Foundation raising in Federal Way WA - a house that sits level and solid
Settling, cracking or an old foundation giving out? We lift the house, put a new foundation under it and set it back down.
What is foundation raising, and does my house need it?
Foundation raising in Federal Way means lifting your house off its old foundation on beams so a new foundation can go in underneath, then setting the house back down on it.
Most calls start with something you can see. A floor that slopes, doors that stick, cracks climbing the wall, or a foundation that's just worn out. A full raise is the biggest fix there is, so the price turns mostly on the foundation you have now and on what the bid includes, and the schedule turns on the permit wait and whether your lot needs an engineer's report first. The estimate gives you your own figure, with what's in it and what isn't.
We're licensed and insured, and Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor and Industries, so you can look up any bidder, us included, with L&I's Verify a Contractor tool before you sign anything.
- Crawl space, pier-and-beam, slab and basement houses can all be raised, though each lifts differently.
- The new foundation gets time to cure, the wait while concrete hardens, before the house comes down.
- We keep the site tidy and the street clear for the neighbors while your house is up.
What happens after you call about raising your house in Federal Way?
A raise has more moving parts than a patio, so here's the order it runs in. I handle it myself from the first visit to the day the house sits back down.
Call or send a message
Call (253) 652-2604 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's cracks, sloping floors or an old foundation. We get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
I look at the house
I look at the house and the lot myself, ask what you need the new foundation to do, and bring up where you'll stay during the lift, since that's the part people don't see coming. You get a written estimate that lists what's in the price and what isn't, so you know what you're paying for.
We line up the permit
Once you say go, we check which city or county office covers your address and handle the permit application when the raise needs one. In Federal Way the application starts with a request for an upload link that can take a few days to arrive, so we plan the start date around the wait and pick the dates with you.
We lift, pour and clean up
I'm on site running our crew from the lift through the new foundation, and the house comes back down once the foundation has cured. We get the utilities reconnected and clean up before we leave.
Concrete foundations, footings and slabs going in
These photos show the kind of concrete work that goes under and around a house, from forms and footings to finished slabs. They're examples of the trade, not pictures of a particular job.
Curved reddish stamped concrete patio and walkway lead to steps at a light-sided house.
Close-up of gray stamped concrete with irregular stone-like textures and dark joint lines.
Tan stamped concrete patio and walkway beside a raised wooden deck, with brick walls and a play area beyond.
A textured concrete patio slab sits beside a house, bordered by decorative river stones and green lawn.
A covered patio has a dark, irregular stamped-concrete floor beside brick walls, white columns, and a black railing.
Decorative concrete pool deck with a textured tan surface curves around a blue swimming pool beside patio chairs and a black fence.
Get a free, itemized estimate for raising your house
Send the form or call (253) 652-2604, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation. Have your foundation type ready, and whether the lot sits near a slope.
(253) 652-2604Questions about raising a house in Federal Way
These are the questions I hear most once a raise is on the table. The answers cover what the job costs, how long you're out of the house and what Federal Way asks of hillside lots.
How much does it cost to raise a house near Federal Way?
Raising a house in the Seattle area usually costs about $5,500 to $25,000 per job. That's the area's usual range for the raise, not a quote from us, and where your house lands depends on its foundation type and on what each bid includes. The estimate gives you your own figure.
Does my foundation type change the price of raising a house?
Yes, it's usually the biggest factor. Crawl space and pier-and-beam houses are usually the cheapest to raise, slab houses are harder because the slab has to be separated or lifted with the house, and basement houses cost the most because the basement walls usually need rebuilding or filling in.
Can we stay in the house while it's being raised?
No, you can't live in the house during the lift or while the new foundation goes in. The utilities are disconnected and the house is physically unstable then, so line up another place to stay before the start date.
How long does raising a house take?
Most raising projects run 6 to 12 weeks, and that's about how long you should plan to be out of the house. Permit timing and any engineering the lot needs can move the start date, so we set the schedule with you once that side is clear.
How do I raise a house near a geologically hazardous area in Federal Way?
Federal Way regulates work on and within 50 feet of a geologically hazardous area, and it may allow the work when a qualified professional's geotechnical report, an engineer's study of the ground, shows it won't destabilize your property or your neighbors'. In those areas the new foundation often has to be a specialized design, recommended by a geotechnical engineer, that won't compromise the slope or cause damage in an earthquake. Tell me on the first visit if your lot might be one of them, so we plan for the report.
How is a house held up safely while it's being raised?
Between jack cycles the house rests on crib towers, stacks of timbers built up under the beams, not on the jacks alone, and that cribbing is what makes the lift safe. Ask any crew you're considering how its crib towers will carry your house.
Foundation raising in Federal Way and the cities nearby
Federal Way's Permit Center reviews, issues and inspects permits here, and its staff can answer code questions before you plan a raise. We're based in Federal Way and work in the cities around it, from Burien to Tacoma.