Foundation raising in Santa Maria, CA - your house set back down on new concrete
Cracked or sinking foundation under a house you want to keep? The house goes up, new concrete goes in underneath, and it comes back down.
Foundation raising in Santa Maria, CA, means lifting the whole house off a foundation that's cracked, sinking or crumbling, pouring a new one underneath and setting the house back down on it. Most calls start with sloping floors, sticking doors or cracks that keep growing. A house mover handles the lift, and our crew pours the new foundation, both working off the same plan.
Price and schedule both start with the house. A wood-framed house is the easiest to lift, while brick, stone or masonry needs more support points, more careful planning and often bracing inside, and rotted sills or tired framing may need work first. Adding a basement raises the total. Permits, repairs, weather and inspections set the schedule. My written estimate lists each part of our work, and any old concrete in the way comes out with our concrete cutting work.
What we handle on a foundation raising job
- I look at every house. I've walked every job myself since starting this business in 2017, and on a house raise I check the old foundation, the framing and how a mover's equipment gets in.
- One plan with the mover. House movers usually leave the foundation to someone else, so the mover does the lift and we pour, working off the same plan so the house lands on solid concrete.
- Who's licensed for what. We're licensed and insured. The lift falls under the state's building moving classification, which covers raising, cribbing and underpinning but not repairs to the parts of the house that stay.
- Forms, rebar and curing. Our own crew forms the new foundation, sets the rebar that holds it together if it cracks, and pours it. Then it cures, slowly gaining strength, before the house comes down.
Foundation problems that call for a lift
| Problem | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked foundation | What it looks like: Cracks in the foundation that keep widening year after year | Usual fix: Lift the house and pour a new foundation |
| Settled corner | What it looks like: Sloping floors, sticking doors and windows that won't close right | Usual fix: Lift, then new footings and foundation set level |
| Rotted sills | What it looks like: Soft, crumbling wood where the house sits on the foundation | Usual fix: Reinforce the framing first, then lift and replace |
| Crumbling old foundation | What it looks like: Powdery, chipping concrete or loose brick along the crawlspace | Usual fix: Full replacement under the lifted house |
Lift only, replace or add a basement
- Lift only. If the foundation itself is sound and the job is about height, lifting alone costs less, and I'll tell you straight if that's all your house needs.
- Lift and replace. This is the usual choice when the old foundation is cracked or crumbling. The house goes up, we pour a new foundation underneath, and it comes back down onto it.
- Add a basement. If you want the space, the house can come down onto a basement instead, but the extra digging and concrete push the total higher than a straight replacement.
How we plan and run the job
- I come see it. You call or send the form, and we set a time for me to look at the house, the old foundation and how equipment gets in.
- A written estimate. I measure and send a written estimate that lists each part of the foundation work, so you know exactly what's included before anything starts.
- Permits and prep. We file the permit with the city or county and set up inspections, while you empty the crawlspace and have a plumber and electrician disconnect the utilities.
- Lift, pour, set down. With the house on crib towers, the stacked supports under it, we set and walk the forms with you, pour, cure and clean up once it's back down.
Keeping your new foundation sound
A new foundation stays sound because of the parts nobody sees later, a packed subgrade, the ground the concrete sits on, steel in the right place and a full cure, the same work we put under every concrete driveway. After that, keep gutters and grading sending water away from the house. Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Most of our calls come from homeowners and small property owners in Santa Maria and the cities around it, from southern San Luis Obispo County down to Lompoc and Buellton, including Orcutt and Nipomo. If your house needs a new foundation, call (805) 268-7763 or ask for a free estimate.
Tell us about your house
Tell us whether the house is wood frame or masonry and any settling or rot you've noticed, and we'll reply within one business day to set a visit.
(805) 268-7763- Free estimate at your house
- Each part listed line by line
- No obligation to go ahead
Questions about raising a house
How much does it cost to raise a house and replace the foundation?
Lifting a house and replacing its foundation usually costs about $20,000 to $100,000 per job across the US, according to one national cost guide. Lifting alone costs less, and a basement pushes it higher. For your house, my written estimate lists each part of our foundation work.
How long does raising a house and replacing the foundation take?
One national cost guide puts the whole process at 4 to 8 weeks on average, with the lift itself taking 2 to 7 days once prep is done. Permits, repairs, weather and inspections all move that, so plan in weeks, not days.
Can I stay in my house while it's being raised?
No, staying in the house during the lift isn't recommended, but your furniture and belongings can stay where they are. Plan somewhere else to sleep on lift days, and empty out the crawlspace beforehand, since the crews need that space to work.
Who reviews building permit plans in Santa Maria, CA?
The city's Building and Safety Division reviews and approves building permit plans in Santa Maria. Its permit staff can explain timelines, give a fee estimate, share the plan check deposit and tell you how many plan sets you need, by phone from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (805) 925-0951 x2241.