Lifting an entire house sounds like something that should be impossible. A home is a massive structure, and it is designed to sit on a foundation, not to be suspended in the air. So how can a house actually be lifted?
The answer involves careful preparation, structural bracing, steel beams, crib piles, hydraulic jacks, and a system designed to distribute the weight of the structure. The actual movement of the house can happen relatively quickly, but getting everything ready for that moment takes considerably more time and planning.
Every house-lifting project is also different. Even two homes with the same floor plan can have different structural conditions, which means the lifting process has to be adapted to the individual property.
How Do You Support a House Before Lifting It?
Before a house can be lifted, there needs to be a stable system in place to support the structure.
One important part of that system is the use of crib piles. These provide a stable place to lift the house from and, once the structure is raised, somewhere for the house to remain safely supported while work is being performed underneath it.
Steel I-beams are also used to support the structure. Inside the home, additional structural bracing is installed to support load-bearing walls. The steel beams are then positioned across those braces so the weight of the house can be transferred to the supporting system outside the structure.
The goal is to take the loads that would normally be carried by the foundation and distribute them through the temporary support system.
This preparation is critical because the house cannot simply be lifted from one convenient location. The weight of the structure needs to be supported and distributed in a controlled way.
Why Does a House Need Steel Beams and Bracing?
A house is made up of many interconnected components, including load-bearing walls and framing. When the foundation is removed or separated from the structure, those components still need to be supported.
Steel I-beams provide a way to carry those loads while the house is lifted.
Additional bands and bracing can also be used to support load-bearing walls and connect the structural components to the steel system. Depending on the house, the arrangement may need to be customized.
The goal is to create a system that allows the structure to be separated from its existing foundation while maintaining support throughout the process.
This is also why house lifting is not as simple as putting a few jacks underneath a building. The temporary support system has to account for how the weight of the structure is distributed.
How Is a House Separated From Its Foundation?
In some house-lifting projects, the structure needs to be separated from the existing foundation.
This can involve installing structural bracing inside the home and running steel beams across those braces. The beams are positioned so they can support the structure as it is lifted away from the foundation.
The purpose of doing this is to create enough working space underneath the house.
In the project discussed, the house was being lifted because the foundation was being replaced. The goal was not to leave the house permanently higher than its original position. Instead, raising the structure provided enough room to remove and replace the foundation underneath it.
This is an important distinction. A house can be temporarily lifted as part of a foundation replacement without the finished home necessarily being left at a higher elevation.
How Do Hydraulic Jacks Lift a House?
Once the structural preparation is complete, hydraulic jacks can be used to raise the house.
A unified hydraulic system allows multiple jacks to work together. The number of jacks can vary depending on the project, and the equipment needs to be configured based on the loads being carried by the structure.
The important part of a unified system is that the jacks can move at the same velocity even when they are carrying different amounts of weight.
A house does not put exactly the same amount of weight on every point. Some areas can carry significantly more load than others. The hydraulic system therefore has to account for both shared and different loads throughout the structure.
The operator has to understand how those loads are distributed and set up the hydraulic system accordingly.
This is one of the reasons experience matters when lifting a house. If the system is not properly configured or operated, the structure can be damaged and the work site can become dangerous.
Why Does Preparing a House Take So Long?
The actual movement of the house can happen much faster than most people might expect.
The preparation is what takes time.
For the project discussed, it took approximately four days to prepare the house for the lift. That included setting up the crib piles, installing the steel, adding the necessary bands and bracing, and preparing the structure to be supported independently of its foundation.
Once that work is completed, the hydraulic equipment can be brought in and connected.
This is similar to other construction projects where the preparation can take considerably longer than the final step. The visible moment when the house moves is only one part of the overall process.
A significant amount of work has to happen first so that the actual lift can be performed in a controlled manner.
Why Is a House Lifted a Little at a Time?
Before performing the full lift, the structure can be raised incrementally to make sure everything is responding as expected.
