What Does It Cost to Lift, Level or Repair a House?
No contractor can honestly price your house from square footage alone. Here is what actually moves the number - and how to get a ballpark fast.
Get My BallparkWhy You Won't Find a Price Chart Here
You'll see websites with a neat price-per-square-foot chart. We get why people want that. But two houses the same size can be wildly different jobs. One is a light frame cottage with wide-open access. The other is brick on a slab with a fence two feet away and a power line overhead.
What we can do is show you what drives the price, so the number we give you makes sense - and so you can compare quotes apples to apples.
And here is something that surprises people: the lift itself is often not the expensive part. Raising a house 30 inches or three feet takes about the same setup. What changes the price most is the new foundation underneath at the new height, and what you finish it with.
The Big Cost Factors
Type of House
Frame on pier & beam is usually the simplest to lift. Brick and slab homes are heavier and need more steel and more labor.
Footprint & Shape
A simple rectangle is easier than an L-shape with additions, porches and attached garages that each need their own support.
The New Foundation
Pilings, piers, block walls or poured foundation - and how tall it has to be - is often the biggest part of the bill.
Access Around the House
We need room to work. Tight lots, fences and close neighbors mean more hand work and more time.
Utilities
Overhead or underground electric, gas, water and sewer all have to be disconnected and reconnected at the new height.
Stairs, Decks & Finish Work
A raised house needs new stairs and often new decks or landings. Skirting, lattice and finish choices add up.
Engineering & Permits
Many projects need engineered foundation plans, and every one needs permits. Historic districts may need extra approval.
Condition of the House
Rotted sills, termite damage or old repairs we find underneath get fixed while the house is up - it is the right time to do it.
Get a Ballpark From a Few Photos
We have been pricing these jobs all our lives, and because we do our own work instead of subcontracting, we know what it really costs. Answer a few questions and send some pictures, and we can usually give you a ballpark before anybody drives out:
- What shape is the house, and about how big? Rough footprint is fine.
- Photos of every side and the corners. Front, back, both sides.
- How high is it now? Or just count the steps up to your door.
- Slab, pier & beam, brick or frame?
- How much room is around it? Vacant lot next door, or four feet to the fence?
- Is your electric overhead or underground?
- Do you have an elevation certificate?
- What is the goal? Meeting flood insurance requirements, getting space underneath, or just stopping the cracking?
What About Leveling or Foundation Repair?
Level Early, Spend Less
Leveling a house when you first see sloping floors or sticking doors usually costs far less than waiting until it needs a full foundation replacement.
How Far Out of Level
We measure how far the house has moved. A little settlement in one area is a different job than a whole house that has dropped.
How Many Supports
The number of piers, beams or supports that need to be added, reset or replaced is a big part of the price.
Fix the Cause
Drainage and soil are usually behind it. A cheap patch that ignores the cause is money you will spend again.
How to Compare Quotes Fairly
- Is the new foundation included? Some quotes are "lift only." Make sure you know.
- Who does the work? If the lift is subcontracted, ask who is actually under your house.
- Stairs, utilities, engineering, permits? Included, or extra?
- What insurance covers the house during the lift? Ask about cargo/riggers coverage, not just general liability.
- What is the warranty, and is it transferable? Get it in writing.
Help paying for it may be available - read about ICC flood insurance money and FEMA grants.
Cost Questions
Related Services & Guides
House Lifting in Galveston
Raising Island homes above the flood level.
House Leveling
Bringing sloping floors back to level.
Pier & Beam Repair
Sills, beams, piers and leveling for raised homes.
Get Your Ballpark
Send us the answers above and a few photos, or just call. We will get back to you with a ballpark and set up a free on-site estimate if you want one.
📞 (409) 750-3448