Main Reasons Why You Might Want To Lift Building
To move the building
Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, people want to move a house from one location to another. They might want to move a house for historical preservation, to get it away from an area that experiences frequent flooding, or because a new highway is being built nearby. Whatever the reason, this kind of house lifting involves lifting up the building, moving it to the new location, and then setting it down again.
To add a new floor
Building lifting might also be done because the homeowner wants to add a new floor in order to make the house bigger. For example, someone might want to turn a one-story house into a two-story house.
To excavate a basement
You also might want to lift a house in order to create a basement. People do this because basements increase the property value and provide additional living space.
To keep the building safe from flooding
Buildings are also lifted to keep the living area above the vast majority of floods, or to the required Flood Protection Elevation (FPE). Many houses were raised in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.
To repair a foundation
Underpinning is a different type of building lifting because it involves repairing a damaged foundation. While the house is indeed lifted, it’s not lifted in the same way as you would lift a house in order to move it or to add a basement.