We started a design project in our West Hills area Friday. The contractor who will be doing the remodel was running late, so Kelley & I took a walk up the street to kill time. Saw this... and we're in earthquake country! I've seen sections supported like this but... a whole house!?!

I had to get pics to share.

Would that be in a flood zone? I've seen a lot worse then that along the Russian River in No. Calif.

Do you actually have earthquakes in Oregon, I thought it just rained.

This is higher in the West hills above the city - drainage and slide problems, not flood plain issues. I'm sure they anchored to bedrock, but yes, we have earthquakes up this way, and our major fault line that is "due" runs right through the west hills. That's what makes this a "no way" in my book!

Here's the insurance industry take on Portland and NW quakes: "Oregon is designated a ‘very high seismic hazard’ and ranks third in the nation for earthquake damage estimates in the future."

http://oregoninsuranceadvisor.com/perso ... ault-zones

I've been through two minor ones myself.

I can't see the details of the sub structure, but I can assure you that it is possible to build like that, from a structural point of view. Especially if steel was used and bracing was adequate for the load.

In the 2nd pic, it seems to be anchored to the hillside, by a structure, probably the garage.

DARWINISM

redwood wrote:I can't see the details of the sub structure, but I can assure you that it is possible to build like that, from a structural point of view. Especially if steel was used and bracing was adequate for the load.

In the 2nd pic, it seems to be anchored to the hillside, by a structure, probably the garage.

I'm not saying it isn't possible to do what they did structurally. I'm sure it's engineered to the hilt. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it in an earthquake zone. Maybe it would even stand up better than a traditional foundation, I don't know. But it looks like if a shake big enough to damage it happened, it would have a lot farther to fall before it hit ground than something built on the ground. Far enough to kill somebody.

Crazy.

A little less of a load on top, but we are currently building a large deck that is 16' in the air, with a spa. I got to beleive that we are in the top 2 most earthquake prone areas. If that deck goes, they will need to tuck into a ball, because they will be rolling a long way down the hill.

Here in frozen earthquake country that would have a nice walk out basement

Yup with storage room for the snow blower and the lawn tractor right Rob?

woohoo!