Foundation raising in Davis CA - a house that sits higher on solid footing
Lifted up, then set on new concrete
Foundation raising means lifting your Davis house and building a new foundation under it, usually because it needs to sit higher or the old one has given out. At K&S Davis Concrete, the new foundation is our part, and we plan it with the lifting crew and the engineer from day one.
When foundation raising makes sense for your house
Raising suits houses on a crawlspace or piers best, and it can work on a slab with the right crew. We're based in Davis and work in the cities around it, from Woodland and Winters out to Roseville and Elk Grove.
Price and schedule turn on your foundation type, your wall finish, how much of the old foundation can stay and what the permits call for, so your own figure comes from the on-site estimate.
Best for
- Crawlspace and pier homes
- Houses that need height
- Worn-out old foundations
A house that sits higher
Once the new foundation is in, the whole house sits higher, which is usually why owners raise it in the first place.
A level starting point
We set the new foundation level and square, so the house comes down onto something true instead of carrying the old foundation's dips.
A clear split of work
Before you sign, I lay out what the foundation work covers and what the lifting crew covers, so you know what you're paying for.
Questions asked early
I ask about slab floors and stucco or brick walls right away, because either one changes the whole plan for the lift and the foundation.
Foundation raising starts with footings that hold up
- I do the walk-through and estimate myself, our crew lead runs the site, and I'm there for the pours, because footings show every shortcut sooner or later.
- Since 2013 we've dug out and packed the ground under every footing instead of raking it level, because loose dirt settles and takes the footing with it.
- We're licensed and fully insured, and we set and check the steel rebar inside each footing before the truck arrives, since you can't fix it once it's buried.
Choices for the foundation under your house
I go through these at the walk-through with the engineer's input, so you know which route your house can take and why.
Reuse the old foundation
Suits a house whose existing footings check out sound, so we build the new foundation up from what's already there.
Partial replacement
Suits a foundation that's sound in places and failed in others, where we take out the bad sections with concrete cutting and pour new.
All-new foundation
Suits a house whose old foundation can't carry the raised weight, so we pour new footings and walls from the ground up.
New steps and driveway
Suits nearly every raise, because higher doors need new steps or a ramp, and the concrete driveway may need rework to meet the garage.
Tell me about your house
Send your address, foundation type and wall finish, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
Questions about raising a house
How does a house get raised onto a new foundation?
The house is separated from its foundation, lifted on hydraulic jacks and held on temporary supports while a new or extended foundation is built under it. Reusing as much of the old foundation as possible is generally the cheapest route, but a design professional has to confirm it can carry the raised house.
Can a house with a slab floor or stucco walls be raised?
Yes, though both make the lift harder. Lifting a house together with its slab should go only to a contractor with extensive slab-lifting experience, so ask about past slab jobs first, and stucco or brick veneer has to come off or be braced so it stays in place.
Why is my house in Davis settling and cracking unevenly?
Usually it's the clay, since about 48% of Yolo County's soil is expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, lifting and dropping foundations unevenly. You'll see it as stair-step cracks and crooked door and window frames, and the local Yolo soil usually stays wet from November into May, then dries out unless it's watered.
How much does it cost to raise a house in Davis?
Across the US, raising a 1,200 sq ft house on a crawl space or piers above flood level usually costs about $75,000 to $135,000 per job. That's a national figure, so a bigger house or a slab home can run higher, and I'll price yours after walking it.
Who is licensed to raise a house in California?
In California, it's contractors who hold the state licensing board's building moving and demolition classification, which covers raising, lowering, underpinning and moving structures and their foundations. Repairs, additions or remodeling on the parts of the house that stay fall outside that classification.
Do I need a flood permit to raise a house in Yolo County?
Yes, if the property is in a special flood hazard area, Yolo County requires its development permit before any construction starts. FEMA encourages its Elevation Certificate as the record that the house is properly elevated, and you can use it for flood insurance too. We check with the office for your address and take care of any permit the job needs.
Other concrete work around a raise
Concrete cutting
Clean cuts through an old slab or footing when part of the foundation has to come out before new work.
Explore Concrete cuttingConcrete driveway building
A new driveway graded to meet a garage that now sits higher than the old slab did.
Explore Concrete driveway building