Foundation raising in Lowell MA - a house lifted evenly onto a sound new foundation
A crumbling old foundation or a house that has settled? We lift it slowly and evenly so the foundation underneath can be repaired or replaced.
Foundation raising starts with what the house can take
Raising a house means digging beneath it, setting support beams with a hydraulic jack under each one and lifting the whole house slowly and evenly. That gives room to repair or replace a foundation that's crumbling or has settled, and then the house is lowered back onto it.
I start with a close look at the framing and the old foundation, and we have an engineer review it before the lift plan is set. The price mostly follows how much support the house needs and how much foundation work goes in underneath, while the schedule turns on permits, repairs, weather and inspections. The written estimate spells out what's included.
- Framing and old foundation checked up close
- An engineer's review before the lift plan
- The house raised slowly and evenly
- Lowered evenly onto the finished foundation
What goes under the house
What goes under the house once it's up decides most of the cost and the time, so it's worth settling before the lift plan is drawn.
Lift and repair
- When it suits
- The old foundation is mostly sound and only needs fixing where it failed.
- What it takes
- The least work underneath, so it costs less than replacing the whole foundation.
Lift and replace
- When it suits
- The foundation is crumbling or has settled too far to be worth patching.
- What it takes
- A new foundation goes in while the house waits on beams overhead.
Lift and add a basement
- When it suits
- You want real living or storage space under the house.
- What it takes
- The most digging and concrete work, and the biggest budget of the three.
How a lift is planned and run
I look it over
I come out myself, check the framing and the old foundation, answer your questions and send a written estimate that shows what's included.
Engineer review
An engineer reviews the house before we set the lift plan, since rotted sills or failing framing can need reinforcing before anything goes up.
Permit and prep
We apply for the permit as the contractor and tell you which office is involved, while you clear out the basement or crawlspace. Furniture upstairs can stay put.
The lift
Once the utilities are off, our crew raises the house slowly and evenly, freeing any steps or slab tied to the old foundation with concrete cutting.
Set down and walk-through
The foundation is repaired or rebuilt, the house is lowered onto it, and after clean-up I walk the finished job with you before we call it done.
Before you decide to lift
These are the things that decide whether your house suits a lift, how much planning it needs and what the estimate ends up covering.
Wood frame or masonry
Wood-framed houses usually lift well, but brick or stone needs more support points, careful load planning and often bracing inside, because masonry cracks under uneven movement.
Pipes and wires underneath
A plumber has to take down pipes or ductwork below the floor joists and an electrician has to tack up or remove wiring, so ask any contractor who arranges that. We help you sort it out.
Some patching inside
Some lifts leave repairable holes in walls for bracing, and in rare cases drywall or tile cracks, depending on how far the old foundation had settled.
Steps and driveway afterward
If the house ends up sitting higher, the front steps, the walk or a concrete driveway may need rebuilding to meet it, so it's worth pricing that in the same estimate.
House lifting, start to finish
Look for steel beams under the floor, even jack points and a level house before any new foundation goes in. Open any photo for a closer look.
Tell us about your house
Tell us how the house is built and how the foundation looks. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
To talk now, call
(978) 441-3345Questions about raising a house
Another question? Call (978) 441-3345
What does raising a house cost near Lowell, MA?
Raising a house in the Boston area usually costs about $14,000 to $20,000 per job. Across the country, lifting and replacing the foundation costs more than lifting alone, and adding a basement costs more still. Your own figure comes from the written estimate once I've seen the house.
How long does raising a house take?
On average the whole project takes 4 to 8 weeks, and the lift itself takes 2 to 7 days once the prep is done. Permits, repairs, weather and inspections all move that schedule, so it pays to plan around them from the start.
Can we stay in the house while it's being raised?
No, living in or even being inside the house during the lift isn't recommended, so you'll want another place to stay for the lifting days. We help you plan that stay around the lift, so you're not scrambling once the date is set.
Who handles building permits for raising a house in Lowell?
Lowell's Development Services office processes building permits, which the state building code requires to reconstruct, alter or repair a structure. We apply as the contractor, and the city's building, plumbing, gas and wire inspectors work from that one office and do the inspections each permit needs, which matters here because the utilities all come off and go back.
Does a historic district in Lowell affect raising a house?
It can, because the Lowell Historic Board has design review, permitting and enforcement authority in the Downtown Lowell Historic District and the city's neighborhood districts. If your house is in one, check with the board early and tell me when I come out, so we plan for it.
What license should a contractor raising my house in Massachusetts have?
The state requires Home Improvement Contractor registration for work on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units. That covers ordinary repairs, while larger projects call for a Construction Supervisor License, so ask which one a contractor holds for a job this size. We're licensed and fully insured.
Do you raise houses outside Lowell, like in Dracut or Chelmsford?
Yes, we're based in Lowell and work in the cities around it on both sides of the New Hampshire line, including Dracut and Chelmsford. Rules differ from city to city, so we check with the local office on each job.