In most cases, you will need a licensed building practitioner to help you check the walls and carry out any strengthening work.
Gable roof and brick walls
Check in the roof space to make sure the gable walls are braced, as they can cause damage if they fall during an earthquake. Check that the brick veneer is properly tied to the gable end framing.
Brick or block masonry walls
If your house was built before 1950 there’s a chance any external brick (such as double brick) and concrete block masonry walls are not reinforced. These are at risk of being damaged in an earthquake.
Brick veneer walls
These walls are less hazardous than brick or block masonry walls in an earthquake but some damage can still occur. The veneer could come off the timber framing if the ties have corroded or their fixings have weakened. The best time to check the ties or fixings is when you have the wall open for renovations.
Lath and plaster walls
Houses built before the 1930s often have ‘lath and plaster’ wall linings. These are closely spaced horizontal thin timber strips covered with plaster. These types of wall linings are not intended to provide bracing in an earthquake.