The house may initially be lifted only an inch or two and then set back down. This gives the crew an opportunity to identify anything that is still connected or creating resistance.
Utility lines, sewer lines, electrical connections, and other components may need to be disconnected as the structure begins moving.
The crew can then make another small lift and check the house again.
This process allows the crew to confirm that the loads are being shared properly and that nothing unexpected is holding the structure in place.
Once everything has been checked and the system is properly configured, the house can be raised to the required height.
How Fast Does a House Actually Move?
The physical movement of the house can be surprisingly fast once all the preparation has been completed.
The important distinction is between preparing to lift the house and actually lifting the house.
The preparation can take several days, while the physical movement can happen much more quickly.
That does not mean the lifting process is rushed. In fact, the earlier preparation and incremental testing are what allow the actual lift to proceed in a controlled manner.
The goal is not simply to get the house off the ground as quickly as possible. The goal is to make sure the structure is properly supported and that the lifting system is functioning as intended before completing the lift.
Is Every House Lifted the Same Way?
No. Every house-lifting project is different.
Even homes with the same floor plan can have differences in their construction, structural layout, foundation, load distribution, additions, and other conditions that affect how the house needs to be supported.
That means there is not one universal setup that works identically for every project.
The structural bracing, steel beams, crib piles, hydraulic jacks, and other components have to be arranged based on the individual house.
Experience is important because a house-lifting contractor needs to recognize those differences and determine how the particular structure should be supported.
The process may follow the same general principles, but the actual setup can vary significantly from one house to another.
Why Is Experience Important When Lifting a House?
Lifting a house involves significant structural loads and heavy equipment, so the process needs to be handled by people who understand what they are doing.
The hydraulic system needs to be configured correctly. The structural bracing needs to support the appropriate loads. The steel beams and crib piles need to be positioned properly. The crew also needs to recognize problems as the house begins to move.
Incremental lifting provides opportunities to identify unexpected issues before completing the full lift.
Because every house is different, experience with multiple projects can also provide valuable perspective when determining how to approach a new structure.
House lifting is not simply about having enough hydraulic jacks to push a building upward. It is about understanding the structure, distributing its weight, preparing the support system, and carefully controlling the movement.
FAQ: How Do You Lift a House?
How is a house supported before it is lifted?
Crib piles, steel I-beams, structural bracing, and other temporary supports can be used to distribute the weight of the house and provide a stable system during the lift.
Why are steel I-beams used when lifting a house?
Steel I-beams help support the structure and transfer its loads to the temporary support system while the house is separated from its foundation.
How do hydraulic jacks lift an entire house?
A unified hydraulic system can operate multiple jacks together so they move at the same velocity while carrying different loads throughout the structure.
How long does it take to prepare a house for lifting?
The preparation time depends on the project. In the project discussed, preparing the house for the lift took approximately four days.
Why is a house lifted in small increments first?
Initial smaller lifts allow the crew to check how the structure is responding, identify anything that is still connected or creating resistance, and make sure the loads are being shared properly before completing the lift.
Is the entire house lifted during foundation replacement?
When a foundation is being replaced, the structure can be separated from the existing foundation and lifted to create enough working space underneath it.
Does a lifted house stay higher than it was originally?
Not necessarily. In the project discussed, the house was lifted to create working space and would ultimately be placed back at its original position.
Is every house-lifting project the same?
No. Every house has different structural conditions and load distributions, so the support and lifting setup needs to be adapted to the individual project.
Need Help With a House Lifting or Foundation Project?
House lifting requires careful planning, the right equipment, and an understanding of how each individual structure carries its weight. If you are considering lifting your home or have concerns about your foundation, CoreTech Foundation Repair can evaluate your property and help you understand your options.
Call CoreTech Foundation Repair at (281) 984-4332 or schedule an evaluation to discuss your project and determine what may be needed for your home.