Here is more detailed information about Cripple Walls; Diagram #1 below:

Shows the sides & floor in your house rest on shorter walls called "cripple walls" which attach the main house to the Concrete foundation.

This was done when the house was built to save on building concrete molds, and pouring the extra concrete to mount the main wooden frame (the rooms, and roof) of your house, to a taller concrete foundation.

This diagram #2 shows you how your House is built and where are the cripple walls are located.

Your house is built like this but check "The unbraced cripple walls". The Cripple wall is built out of wood 2 by 4 inch lumber, just like other stud walls. Your whole house is held standing up by just these wood stud boards, (Each only has 4 to 6 nails only in them also) and the "cripple wall" supports everything, but is a quarter (25%) of the strength of any concrete foundation.

The drawings on Our Retrofitting Page will show you the do- it- yourselfer and your licensed contractor what needs to be done according to California State Building & Engineering standards, and codes.