How Much Does it Cost to Raise a House?

When foundation issues strike or flooding becomes a threat, raising a house can be the best solution. But how much will it cost? The answer depends on several key factors, from the type of foundation you have to the extent of the damage. Let’s dive into the main components that affect the cost to raise a house and what you can expect during the process.

What Factors Affect the Cost to Raise a House?

Raising a house is a complex job that involves lifting the structure off its foundation to correct issues or prevent future damage. The cost varies based on several factors, including:

Type of Foundation – Whether you have a slab, crawl space, or basement foundation plays a major role in how much the job will cost. Houses with basements often require more extensive work.
Extent of Damage or Settling – The degree to which your house has sunk or the extent of foundation damage determines how much effort is needed. Some homes need only minor lifting in one area, while others may require an entire structure to be raised several inches.
Methods Used – The method chosen to lift the house impacts cost. Using piers to stabilize and raise the foundation is common, but there are different types of piers, such as helical piers or driven piers, each with its own price tag.
Location and Accessibility – Where your home is located and how accessible the foundation is for workers and equipment can affect costs as well.

Now that we’ve covered the main factors, let’s explore the two primary methods used to raise a house.

House Raising Methods

There are two main ways we raise a house: using piers and floor jacking. Both methods serve different purposes, and the decision depends on the house’s structure and the severity of the foundation problems.

1. Using Piers to Raise the House

One of the most common methods to lift a house is by installing piers under the foundation. This involves drilling down to the bedrock and then hydraulically lifting the house. Here’s how the process works:

Step 1: Installing the Piers: Every 5 to 7 feet under the foundation, piers are driven into the ground until they reach the bedrock. These piers are crucial because they act as the anchors that stabilize your home.
Step 2: Lifting the House: Once the piers are in place, we begin to lift the house hydraulically. The amount of lift depends on how much the house has sunk. Whether it’s a minor adjustment or a major lift, the goal is to get the structure back to a stable, level position.
Step 3: Securing the Structure: After lifting the house, we secure the structure in place and backfill the areas around the piers with concrete. This ensures that the house remains in its new, leveled position.

This method is ideal for homes with significant settling issues, where large portions of the foundation need stabilization.

2. Raising the Floors with Jacks

For homes with uneven or sagging floors, we often use floor jacking. This process is especially useful in older homes where interior framing has sagged or upstairs areas have sunk.

Step 1: Installing Adjustable Posts: Using 20-ton jacks, we raise the sagging floor joists from underneath the house. We then secure them in place using adjustable posts or girders.
Step 2: Leveling the Floors: Once the house is jacked to the desired height, we work to stabilize the floors. This helps eliminate the slopes and uneven areas, but it’s important to note that some level of sheetrock damage is almost always expected due to shifting during the process.

What to Expect After Raising the House

Raising a house is not a quick fix. Once the house is lifted, you may need to wait a month or two before completing cosmetic repairs such as fixing cracks in sheetrock or adjusting doors that have been impacted by the house shifting back into place.

We recommend homeowners plan for additional costs related to finishing repairs. Some of the most common follow-up tasks include:

Repairing Sheetrock Cracks: Houses that have settled over time often have cracks in the sheetrock. After lifting the house, we go back and patch these cracks.
Squaring Up Doors and Windows: Doors and windows might not shut properly after raising a house. It’s important to square them up after the house is back in its stable position.