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Lifting or Raising a House - Key Insights for Success

By Editorial Team

Updated on January 21, 2025

Renovating a house is an essential step for preserving and increasing property value while ensuring the safety and comfort of occupants. Amongst large-scale renovation projects, lifting or raising a house is highlighted by its numerous upsides, whether done as a flood prevention measure, to increase the dwelling’s square footage, or to fix structural problems. Albeit this technical process may seem complex, with proper preparation and the right professionals, it makes for a durable and advantageous solution. 

Why consider a house-lifting project? What are the telltale signs that such an undertaking is necessary? What steps should you follow to ensure the successful outcome of your project, and how much should you budget? This article will answer your questions to help you better understand this technical process and how to carry it out.

What Is the Meaning of House-Lifting?

As the name suggests, lifting or raising a house consists of hoisting the structure above its foundation using hydraulic jacks or lifting equipment, and then securing all the temporary supports before carefully lowering it onto a new foundation. In rare cases, a house can be lifted and transported to a new location.

Why Lift or Raise a House?

Source: Canva

There are many reasons why a homeowner would request to have their house lifted.

Advantages

Lifting a House to Prevent Flooding

Basement flooding is a recurring problem across the country. Every year, claims submitted from such a natural disaster are estimated at around 140 million dollars, which means $30,000 to $40,000 per case.

Come spring, seeing foundations sinking into water isn't a rarity, which significantly reduces the structure's integrity and lifespan, and installing a few drainage apparatuses isn’t necessarily a fix-all.

Lifting a house can be a worthwhile option to fix flood-related problems, once and for all. Doing so means scaling upwards, allowing new drains to be added beneath the foundation.

Raising a House for Additional Square Footage

With ever-increasing real estate prices, to increase your home's market value, expanding it might come as a worthwhile endeavour. As such, you can choose to raise your dwelling to build a floor below, whether it’s a basement or a new first floor.

If you want to save a bit of money with the additional space, you can also build a separate, rental unit. Inquire with your municipality beforehand as there as several different by-laws regulating rental properties. 

Lifting a House to Fix a Soil Contamination Problem

Pyrrhotite and pyrite are among two of the minerals found in stone. They’re responsible for the swelling or cracking of concrete slabs. Pyrite produces sulfuric acid by oxidizing the mineral when it's exposed to moisture and oxygen. Pyrrhotite, on the other hand, is made up of iron sulfide and characterized by its bronze or yellowish colouring that darkens when it comes into contact with air.

If you notice cracks in your foundation or believe it to be crumbling, then your floors are likely contaminated. Seek out the expertise of an industry professional to ascertain the presence of pyrrhotite or pyrite. Depending on the state of the foundation itself, you may be faced with several options, including raising your house.

Downsides

Time-Consuming Project

Lifting a house isn’t a swift process. It calls for meticulous attention to detail, careful planning, and the use of specialized equipment to guarantee that the structure is lifted and upheld safely throughout. Given the latter, such a project can take a few days or weeks to complete.

You Can't Stay in Your House

Given the scope of the project, occupants must relocate for the duration of the project. This may last a few days, maybe even a couple of weeks, depending on the project’s scale. As such, it’s important to plan for temporary housing during the process.

How to Lift or Raise a House

Source: Canva

How to Jack Up a House: Steps

Managed by a construction site foreman/woman, a team of experienced workers will carefully follow the hired engineer’s plans to transfer building loads.

Then, rigid steel beams are inserted beneath the ground-level floor, the purpose of which is to group the beams beneath the house’s framework according to the position of the floor joists and the weight of the load-bearing walls.

Hardwood is then used to make cribbing blocks—essential elements for lifting and securing steel beams. The cribbing blocks will get taller as the structure is lifted, up until the house is completely jacked.

Once the structure is raised and secured, the workers can then start excavating or demolishing the old foundation.

Lastly, the walls and floors are built anew.

Who to Call to Lift or Raise a House?

To have your house raised, get in touch with a company specializing in house-lifting projects, such as a foundation repair business. Consulting with engineers is also recommended to ensure the project unfolds correctly, safely, and according to local building codes.

Province-Specific House Lift Guidelines

Source: Canva

Raising a house isn’t a small feat, neither from a technical standpoint nor an administrative one. Hence, there are several steps to follow before undertaking such a renovation project. Furthermore, note that the most common factor preventing or delaying a house from being lifted is the available budget.

Ask About Land Use Regulations

Naturally, the first step is to inquire with your municipality to ensure your project will be authorized. Land use regulations change based on geographic location. Some zoning laws may prohibit you from adding a storey above your house.

Also, note that if you want to lift your house to move it, the size and legal distances to respect on the land itself and a hard-to-get permit may prevent you from doing so.

Request Quotes from Contractors

Given that lifting a house is a large-scale project, comparing quotes provided by several experienced contractors is a must before hiring. We recommend looking at 3 to 4 quotes.

