House Raising With Concrete Piers

Types

• Different types of piers are used in different portions of the country, depending upon the nature of the soil, moisture and other environmental factors. In some states, such as Oklahoma, piers are inserted underground to stabilize homes and keep them from shifting. In other areas, such as along the Gulf Coast, concrete piers are often used to raise homes completely off the ground to avoid flooding and stabilize the home. Concrete piers can also be used to simply level a home.

Method

• The method used in raising a home onto concrete piers is long and involved. The home has to be properly prepared before it can be raised up on the piers. This generally involves removing the contents from the home, removing exterior brick from the home, disconnecting utilities, separating the home's frame from the slap, and banding the house together with some type of wooden banding. The home is elevated in a level position using a unified jack. Piers are then added below the house. These are sometimes steel reinforced and then filled with concrete.

Factors

• The factors that go into determining what type of pier will be used to raise a foundation are many. The foundation must be able to support the building and be able to stave off excessive movement through settling. Foundations are classified according to the depth of the foundation itself and the type of load-bearing system it uses. This generally depends upon the expectations of what the soil will do in terms of shifting. Deep foundations must be established where there is potential for significant movement, whereas shallower foundations are normal for stable soil.

Cost

• Raised foundations and stabilization piers can be a fairly cost-prohibitive repair or upgrade, but there are ways to gain funding to help offset the costs. The cost will depend upon the location, the type of foundation and the number of piers needed. Many companies will charge upwards of $1,000 to $2,000 per pier. Homes in areas like New Orleans may, however, qualify for government grant money, according to the New Orleans House Raising website.