The Reality of House Lifting

It may seem like a task best suited for Superman or maybe Yoda, but house lifting – or raising – is done more than you’d think – and sometimes it’s not only a viable but the most sensible solution. We usually consider lifting a house if severe settling occurs around the interior or exterior of your home or foundation repair is required due to inadequate or improper installation.

Every house will see some settlement over the years – even as much as a few inches can be normal. Usually, this doesn’t present problems, provided the settlement is evenly distributed across the foundation and structure. We are all at Mother Nature’s mercy when it comes to the way soil expands and contracts, but quality construction by builders familiar with the local soil composition should hold up under normal circumstances and variances.

As you can imagine, house lifting is not a cheap undertaking and can cost from $20,000 - $50,000 on average. Only experienced professionals who know what they are doing should perform this job. The basic concept is this: sophisticated hydraulic jack systems are used to slowly and methodically raise parts of the home that have settled beyond acceptable levels. They will achieve different levels of recovery depending on the severity of the settlement. An honest company will set realistic expectations for each homeowner and situation. Of course, some will exaggerate or overpromise just to make a sale. For an investment of this magnitude, you’ll want to take your time and truly vet the company you choose.

Once the house has been raised back to the desired levels, various new support systems will be installed, including new concrete footers. Depending on what the situation requires, these supports may be in the form of steel alpha supports, CMU piers, steel column supports, steel drop girders, or wood drop girders.

If your home’s framework has settled beyond acceptable limits for several years, it becomes increasingly challenging to force that framework back to its original state without causing structural damage. So, with older homes, there may still be some minor deflections even after an otherwise successful house lifting and stabilization. Sometimes, a perfectly level surface just can’t be achieved without reframing the entire floor system. However, your home should be stabilized and not settle any further.

So how do you know if house lifting is for you? Begin by looking for tell-tale signs that the settlement of your house has gone beyond normal variances. You may see jagged cracks running at 45-degree angles in your drywall or plaster. Windows and doors may begin to stick for no apparent reason. Is there water in your basement after rainstorms? If your foundation is severely compromised, the roof of your home will be as well. Keep an eye out for cracks or gaps in the top story of your home. If any or all of these sound familiar, it’s probably time to call for a professional evaluation and opinion. Or Yoda.