Foundation raising in Hilo HI - your house lifted evenly and set on solid support
What does foundation raising in Hilo involve?
Foundation raising means digging tunnels under your house, sliding support beams through and lifting it slowly and evenly on hydraulic jacks. Then the foundation gets repaired or replaced, and the house is set back down on it. At Mainstay Hilo Concrete Construction, I plan each lift in Hilo before it starts.
Most calls start with sloping floors, sticking doors or a wish to get the house higher off the ground. I begin by looking at your foundation type and what your walls are made of, because those decide how big a lift it is. I come out myself to write the estimate, so it shows what's included and what isn't.
Raising a house changes the concrete around it. On a slab home the house is either separated from the slab or lifted with it, which can mean concrete cutting. A house that sits higher may need its steps or driveway reworked to meet it, so I'd rather plan that with you up front, and I'm on site with the crew while it's done.
Ask any crew you're comparing which state license class they hold. The state's contractor license classes include building moving and wrecking contractors and pile, caisson and foundation contractors. The carpentry remodeling class stops short of foundations, beams and load-bearing parts. We're licensed and insured.
What a lift takes
- Checking foundation type and wall material
- Cutting utility lines before the lift
- Digging tunnels and sliding in beams
- Raising slowly and evenly on jacks
- Repairing or replacing the foundation
- Lowering the house and reconnecting utilities
What to weigh before foundation raising
What moves the price
The foundation and the walls matter most, then how high the house goes and what repairs it needs. You only see some of that once the house is up.
What the schedule depends on
The prep work, the lift height, the foundation work that turns up once it's open and the inspections all set the pace. I'll walk you through the order before we start.
What it sets down on
A house can go back onto continuous foundation walls, onto open supports like piles, piers or posts, or onto fill. We'll talk through which fits your house before pricing it.
Questions about raising a house in Hilo
How much does it cost to raise a house in Hilo?
Across the US, raising a house usually costs about $20,000 to $100,000 per job. That's the going range, not a quote from us. Where yours lands depends on the foundation, the walls, the height and the repairs the foundation needs, and adding a basement while the house is up can cost more than the lift and a new foundation alone.
What kind of house is easiest to raise?
A wood-frame house on piers and beams or over a crawl space is usually the easiest and cheapest to raise, because there's already open space under the floor to work in. A slab home adds engineering and labor. Brick or stone-veneer walls need more steel beams, more jacks and a much slower lift.
How long does it take to raise a house?
One national cost guide puts the whole project at about 4 to 8 weeks on average, with the lift itself taking 2 to 7 days. Most of that time goes to prep, foundation work and inspections, so plan around the whole span and not just the lift days.
Can we stay in the house while it's being raised?
No. Staying inside while the house is being lifted isn't recommended, but your furniture and belongings can stay right where they are. We'll help you plan where to stay and how to manage the water, sewer, power and gas being cut and reconnected.
How do I know how high to raise my house in Hilo?
Ask the Hawaii County floodplain manager, because the county has written its own higher flood standards into its local rules on top of the national flood insurance program. The state flood program advises anyone building in or near a Special Flood Hazard Area to learn the county's floodplain rules and talk their plans over with the floodplain manager at 808-961-8042. We'll send height questions there while we plan your job.
Will raising my house crack the walls or tile?
Usually not. In rare cases drywall or tile cracks, depending on how much the house has settled before and what structural problems it already has. Some methods also cut repairable holes in walls to attach bracing. We're licensed and insured, and I'll point out any trouble spots I see during the estimate.
Foundation raising near you
We're based in Hilo and raise houses in Hawaiian Paradise Park and other cities nearby. Pick your area below, or call (808) 229-1132 if yours isn't listed.
Other concrete work
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Concrete steps construction
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Concrete cutting
Ask for a free foundation raising estimate
Tell us your foundation type, your wall material and your flood zone if you know it. We reply within one business day, and then I come out to write an obligation-free estimate.