Lifting Your Home: The Ultimate Solution to Those Dreaded Flood
Nightmares
Hey there! I can’t tell you how often I’ve walked into homes after a flood and seen the heartbreak on homeowners’ faces. That sinking feeling when you realize your family photos, furniture, and memories are swimming in muddy water? It’s devastating. If you’ve been through it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t—trust me, you don’t want to find out.
So, let me answer the question I hear almost daily: “Can I raise my house to avoid flood damage in the future?”
Short answer? Absolutely yes! And it might be the smartest move you’ll ever make for your home.
Why I’m Passionate About House Raising
Look, I’ve been in this business for years at Du-West Services, and I’ve seen the before-and-after stories. Families who used to panic every time it rained heavily now sleep soundly through storms. That peace of mind alone? Priceless.
House raising is exactly what it sounds like—we literally lift your entire home to a safer height above potential flood levels. Your house stays intact and keeps its character, but it sits safely above where floodwaters typically reach. It’s like giving your home a pair of stilts, but way more sophisticated and permanent!
Four Reasons You Should Consider Raising Your Home
1. Say Goodbye to Flood Damage (For Real)
Remember that last flood when you had to throw out your sofa? And those family heirlooms you couldn’t save? When your home sits higher than flood levels, water passes underneath. Your belongings stay dry, your walls don’t grow mold, and you don’t have to deal with that awful flood smell that never seems to go away.
One of my clients, Sarah from Riverdale, used to keep her valuables in plastic bins on high shelves “just in case.” Now? Everything’s displayed proudly in her elevated home that hasn’t seen a drop of flood water in three years.
2. Your Insurance Company Will Thank You (With Lower Premiums)
Let’s talk money. Flood insurance rates have been climbing faster than most of us can keep up with. But here’s the kicker—raising your home can slash those premiums dramatically. I’ve seen reductions of 50% or more!
Think about it: paying less every single year, potentially saving thousands over the lifetime of your home. That’s money back in your pocket for something fun, not just disaster prevention.
3. Your Home’s Value Will Actually Increase
Nobody wants to buy a house with a history of flooding. It’s like buying a car that breaks down every winter—a predictable headache. By raising your home, you’re not just avoiding future damage; you’re making your property more attractive to future buyers.
Many of my clients have been pleasantly surprised when their home appraisals came back significantly higher after raising. It’s an investment that truly pays dividends.
4. Break Free from the Repair Cycle
I’ve seen too many families caught in the vicious cycle, flood, repair, flood again, repair again. It’s exhausting emotionally and financially draining. Each time, you’re basically rebuilding the same parts of your home, over and over.
House raising breaks that cycle permanently. Instead of playing defense against nature, you’re taking control once and for all.
When to Pick Up the Phone and Call Us
House raising isn’t something you tackle yourself with a YouTube tutorial and some buddies. This is definitely professional territory.
Here’s when you should give us a call:
- Your carpet has seen more water than your bathtub in recent years
- Your weather app triggers mild panic attacks during rainy seasons
- You know the FEMA representatives by their first names
- Your neighbors are starting to raise their homes (and you’re feeling a bit left out!)
- You’re planning major renovations anyway—perfect time to lift while you’re at it
- Your flood insurance bill made you choke on your morning coffee
At Du-West, we’re not just contractors, we’re problem solvers who happen to be really good at lifting houses. We’ll figure out the best approach for your specific situation.
How We Turn Your Flood-Prone House into a High-and-Dry Home
I won’t sugarcoat it, raising a house is a big project. But we’ve got it down to a science.
Here’s what happens when you work with us:
Step 1: We Get to Know Your Home (The Inspection Phase)
First, we’ll check out your home’s foundation type, structural integrity, and flood history. We’ll review local floodplain maps and regulations to determine exactly how high we need to go. Every house is different, and this personalized assessment is crucial.
Step 2: Paperwork and Planning (The Boring but Essential Part)
We handle all the engineering plans and permits. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with this bureaucratic maze! We know all the local codes and requirements, saving you headaches and ensuring everything’s done by the book.
Step 3: Prepping Your Home for Its Big Lift
This is when we disconnect utilities, remove any attached structures like decks or porches that might complicate the lift, and reinforce your home’s structure. Think of it as preparing your house for a major surgery—everything needs to be ready and secure.
Step 4: The Support System (It’s All About the Jacks)
We’ll place hydraulic jacks and steel beams strategically under your home. This network creates the lifting platform that will raise your entire house evenly—kind of like how those fancy hydraulic car lifts work at auto shops, but on a much bigger scale!
Step 5: Up She Goes! (The Most Exciting Day)
Using our specialized equipment, we’ll slowly raise your home to its new elevation. This isn’t a quick jerk upward—it’s a careful, gradual process that protects your home’s structural integrity. Watching a house rise is pretty amazing, I have to say!
Step 6: Building Your New Foundation
Once your home is elevated, we’ll construct a new, stronger foundation underneath. Depending on your needs and local requirements, this might be concrete piers, pilings, or a completely new slab.
Step 7: Reconnecting Everything
After your home is secure on its new foundation, we reconnect all utilities, rebuild any steps or porches, and make final adjustments to ensure everything functions perfectly at the new height.
Let’s Keep Your Home High and Dry
If you’re tired of watching the weather forecast with dread, or if you’ve already experienced the nightmare of flood damage, it might be time for a permanent solution. House raising isn’t just a construction project, it’s an investment in your peace of mind and your home’s future.
At Du-West Services, we’ve helped countless homeowners break free from the flood cycle. Give us a call, and let’s talk about how we can do the same for you. Because life’s too short to worry about what’s happening under your feet every time it rains!
