Foundation raising in Berkeley CA - floors back toward level, on solid support
Sloping floors, sticking doors or a crack that keeps growing? We find out why your house moved, then fix it with the right-sized job.
Does my house need to be raised, or is there a smaller fix?
Foundation raising in Berkeley usually means lifting your house off its foundation on hydraulic jacks, holding it on temporary supports and building a new or extended foundation underneath, so the house sits back toward level on support designed for it.
You've probably noticed floors that slope, doors that stick or a foundation crack that keeps getting wider, and you want to know how big a job you're facing. The house itself drives the price more than anything, because a larger house with a complicated shape is harder to lift, a two-story house is harder to keep steady, and how much foundation has to be built underneath sets the rest.
The schedule mostly turns on what happens before a jack goes in, which is the engineer's design and the city's permit review, and your written estimate lists exactly what's included so you can compare it with other bids. We're licensed and fully insured, and because California has a separate contractor class for foundation jacking, pile driving and pressure grouting, it's fair to ask every bidder which licence covers that part of the work.
- Most frame, masonry veneer and masonry houses can be separated from their foundations and lifted on jacks.
- Temporary supports carry the house while the new or extended foundation is built underneath it.
- Stucco and brick veneer get removed or braced before the lift, which makes the job more involved.
What happens when you call us about raising your house?
Raising a house is a big decision, so I look at it myself and put the whole plan in writing before anything starts. Here's who does what, from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send a request
Call (510) 345-1330 or send the form with your address, the home's size, how many stories it has and what covers the outside walls, like wood siding, stucco or brick. That tells me what kind of lift we're likely looking at before I come out.
I look at the house
I come out myself to look at the cracks, the floors and the foundation, take measurements and walk you through whether this calls for a lift, underpinning or something smaller. You get a written estimate that lists what the contract covers, so you can hold it up line by line against other bids.
We plan, permit and prep
Once you say yes, an engineer designs the new support and we take care of the permit steps before any digging starts. This is also when you line up somewhere to stay, since you'll be out of the house for part of the job.
We lift, build and walk it
Our crew sets the supports, raises the house, then forms, pours and finishes the new foundation, with me running the job. When it's done, I walk the work with you and explain what to watch for and how to care for it.
Concrete foundations, footings and slabs taking shape
These photos show the kind of concrete work that goes under and around a house, from dug footings and forms to fresh pours. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Concrete pool deck surrounds a blue swimming pool beside a lit house and covered outdoor seating area at dusk.
Wide concrete landing and broad steps descend toward a sidewalk and street.
Low stacked-block retaining wall bordering a landscaped garden and green lawn.
Terracotta-colored stamped concrete patio with a diagonal grid sits outside a white house.
Concrete pool deck with gray paving, lounge chairs, dining set, and a slide beside a swimming pool.
Covered outdoor living area with gray concrete pavers, dining and lounge furniture, and built-in grills.
Get a written estimate for raising your house
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out myself to look at the house and give you a free written estimate. There's no obligation, so take it and compare it with other bids.
(510) 345-1330Questions Berkeley homeowners ask about raising a house
These are the questions I hear most from homeowners weighing a lift. If yours isn't here, bring it to the site visit, because I'd rather talk it through than have you guess.
How much does it cost to raise a house in Berkeley?
Across the US, raising a typical single-family home usually costs about $20,000 to $80,000, and that's general national guidance, not our price. Where a bid lands depends a lot on how much of the work is in the contract, so ask every bidder to list what's included. Our written estimate does that for your house.
How long does raising a house take, and how long will I be out of it?
Most house-raising projects run about 6 to 12 weeks, and you're out of the house for part of that time. That's general national guidance, and temporary housing rarely shows up in a contractor's bid, so budget for it separately.
Does every settling foundation need to be lifted or underpinned?
No. One trade guide says that when the footing is sound, the soil is fine and the movement is only cosmetic, the fix is drainage work, crack sealing or keeping an eye on it. The same guide advises finding why the foundation moved and having a structural or geotechnical engineer design the support before any digging, so ask each bidder who will do that design.
What permits do I need to raise a house in Berkeley?
Usually a zoning permit first and then a building permit, though for some projects the city gives zoning clearance during the building permit review instead. Which way your job goes changes how long you wait before work starts, and if the approved plans change later, the change gets checked with zoning and building. We look up your address before we price the job, so we'll know which path applies.
How do I check if my Berkeley house is in an earthquake hazard zone?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp tool to see whether the property sits in a mapped zone for fault rupture, liquefaction, where soil briefly acts like quicksand, or earthquake-induced landslides. Guidance for raised houses in earthquake areas says a design professional should check that the house and its foundation can handle the sideways and up-and-down forces expected there, so it helps to know your zone before the estimate.
Is there a Berkeley rebate for foundation repair?
Yes, the city offers a Seismic Retrofit Rebate for seismic strengthening, and that includes repairing or replacing a substandard foundation. Seismic work done to make way for future improvements or bigger spaces isn't eligible for the transfer tax reduction, so read the rules before you plan the project around it.