How Much Does It Cost to Repair Earthquake Damage in 2025?
The average cost to repair earthquake damage is $15,000
The average cost to repair earthquake damage is $15,000, with most homeowners spending between $5,000 and $25,000.
Key factors influencing repair costs include location, size of the property, and severity of the damage.
Minor repairs may cost as little as $1,000, while major structural repairs can be more than $30,000.
Seismic retrofitting can reduce potential damage and save on future repair costs.
Hiring a professional safeguards the structural integrity and safety of earthquake repairs.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
The cost to repair earthquake damage ranges from $5,000 and $25,000 for most homeowners, with a national average of $15,000. Factors like your location, home size, and damage severity influence the total cost. Minor repairs, such as fixing a utility line, can cost as little as $1,000, while major structural issues can exceed $30,000. Investing in regular seismic retrofitting can help prevent extensive damage and save you thousands in future repair costs.
Cost to Repair Earthquake Damage by Type
The nature of the repair work largely determines the total cost to repair earthquake damage.
House Inspection
Even if you don’t see visible damage, consult a professional inspector before making any repairs. You’ll spend between $300 and $900 to hire a local home inspector, but the price will vary depending on the size of the house.
If there is enough damage for a claim, your insurance company may require a professional inspection report on the property. Check with your insurance company to see whether they work with certain inspectors or leave it up to you to hire someone.
Lift and Re-Level
To lift your house, expect to pay between $3,000 and $9,300. Land excavation costs an average of $1,700 to $6,800, depending on the extent of the damage to your property.
Strong earthquakes can weaken the ground, causing your building to sink or even collapse the foundation. This can compromise the integrity of your home's structure, becoming more dangerous if left unattended. In this case, you'll need to lift your house, level it, and strengthen the ground to support the foundation's weight.
If foundation collapse causes other damage around your house, leveling corrects issues like cracks in walls, ceilings, floors, and jammed doors and windows. Be prepared to do some cosmetic repairs afterward. It's essential to address leveling as soon as possible to prevent problems from worsening.
Foundation Issues
While re-leveling fixes the soil underneath your home, foundation repair tackles the foundation itself. Depending on the damage, repairs to a shifted foundation range from partial structural repair to complete rebuilding, which is why you'll need to hire a residential structural engineer near you for $200 to $350 per hour.
Repairing your foundation costs between $2,220 and $8,120. Repairing piers costs $1,000 to $3,000 each, while repairing a pier-and-post foundation costs $4,000 to $6,000.
Broken Utility Lines
If your utility company doesn’t fix the damage, electricians charge $50 to $130 per hour to repair power damage, while repairing the gas line within your property costs $150 to $600.
Plumbers charge $45 to $200 per hour. To repair your waterline, expect to pay between $350 and $1,500, while repairing the sewer line costs anywhere between $1,200 and $4,400. A minor break in a utility line can likely be repaired without much excavation. However, replacing the entire length of a utility line requires extra equipment and labor, increasing the cost to $3,000 to $25,000, depending on the utility type.
Utility lines inside your property can break during an earthquake as the ground underneath shifts. A broken utility line can cause hazards that lead to additional expensive repairs. In fact, broken gas lines cause 25% of the fires that occur after earthquakes. If there's damage to your power, water, or gas lines, notify your utility providers—they may fix it. Be sure to shut off the utilities from the main shutoff valve in the event of an earthquake.
Exterior Damage
An earthquake can damage your home's siding, chimneys, brick walls, and more.
Chimney repair costs $160–$750.
Siding repair costs $360–$1,490.
Repairing a concrete or stone wall costs $360–$1,200.
Brick wall repair costs $780–$2,600.
Interior Damage
After an earthquake, you might need to address some interior repairs in your home.
| Damage | Average Cost to Repair |
|---|---|
| Flooring | $200–$550 |
| Staircase | $310–$1,050 |
| Doors | $250 |
| Windows | $350 |
| Walls | $100–$3,000 |
| Ceilings | $300–$1,200 |
Flooring
Repairing your flooring runs between $200 and $550. However, pros may need to go through your subfloors and joists. Expect to pay $10,000 to $20,000 to repair joists.
Staircase
Repairing your staircase costs $310 to $1,050 on average, depending on the damage and the time it will take. To replace the handrail, expect to pay an additional $30 to $45 per linear foot.
Doors and Windows
Your doors and windows can get stuck, while frames or glass may crack or get damaged from the earthquake. Repairing a door costs $250, whereas a window repair job costs $350 on average.
Walls and Ceiling Cracks
Cracks are common in interior walls and ceilings after an earthquake, especially if there’s structural damage. To repair a plaster wall, expect to pay $100 to $3,000, while repairing drywall costs $250 to $800. Ceiling repairs cost $300 to $1,200 on average.
Retrofitting
The average cost to earthquake-retrofit your home is between $3,500 and $8,700. The exact cost will depend on the retrofitting technique, materials, and overall structure size that needs retrofitting.
If your home was built before 1980, chances are it was never retrofitted. Earthquake retrofitting, also known as seismic retrofitting, is a great way to reinforce and strengthen your home to withstand an earthquake. Retrofitting involves bolting your home to its foundation or replacing an existing frame with steel to prevent it from shifting during an earthquake.
While retrofitting can be costly, it protects you against expensive repairs after earthquakes and gives you peace of mind. In some cases, your insurance company might require you to retrofit to obtain earthquake insurance.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can find out if your house is retrofitted by checking for clear signs of secure foundation anchoring. Your home is retrofitted if foundation plates are fastened to structural wood with visible bolts and connectors. Additionally, a qualified home inspector or checking with your local building department can confirm that seismic updates have been completed, ensuring your property meets necessary safety standards.
Your house's ability to withstand an earthquake depends on its structural design and seismic upgrades. Strong construction methods and proper retrofitting help your home resist higher magnitude forces. Factors like your home's age, quality of materials, and secure foundation connections contribute to its overall resilience. A professional structural evaluation is essential to confirm the level of protection built into your home.
You can't completely earthquake-proof your home, but you can significantly improve its resilience against seismic events. Reinforcing your structure by upgrading your foundation, securely bolting the house, and fastening heavy items in place can dramatically reduce potential damage. Professional seismic retrofitting and regular maintenance by certified experts enhance safety and protect your property during an earthquake.
Homeowners’ insurance does not always cover earthquake damage. Standard policies protect against disasters such as fires and hurricanes but can exclude damage caused by earthquakes and flooding. In regions with seismic activity, purchasing dedicated earthquake insurance at an average annual cost of $800 to $1,300 is essential to cover structural repairs and unforeseen expenses. Consult your insurance provider to fully understand your coverage options and ensure adequate protection.
No, earthquake insurance does not cover all damage incurred during a seismic event. It is designed to cover certain repair costs—such as structural damage from ground shifting—but excludes damage from secondary effects like flooding or long-term degradation. Review your policy carefully and consult with your insurance agent to confirm the full scope of coverage, and explore additional relief programs if necessary.
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