As a homeowner, nothing is more worrying than issues developing with a home’s foundation over time. Cracks, sinking, flooding risks and other problems left unaddressed can considerably compromise a house’s structural integrity and long-term viability. While rebuilding from the ground up seems daunting, did you know there is an effective intermediate option – lifting your entire home to access and repair foundations?
Rather than undertake the massive upheaval of demolition and new construction, foundation specialists have pioneering lifting technologies that enable professionally raising a house off its existing base. Within this article, we’ll explore why and when lifting makes sense as a solution. You’ll learn about the tried-and-tested process involved as well as factors affecting costs.
What is House Lifting?
House lifting, also sometimes called house jacking, is the process of raising an existing house above its current foundation. Professional house lifting crews use hydraulic jacks and lifting beams or rods to slowly and carefully lift the house upwards. Once raised, the old foundation can then be demolished or replaced with a new, upgraded foundation built specifically for the home.
When the foundation work is complete, the house is then slowly lowered back down onto the new foundation. This allows homeowners to repair or replace aging foundations, raise structures out of flood zones, or add more living space with a new basement or lower level. Done right, lifting a house in place prevents the need to demolish and totally reconstruct which is a more time consuming and expensive process.
Is House Lifting Safe?
Many people wonder if lifting an entire house high into the air is a risky process. The good news is that with modern lifting equipment and experienced house movers, lifting a home can be done safely when following proper safety protocols. Professional house lifting companies are highly skilled at stabilizing the structure as it is raised and have lifted thousands of homes over the years without issue.
That said, any time heavy lifting and construction is involved there are potential risks, so it’s important to hire a licensed and insured house lifting company you trust. They will thoroughly inspect the home, develop a custom lifting plan, and take all necessary precautions to get the job done safely and minimize potential issues. With the right professionals, lifting your house poses no greater risk than other major home renovations.
Is Lifting a House Worth It?
In a number of instances, the benefits of house lifting outweigh the upfront costs. Here are a few key advantages that can make lifting your house a worthwhile investment:
Increased Property Value:
Renovating a home almost always boosts property value. But adding usable, functional extra living space or protecting from flooding through lifting can significantly raise a home’s worth.
Long Term Savings:
Fixing foundational issues now prevents far costlier repairs and potential rebuilding down the road as problems worsen over time if left unaddressed. Proactively lifting avoids future risks and costs.
Flood Protection:
For homes in flood-prone areas, lifting can save thousands in flood insurance costs and protect irreplaceable possessions and memories from water damage which is extremely costly to remedy. Peace of mind has value too.
Customized Improvements:
Lifting affords the chance to fully renovate foundations for things like additional bedrooms, larger kitchens, multi-purpose flex rooms, or mother-in-law suites which are attractive to buyers and renters.
Staying in Your Home:
With some TLC through lifting, homeowners get to appreciate long-term use of a home they’ve invested time and care into versus the disruption of moving to a new property. Some prefer this option over starting over in a different location.
So when weighing the upfront costs and short-term inconvenience of lifting versus investment returns, flood protection savings, and enjoyment of new interior space for years to come, lifting your house can certainly prove worthwhile. Just be sure to get accurate cost estimates first.
Cost of House Lifting
As with any home renovation project, house lifting costs will vary depending on the individual needs and specifics of each job such as:
– House Size: Larger homes obviously require heavier lifting equipment and more thorough stabilization during the process, increasing price.
– Foundation Work: Basic Foundation repairs cost less than full Foundation replacements which utilize more materials and labor hours.
– Lifting Height: Raising structures higher adds time and stabilizing precautions, thus driving up project costs.
– Location Access: Easier site access location means faster completion times than tricky urban lots with tight spaces.
Nationally, average costs to lift a typical suburban 1500 sq. ft. single-story house range between $15,000 up to $40,000. Basic lifts staying under 10 feet high are cheaper, while major projects higher than 10 feet or requiring structural reinforcement run higher. Basement additions typically add $50,000 – $100,000 to costs.
To get an accurate estimate, meet qualified local lifting teams on-site who can thoroughly assess the scope of work needed. But as an investment that preserves your housing investment and potentially increases property value, lifting averages remain quite reasonable when factoring the long-term gains.
Lifting a House to Fix Foundations
Foundation issues signaling that settling or cracking has occurred over time are the main reason to consider lifting a house. Here’s a closer look at how lifting addresses common foundation problems:
Crumbling Concrete – Lifting allows crews access under the house to remove and fully replace deteriorating concrete footings and walls with new reinforced materials as needed.
Settling – Raising spots that have shifted or sunk back to level by leveling stops further settlement from occurring.
Add Support – Engineers can determine where extra support is required and house lifters can seamlessly add new supporting beams underneath without dismantling or disrupting.
Drainage Issues – Drainage problems cause settling and builders take advantage of lifting to properly slope land away from the home and add new water proofing as needed.
Proper Footing Depth – Some older homes were built on shallow footings that did not factor in soil and weather changes over the decades as deeper footings give sturdier base support.
Is there any way to Replace the Foundation without Lifting the House?
In some cases, it is possible to remedy foundation issues without fully lifting the entire house through partial lifting techniques. A few options for this situation foundation contractors may suggest:
Partial Lifting –
Sections of the home may be lifted enough to access areas needing work while the rest remains in place supported. More specialized equipment needed.
Slab Jacking –
For homes built on concrete slabs, jacking devices can elevate and support portions to replace crumbling sections piece by piece.
Shore Systems –
Tall longitudinal beams called shores are installed temporarily under the home which crews then work above and below simultaneously while other sections remain intact.
Although these alternatives avoid a complete lift, they are often more time consuming than centralized planned lifting of the whole structure for full foundation access. Quality materials and expertise are essential, and some incidental lifting may still occur. It is important to note that partial techniques introduce more opportunity for errors versus an unified lifting strategy.
The drawbacks are safety and quality risks from holding a structure partially in the air with incomplete support in addition to longer project timeframes that translate to higher costs by foregoing economies of scale benefits. So for full foundation rebuilds, complete lifting tends to be recommended wherever possible. But partial techniques have their place for certain limited scope repairs too.
Disadvantages of House Lifting
While house lifting provides clear benefits when additional living space or foundation repairs are needed, there are some disadvantages homeowners should be aware of before deciding to lift:
Time and Disruption
The lifting process usually takes around 4-6 weeks for a single-story home, requiring occupants to live elsewhere during this time. If you consider house lifting, you have to coordinate temporary accommodations, storage, and moving in/out.
Potential cosmetic damage
Though crews take great care lifting, minor cracks may appear on walls, floors or ceilings that require repair work after lowering. Increased risk for older, weaker structures.
Costs and unknowns
Project estimates provide a range, but final costs are out of owners’ hands if unforeseen foundation or s
tructure issues emerge while lifted that demand extra solutions.
Access restrictions
Tight radiuses or low power lines may deter some equipment or require partial lifts versus full structural clearance that costs more.
Resale uncertainty
While adding space raises property values, not all future buyers appreciate drastically modified home appearances from lifts depending on finished aesthetic.
Soil composition issues
Unstable soil like clay expands with excess moisture and presents settlement hazards requiring advanced foundation engineering post-lift.
Permitting challenges
Meeting building codes requires approvals that may encounter problems in tightly-spaced neighborhoods from neighbors or historic boards.
Seasonal constraints
Wet soil conditions delay most foundation work to drier seasons, clustering projects and lengthening timelines. On the other hand, winter climate stalls outdoor jobs.