanic corrosion that accelerates deterioration. Professional evaluation will specify appropriate corrosion protection levels based on environmental exposure conditions.
Benefits for Bay Area Homeowners
Investing in properly engineered joist hanger systems provides multiple layers of protection and value for your home.
Prevention of Floor and Deck Failure During Seismic Events
The primary benefit is straightforward: joist hangers help your home survive an earthquake without losing floor or deck support. By creating secure connections between joists and their supports, joist hangers resist the uplift, gravity, and lateral forces that would otherwise cause connection failure. For Bay Area homeowners living near active faults, this protection is invaluable. When the ground shakes, properly installed joist hangers help ensure that floor joists and deck joists stay connected and supported.
Protection of Life Safety
Floor and deck failure during earthquakes creates catastrophic life safety hazards. Collapsing floors threaten occupants below with falling debris and falling floor surfaces. Collapsing decks threaten anyone on or beneath the deck with serious injury. By preventing connection failures, joist hangers directly protect life safety. While no retrofit can eliminate all risk, properly specified and installed joist hangers significantly reduce the likelihood of catastrophic floor or deck failure.
Protection of Property and Contents
Beyond life safety, joist hangers reduce property damage. A floor that fails during an earthquake damages everything above and below—finished flooring, walls, ceilings, furniture, and personal belongings. A deck that collapses damages deck surfaces, railings, furniture, and landscaping. By preventing connection failures, joist hangers protect not only the structure itself but also everything it supports. The investment in proper seismic hardware pays dividends in reduced repair costs after an earthquake.
Maintenance of Diaphragm Function
Floor diaphragms distribute seismic forces to shear walls and other lateral resisting elements. When joist connections fail, the diaphragm can lose its ability to transfer forces effectively. This loss of diaphragm function can overload remaining connections and cause progressive failure. By maintaining joist connections, joist hangers preserve diaphragm function and help the entire lateral system perform as intended during earthquakes.
Code Compliance and Permitting
Bay Area municipalities have adopted strict seismic retrofit ordinances. Proper joist hanger installation is typically required for code compliance in new construction and retrofits. When you obtain a building permit, the plan check will specify joist hanger requirements. Having these components properly installed ensures that your construction or retrofit passes inspection and meets local requirements.
Fire Separation Maintenance
Floor assemblies often serve as fire separations between different levels of a home. When floor joists fail during an earthquake, fire separations can be compromised, allowing fire to spread between floors more rapidly. By maintaining floor system integrity, joist hangers help preserve fire separation functions that protect occupants during other emergencies.
Reduced Maintenance and Repair Costs
Joist hangers that are properly specified and installed provide long-term durability without requiring ongoing maintenance. Unlike some seismic retrofit components that may need periodic inspection or maintenance, properly installed joist hangers continue to perform throughout their service life with minimal attention. This durability reduces long-term ownership costs and provides ongoing protection without recurring expense.
Peace of Mind
Perhaps the most intangible but important benefit is peace of mind. Knowing that your home has been professionally evaluated and reinforced with quality Simpson Strong-Tie products provides confidence. When earthquake notifications appear on your phone, you can rest easier knowing that your floor connections and deck connections have been properly secured to withstand the forces that may come.
Code Compliance Requirements for Joist Hangers
Seismic design in California follows specific code requirements. Understanding these requirements helps homeowners appreciate why professional evaluation is essential.
Building Code Standards
The California Building Code references the American Wood Council standards for connector design and testing. Simpson Strong-Tie products are engineered and tested to meet or exceed these standards. Each joist hanger model has published load capacities based on testing and calculation. Your engineer will select products whose capacities exceed the calculated demand with appropriate safety factors.
Load Capacity Requirements
Joist hangers must be sized to resist the loads that will be imposed on them. These loads include gravity loads from the joist span and uniform loading, uplift loads from vertical acceleration, and any lateral loads that may be transferred through the connection. Load calculations consider the joist size, span, material properties, loading conditions, and seismic demand factors. The selected joist hanger must have capacities that equal or exceed these calculated loads with appropriate safety factors.
