Foundation raising in Piedmont CA - a house set on a sound new foundation
Worn foundation under an older house? We check first whether raising suits it, then build a new or extended foundation beneath it.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does raising a house in Piedmont involve?
Foundation raising in Piedmont lifts your house off its old foundation so a new or extended foundation can be built underneath, which gives an older home a sound base to sit on again.
Most people who call us about this have an older house and a foundation they no longer trust, and what they want first is a straight answer on whether raising is the right move. The price turns on what your house sits on now, whether the old foundation can be extended or has to come out, how easily we can reach the work, and what has to be reconnected afterward. The schedule mostly depends on the city's review. When I come out, I measure, look at access and send you a written estimate, so you have your own figure instead of a guess.
How we handle foundation raising
I start by looking at what kind of foundation your house sits on and what shape the old one is in, because that decides whether raising makes sense at all. If it doesn't suit your house, I'll tell you so. When it does, the house is usually separated from its foundation, lifted on hydraulic jacks and held on temporary supports while the new foundation goes in below it. Our crew then forms, pours and finishes that foundation. I learned in restaurant kitchens that a dish is only as good as its prep, and concrete works the same way, because once it's poured there's no taking it back.
A raise rarely stops at the foundation. Sections of old concrete often have to come out cleanly, which is where our concrete cutting work comes in. Once the house sits higher, the driveway may no longer meet the garage the way it did, so some owners pair the raise with concrete driveway building.
Extending the old foundation
This suits a house whose existing foundation is in good condition and can carry the added load, because we can build onto it rather than start over. I'll only recommend it after I've looked closely at the old concrete.
Taking it out and rebuilding
When the old foundation is cracked through, crumbling or can't carry more weight, it's demolished and a new one is built in its place. It's the bigger job, but your house won't end up resting on something that's already worn out.
Foundation raising in Piedmont and the city's rules
The City of Piedmont issues building permits, and most construction projects and repairs here need one, so we plan for a permit on a raise. We handle the application and the paperwork, tell you up front which office it goes through, and check with the city before we start if anything is unclear. Any project that needs a building permit may also go through the city's design review unless it's specifically exempt. The city's design review FAQ lists a project value above $142,445 as one of the things that sends a project to the Planning Commission. That page shows no date for the amount, so confirm the current figure with the city.
Many of the houses we see here are older homes on hillside lots, often over crawlspaces or basements, with narrow side yards that make reaching the work the first problem to solve. Before you plan a raise, type your address into the state's EQ Zapp earthquake hazard lookup, which shows whether your lot sits in a mapped hazard zone or hasn't been evaluated yet. We're based in Piedmont and see the same kinds of older foundations on jobs in Oakland and Berkeley.
Why Piedmont homeowners call Piedmont Advanced Concrete for foundation raising
The owner sees every job
I come out to look at every job myself, give you the estimate, and then work on site with our crew, who handle the forming, pouring and finishing. You talk to the person who looked under your house, not someone reading notes about it.
Working in Piedmont since 2020
I learned the trade on a finishing crew here in the East Bay and started this business in Piedmont in 2020, and the foundation and wall work that comes with older homes has been a steady part of it since. On a raise, that's the part that decides how your house sits from then on.
Licensed and insured on site
We're licensed and insured. That matters on a raise, because the work happens under a house that's sitting on temporary supports, and you want the people doing it covered.
On a raise, the most important hour is the one spent looking at the old foundation before anyone plans the lift. Please get in touch to set up that visit, and thank you for considering us.
Request a quoteRequest a written estimate for raising your house
We reply to every message within one business day to set up a visit. The estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation. Once I've measured and looked at access, you'll get it in writing.
What happens after you call about raising your house
Call or send the form
Thank you for reaching out. We'll get back to you to set a time for me to come out to the house.
I look at the foundation
I come out myself, look at the site, the old foundation and how we'll get to it, and listen to what you have in mind. You then get a written estimate that says whether we'd extend the old foundation or rebuild it.
We handle the city steps
We file the permit and any design review with the city and keep you posted on where it stands. Work on site waits until the city approves it.
Pour, finish and walk through
Our crew preps the site, then pours and finishes the new foundation. We clean up and walk the finished job with you before we call it done.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my house can be raised?
Raising works best on houses built over a basement, a crawlspace or an open foundation, so if yours is one of those, you're starting from the kind of house the method suits. A house on a slab poured right on the ground is much harder, because raising it with the slab intact is technically challenging and often not feasible. If your house sits on a slab, ask that question before anything else.
How much does foundation raising cost in Piedmont?
There's no set figure, because the cost depends on your house, its old foundation and how we reach the work. A complete quote covers more than the lift itself, and FEMA's cost comparison for raising homes includes extending utilities and adding or extending stairs. I measure and send a written estimate so you see your own number.
How do I get a permit to raise a house in Piedmont?
You apply online through the city's eTRAKiT system on its building permit page, and when we take the job, we file it for you. Paper and email applications aren't accepted anymore. The city's planning staff suggest talking with them before a design review application, which often leads to a faster turnaround.
Who is licensed to raise a house in California?
California's contractors board puts raising, lowering and moving a house, foundation included, under its building moving and demolition classification. That classification doesn't cover repairs or changes to the parts of the house that stay in place, so ask anyone bidding on your raise which part of the job their license covers.
Does raising my home change its earthquake risk?
It can, because FEMA notes that raising a home can make it more susceptible to earthquake damage. Weigh that against your reasons for raising, and check your address with the state's hazard lookup mentioned above before you decide.
What should I have ready before I call about raising my house?
Have your address handy and, if you can, know whether your house sits on a basement, a crawlspace, an open foundation or a slab on the ground. If you're not sure, that's fine, because looking at the foundation is the first thing I do on the visit.
Work that often goes with a raise
Concrete cutting
Clean saw cuts let us remove sections of an old foundation, slab or walk without cracking the concrete you're keeping, which matters when part of the old work stays in place.
Concrete driveway building
If your house sits higher after a raise, a new driveway can be shaped to meet the garage and the street, on a base we dig out and pack before the pour.
Piedmont, CA
Find out if your house can be raised
One visit tells you whether your house suits a raise at all, before you put money into plans.