What do you understand when someone mentions raising or lifting a house? Are you unclear and unsure of what it really means and entails? Read on along to learn what is house raising and how it is accomplished.
Lifting of a house is a process that separates a building structure from its foundation. The foundation is then temporarily raised and held by hydraulic jacks and supports while a permanent, new and leveled foundation is laid and constructed underneath.
There are a number of different reasons why homeowners choose to raise their houses. It could be:
- As part of a renovation or house remodel,
- To relocate and structurally move their home,
- To build an extra floor beneath the existing structure in a move to extend and enlarge living quarters,
- To prevent water damage in areas prone to floods,
- To fix a foundation already affected by flooding or excessive water-logging,
- Re-level a sunken and settled foundation.
Now that you know what house raising is and the reasons why people elect for this process, let us see just how this is accomplished.
While house raising and lifting is by no means a Do-it-Yourself job and there is a definite need for specialized personnel and specialized equipment both, the basic summary of the procedure involved, for your easy understanding, is as follows:
- A thorough examination and assessment is done of the existing foundation. This assessment is conducted by expert hired professional foundation repairers or contractors.
- Once this assessment and necessary paperwork filed and proper permit obtained, all the utilities are disconnected following which excavation around the house is needed to be done.
- The excavation provides easy access to the external sub-structure of the home.
- Once the excavation is complete and the area cleared up, metallic beams are slid underneath the house which is supported by hydraulic jacks by using a unified jacking system on all sides.
- Once the house has been properly lifted and raised to the required height, pilings, which are either segmented concrete cubes, or oak timber stacks are pushed and placed under your home.
- The utilities such as gas, plumbing and electricity are re-installed to meet the elevation of the home.
- This is followed by pouring footing in and around the external perimeter of the home to lock in elevation and reconnect it with the existing foundation by using concrete blocks.
- This is followed by a general clean-up of residual debris; installation of railing and appropriate landscaping is done to ensure the safety and neatness of your home and surrounding area.
The house is now raised.
But before you do this, consult one of our professionals at Project Hope