Installation Standards
Simply purchasing the right joist hanger is not enough. Installation must follow Simpson Strong-Tie’s published instructions and the engineer’s specifications. The International Building Code requires that connectors be installed in accordance with manufacturer instructions. Deviations from these instructions can reduce capacity and compromise the connection’s effectiveness. Fastener schedules, placement patterns, and installation details must all be followed precisely.
Special Inspection Requirements
For some projects, particularly in higher seismic zones or for larger structures, special inspection of connector installation may be required. This involves a qualified inspector observing the installation process and verifying that specified procedures were followed. Documentation of this inspection becomes part of the project record and provides assurance that the work was built as designed.
Local Ordinance Requirements
Bay Area cities and counties have adopted additional seismic requirements beyond the minimum code. San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, and other municipalities have specific retrofit ordinances that address vulnerable building types. These ordinances often specify minimum retrofit standards, which include requirements for joist hanger connections in floor systems and decks. Compliance with these local requirements is mandatory for permitted retrofit work.
How to Get a Professional Evaluation
Determining whether your home needs joist hanger upgrades—and if so, which type and where—requires professional engineering evaluation. Every home is unique, and cookie-cutter solutions may not address your specific vulnerabilities.
Structural Engineering Assessment
A licensed structural engineer or civil engineer specializing in seismic retrofitting should evaluate your home. This assessment typically includes a site visit, review of available plans, analysis of the existing structure, and calculation of seismic demands. The engineer will identify which joist connections have inadequate hardware, which connections require joist hanger additions, and what capacity is needed at each location.
At Avant-Garde CE, we provide comprehensive structural evaluations for Bay Area homeowners. Our engineers understand local conditions, building practices, and code requirements. We assess your floor systems, deck framing, roof connections, and lateral system to develop a retrofit plan tailored to your home’s specific needs.
Existing Conditions Documentation
Before recommending specific joist hangers, the engineer must document existing conditions. This includes measuring joist sizes, identifying existing joist connections, checking joist end conditions, and locating supporting beams and ledgers. In some cases, exploratory openings may be needed to verify concealed conditions. This documentation forms the basis for accurate analysis and appropriate product selection.
Retrofit Design Development
Following the assessment, the engineer develops retrofit drawings and specifications. These documents show which connections require joist hangers, what type of joist hanger to use, and how to install it. The design also addresses support member reinforcement, joist repair where needed, and other components of the structural system. Simpson Strong-Tie products will be specified based on their published capacities and suitability for the application.
Permitting and Plan Check
Most retrofit work requires a building permit. The engineer’s drawings are submitted to the local building department for plan check. Plan checkers verify that the design meets code requirements and that specified products are appropriate for the calculated loads. This process provides additional assurance that the retrofit will perform as intended.
Construction Oversight
During construction, the engineer typically provides observation services to verify that the retrofit is built according to the plans. This includes confirming that joist hangers are installed correctly, that fasteners are properly placed and developed, and that all specified connections are made. This oversight ensures that the design intent is realized in the finished product.
Next Steps for Your Seismic Retrofit
If you own a Bay Area home with wood-framed floors, elevated decks, or roof framing that may require joist hanger upgrades, your building may benefit from professional evaluation now rather than later. Understanding your home’s vulnerabilities is the first step toward protecting your investment and your family.
Avant-Garde CE specializes in seismic retrofit evaluation and design for residential structures. We have extensive experience with Simpson Strong-Tie products and understand how to integrate them effectively into retrofit solutions. Our team evaluates each home individually, developing customized plans that address specific weaknesses while optimizing cost-effectiveness.
To learn more about our engineering services, explore our retrofit solutions, or review our completed projects, we invite you to browse our website. Our FAQ section addresses common questions about seismic retrofitting, and our about page provides background on our firm’s qualifications and approach.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your professional seismic safety evaluation today. Our engineering team will assess your home’s specific needs, explain your options, and help you understand the most effective path to seismic resilience.
The Bay Area will experience significant earthquakes. The question is not whether the ground will move—it is whether your home will be ready when it does. Simpson Strong-Tie joist hangers, properly specified and installed as part of a comprehensive retrofit, provide essential protection against floor and deck connection failure during seismic events. Don’t wait until after the next earthquake to address your home’s vulnerabilities. Professional evaluation now can give you the confidence that comes from knowing your structure has been prepared.
