So Jacked: What to Know About House Lifting for Foundation Repairs

You expect your floors to be flat, but sometimes, natural foundation settling or storm damage makes your flooring start to resemble a roller coaster, with dips and rises in unexpected places. House lifting for foundation repair involves jacking up the lower level of your home to get everything even again and to repair the underlying structure.

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What Is House Lifting or Jacking?

House lifting, also known as house jacking, is the process of raising a home off its foundation to complete repairs under the house or increase the available space beneath the house. House lifting for foundation repair isn't a quick fix. Jacking up a home can take weeks or months because the actual process is done in small increments over time.

Can You Lift a House or Building to Fix the Foundation?

There are a few reasons to consider raising a house — and just one of those is to repair a foundation or build a new foundation. A professional contractor can determine whether your home repairs can be done as-is or if your home needs to be raised first.

Lifting a House for Foundation Repair or Replacement

One of the most common reasons to lift a house is to complete repairs on the foundation. Sometimes the problem can't be fully assessed until the entire house is lifted. An experienced contractor can determine whether you'll need a brand-new foundation, or if repairs will suffice.

Jacking Up a House for Flood Protection

In an area with frequent flooding, raising a house could help reduce the risk of water coming inside the home. Houses built on floodplains, in swampy areas or on low-lying ground may benefit from house lifting. In some regions, flood insurance companies require that homes be elevated to a certain level to qualify for continued coverage.

Raising a House to Add Space Below

Lifting your home a few feet can be a way to add or expand a crawlspace beneath the home. If you have a basement, you could also raise the house to increase the ceiling height of the basement.

House Jacking to Create a New Lower Level

Instead of adding a new level on top of an existing house, homeowners might prefer to lift the house and add a new level below the existing structure.

Raising a House to Even Out Floors

Sometimes the foundation settles in a way that leaves one part of your home higher or lower than the rest. House raising can be used to level the house so floors remain flat and even.

Lifting a Home Before Moving the Entire House to a New Foundation

If you're moving an entire house from one physical location to another, you'll typically need to lift the home off its foundation first. This will allow you to move the house to a new location or put it on a new foundation.

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How Do You Lift a House With Hydraulic Jacks?

The house-jacking process involves a few steps. Here's what the process of raising a house looks like:

1. Permits for the work are obtained and a plan is put into place for your specific home. Utilities are also usually turned off before work begins.

2. Support beams are inserted below the foundation to support the lifting process. Wood blocks may be used to hold up the beams and distribute the weight of the structure above.

3. Hydraulic jacks are placed beneath the beams to control the actual house raising. These jacks are synchronized so the entire house is lifted at the same rate.

4. The hydraulic jacks operate gradually over time, lifting the home foundation slowly to minimize damage such as wall cracks or unwanted sloping of floors.

5. Foundation work is completed below the home.

6. The hydraulic jacks slowly lower the house onto the newly replaced or repaired foundation.

Need to Raise a House For Foundation Repair? Keep This in Mind

If you're considering house lifting for foundation repair, you might need to factor in the extra time and cost of a temporary relocation. Your home may be uninhabitable while work is being completed on the foundation.

Even when the house lifting process goes perfectly, there's still a chance of shifting walls and floors during house elevation. You may need to budget for unexpected repairs, such as fixing cracked drywall or replacing a window that shifted out of its frame.