Foundation raising in Hawthorne CA - a house set back down on solid support
What does foundation raising in Hawthorne involve?
Foundation raising lifts your house off its old support so the foundation under it can be repaired or replaced. At Liberty Hawthorne Concrete in Hawthorne, a licensed house mover handles the lift and our crew handles the concrete work underneath, and I make sure you know who is doing which part.
Most calls start with floors that slope, doors that stick or a report that the foundation is failing. The mover sets hydraulic jacks under the house's carrying beams and raises it a short distance at a time, resting the weight on cribbing, which is stacked timber, between steps. That gives our crew room to break out the old concrete, with concrete cutting where it's needed, then form and pour what goes back.
Every raise starts with a structural engineer or house mover looking at the home before any lift is planned. California's state license board gives building movers their own class for raising, cribbing and underpinning houses, and that class leaves out repairs to the parts of the house that stay, so it's worth asking who handles those. We're fully licensed and insured, and I spell out our part line by line.
When the house is back down, there is usually a walk or driveway that was torn up to get equipment in. We can pour that again under the same estimate, the same way we handle concrete driveway building, so you aren't hiring a second contractor to finish the yard.
What a house raise takes
- Engineer or mover review before lifting
- A licensed house mover for the lift
- Hydraulic jacks under the carrying beams
- Cribbing stacked as the house rises
- Forming and pouring the concrete underneath
- Permit and inspections when the job needs them
What to weigh before foundation raising
What drives the cost
The size of the house, whether it's wood frame or masonry, any sill or framing repair needed first and how much concrete goes underneath all move the price. Your written estimate lists what's included and what isn't.
What the timing depends on
The engineer's or mover's review comes first, then any reinforcement the house needs, then the lift. How long the house sits on supports depends on how much work happens underneath it.
Keep the budget underneath
If something has to give, I'd keep the money in the new foundation rather than in finish work, because it's hidden on day one but carries the whole house from then on.
Foundation raising questions in Hawthorne
How much does it cost to raise a house in Hawthorne?
Raising a house in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $12,000 to $68,000 per job, with larger homes toward the top of that range. That is what the market generally charges, not our price. I write up our part in a written estimate once I've seen the house.
Can a brick or stone house be raised?
Yes, though it's a more involved job than a wood-framed house, because masonry cracks easily if the house moves unevenly. Brick, stone and masonry homes usually need more cribbing points, careful load planning and often bracing inside the house.
How do I know if my house is ready to be raised?
The engineer's or mover's review tells you, so book that before anything else. One equipment maker's guide notes that rotted sill plates, the wood that sits on the foundation, failing framing or severe settling sometimes call for major reinforcement before a lift. If you already know of problems like that, please mention them when you call.
How long does a house stay raised during foundation work?
A house can stay up on supports for hours, days or weeks, depending on how much work is being done underneath it. Ask the mover early for the expected time on supports so you can plan around it, and I'll show you where our concrete work falls in that window.
Where do I apply for a building permit in Hawthorne?
Permits for work in the city go through Hawthorne's Department of Building and Safety, which you can reach at (310) 349-2990. I'll tell you at the estimate whether your job needs one, and if it does, we handle the application and arrange the inspections. Before a large foundation job, it's also worth entering your address in the state's EQ Zapp earthquake map, which shows whether it sits in a mapped hazard zone or hasn't been evaluated yet, because the state geological survey says new construction and significant remodels need site-specific geologic studies.
What is the best way to fix a settled foundation without lifting the whole house?
For re-leveling a foundation that has settled, one maker's manual describes helical piles, steel shafts with screw plates turned down into the ground, installed with portable equipment that fits tight indoor spaces and causes no vibration. The manual says the people living there face little inconvenience while the work goes on. The engineer's review will tell you whether that or a full lift suits your house.
Foundation raising near you
We're based in Hawthorne and work on house raises in Inglewood, Gardena and many other nearby cities. Choose your city below, or call and ask if you don't see it 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 house raising estimate
Note your home's framing type and any sill or settling problems you know of. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free, no-obligation estimate.