Assess Project Feasibility

Before providing you with a detailed quote, potential project contractors will head on-site to assess the project and determine what needs to be done or fixed. When it comes to a home extension, hiring an architect to draw up plans for a new floor is more than worthwhile. The documents provided thereafter will help you obtain a renovation project permit.

Hire the Services of a Contractor and Request a Permit

Once pronounced, the different contractors interested in the project can submit quotes detailing the work needed to lift the house. At this stage, you will have all the documents needed to request a building permit with your municipality. The only thing left to do is hire the contractor that offers the best service and rates, or that of your personal criteria.

What Are the Impacts of Raising a House?

Steve Fallon—Les Entreprises Steve Fallon—is keen on setting your mind at ease: there won’t necessarily be post-lift consequences, nor will there be additional renovation work resulting from the lifting process. The contractor will ensure that the work is done correctly. However, you can discuss possible landscaping options.  

How Much Does It Cost to Lift a House in Canada?

It typically costs between $15,000 and $25,000 to raise a standard-size bungalow, cottage, or single-storey house, without masonry. However, if the project calls for foundation work, excavation, and building a basement, expenses will come out to $100,000 without insulation, and $150,000 with insulation.

To learn more, check out our article: How Much Does It Cost on Average to Lift a House in 2025?

When Should You Consider Raising Your House?

Source: Canva

Telltale Signs Pointing to a Necessary Renovation

House Relocation

Some homeowners must relocate their houses to make room for municipal projects, such as the building of roads, whereas others are looking to escape natural disaster zones. Homeowners can become quite attached to their homes for sentimental reasons and prefer to relocate their homes to safer grounds instead of selling and moving.

Whatever the reason, a key part of relocating a house is lifting it. Once the structure is raised, the assigned team can position it onto temporary tracks or dollies on wheels to facilitate the moving process.

Flood Protection

Flood-prone zones are likely to change year in, and year out, pushing more and more homeowners to raise their houses to prevent future water damage.

Such a phenomenon isn’t unheard of in coastal areas, especially in historic communities or in areas where beach-front building regulations aren’t as set in stone. With rising tides becoming increasingly problematic, many homeowners choose to raise their houses as a way of further protecting their investment.

Even inland, flood-prone zones are more common, pushing homeowners to consider solutions like house-lifting or moving altogether.

Seismic Standard Compliance

On top of flood risks, some regions are also exposed to seismic shocks. 

In such communities, home safety regulations evolve every decade or so. Given the progress made with construction methods and increased awareness, raising a house may become necessary to reinforce or alter the foundation to meet new building standards. After lifting the house, workers use different reinforcement methods, such as:

  • cripple wall bracing;

  • foundation bolting; and

  • chimney reinforcing or securing.

Foundation Replacement

Similarly to all other parts of a house, a foundation has a limited lifespan. At some point or another, foundation maintenance becomes inevitable. 

Some service companies carry out annual inspections to assess the foundation’s integrity. While numerous repairs can be done without raising the structure, major repairs often mandate the house to be raised.

Oftentimes, problems go unnoticed until they’re not, such as bowing or bulging walls or sagging floors. If you plan to raise your house for one reason or another, it’s the perfect time to have your foundation inspected to detect any potential problems.

When Is the Best Time to Jack Up a House?

The best time to lift a house is during the dry season (low rainfall) when the temperature is warmer. The mild weather experienced during this period facilitates the process and work required, reducing the risks of delays caused by the cold or humidity.

However, the prime time can vary based on your location and regional climate. It’s essential to consult with a contractor specializing in house-lifting projects, someone who is local and reputable, to get situation-specific advice based on your region and ensure the project complies with local building codes.

How Long Does a House-Lifting Project Last?

The time needed to lift a house depends on its size, structure, and the complexity of the project. On average, the lifting process in itself can take three days if done right. However, jobsite and house preparation—such as obtaining permits, unhooking public utilities, and reinforcing the structure—can prolong the process by a few weeks. Repositioning or positioning the house on a new foundation can take a couple of days to a few weeks, maybe even a month depending on the scale of the project. 

In Conclusion

Lifting or raising a house is an effective way to meet a myriad of needs, whether it’s for preventing flooding, increasing the square footage, or correcting structural problems. While it is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of resources and rigorous planning, it can significantly increase the house’s lifespan and value. Homeowners can safely undertake this type of project if they surround themselves with qualified professionals and meet municipal regulations. Take the necessary time to assess your needs and thoroughly understand the processes’ key steps to successfully carry out a house-raising project.

FAQ House-Lifting Process

What do you call the equipment used to lift a house?

The equipment used to lift a house is known as a hydraulic jack. Jacks are placed under the structure, gradually and safely lifting the structure. Steel beams are also used to support and distribute loads throughout the process.

Can you lift a house to add a basement?

Yes, as stated in this article, raising a house to add a basement is absolutely possible!

How much should you budget to lift a house?

As mentioned earlier in the article, lifting a bungalow, cottage, or single-storey house typically costs between $15,000 and $25,000. If foundation, excavation, or basement work is commissioned, costs can range from $100,000 to $150,000, depending on insulation.


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