Foundation raising in Tustin CA - your house checked before it's lifted
Sloping floors, sticking doors or a house sitting too low? We check whether your house can take a lift, then raise it with care.
House check first
We see whether your house can handle being lifted.
Raising or underpinning
We explain both methods and which one suits your foundation.
Permit steps handled
We help with the application and work with the city.
Final walk-through
We walk the finished job with you at the end.
What does foundation raising involve for a Tustin house?
Foundation raising lifts a house that has settled, and Custom Tustin Concrete Company does this work in Tustin, CA, starting with a careful check of whether your house can take the stress of a lift.
There are two tried-and-true ways to lift a house, raising and underpinning, and the right one depends on the house and what it sits on. Before we discuss a method, I look the house over to see whether it can handle being lifted, because the stress on the frame is extreme and not every house is ready for it.
The price moves mostly with the size of the house, the method that suits its foundation and the prep it needs. If the lift changes how the garage meets the drive, it can also mean a new concrete driveway. The schedule turns on permits and prep more than on the lift itself, and my written estimate spells out what's included.
- The owner's own look at your house
- Raising or underpinning, explained plainly
- A written estimate that lists everything
- A walk-through when the lift is done
How do you know your house may need raising?
Settling usually shows up inside the house before you see it outside, so if you notice any of these, it's worth having the house looked over.
Floors that slope
A ball rolls across the room or furniture leans, which usually means part of the house has settled lower than the rest.
Doors and windows that stick
Doors that drag or won't latch and windows that bind often point to a frame pulled out of square by settling.
Cracks at door corners
Diagonal cracks running from the corners of doors and windows in drywall or plaster usually follow movement underneath.
Trim pulling away
Baseboards or crown molding separating from the floor or ceiling can mean the house is moving unevenly below them.
Cracks in the foundation
Cracks you can see along the foundation or in a slab floor deserve a look, especially when they keep getting wider.
Water collecting at the walls
A house that sits low and gathers water along its walls after rain or watering may need raising as well as better drainage.
Request a foundation raising estimate
Send your home's size in square feet and whether it's in the Cultural Resources District. We reply within one business day to set a free visit, with no obligation.
What I look at before raising a foundation
Before we talk about a method or a price, I walk the house inside and out to see whether it can take the stress of being lifted.
The frame and walls
I look at how the house has already moved, because a frame that's sagging or out of square may need work before it can be lifted.
What the house sits on
A slab and a raised floor on footings each call for a different approach, and if concrete must be opened to reach them, we do the concrete cutting.
Walls, floors and ceilings
Either method will likely crack some drywall, so I note the finishes now and tell you plainly to expect touch-up afterward.
Utility hookups
A licensed plumber and electrician have to disconnect every utility for a lift, so we look at where they come in and go over who arranges it.
How a foundation raising job runs
We plan a foundation raising around how you live in the house, and we keep in touch throughout so you know what comes next at each stage.
Your first call
Thank you for calling. We set a time for me to come out, look at the house and hear what you have in mind.
The site visit
I check the frame, the foundation, the finishes and the utilities, and I measure the house and look at the access around it.
Your written estimate
I send a written estimate that spells out what's included and the method I'd suggest and why, and the decision stays with you.
Plans, then the lift
We take care of the permit steps, and the city's first plan check should take about 10 working days unless a special approval is needed. Then our crew does the lift.
Inspections and walk-through
City inspectors review the work at stages against the approved plans, and when it's done I walk the house with you and point out any touch-up.
Why Tustin homeowners call Custom Tustin Concrete Company for foundation raising
I care most about the parts of a job nobody sees, and about you understanding each choice before you make it. Here's what you can count on when we raise a house.
I look at every job myself
I come out to see your house and write the estimate myself, so the person pricing the work is the one who looked at it.
A crew I check on
Our finishers and laborers do the work, and I check in with them while the job is underway.
In business since 2020
We've been doing this work since 2020, and before that I learned the trade on the jobs of the concrete crews I worked alongside.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured. When you're ready, call (714) 361-0137 or use our estimate form to set up a visit.
Foundation raising in Tustin and the cities around it
In Tustin, the city reviews plans for any grading or building work, and those plans go in before the work can start. Where your job needs a permit, we help with the application and work with the city office that handles it, and if we're unsure what applies, we ask that office before work begins.
Houses in the Cultural Resources District need design approval before a building permit is issued, and Design Review applies to major exterior alteration or enlargement and to relocated buildings, though the guidelines leave open whether a lift counts. We're based in Tustin and work across Orange County and nearby, including Santa Ana and Orange, where we see the same mix of slab homes and older raised houses.
Wondering whether your house can be raised safely?
(714) 361-0137Questions about raising a house
How much does it cost to raise a house in Tustin?
Raising a house across the US usually costs about $10,000 to $60,000 per job. Larger homes cost more to raise, and the method and prep your foundation needs also set where your house falls in that range. Your own figure comes from the written estimate once I've looked the house over.
How long does raising a house take?
The lifting itself usually takes about a week, but the whole process, with permits and prep, can take several weeks. It's best to plan around the longer timeline rather than only the days of lifting.
What is the best way to raise a house, helical piers or push piers?
One engineer writes that helical piers work regardless of a structure's weight, while push piers may lift a light house before they reach firm ground. By that writer's account, a shallow footing or a slab with a thickened edge may need helical piers. I'll explain which approach fits your house once I've seen its foundation.
Do I need plans from an engineer to raise my house in Tustin?
That's for the city to confirm for your house. The city notes that many construction projects need plans from a licensed design professional, such as an architect or engineer, and a city Building Technician answers questions at 714-573-3130 during business hours. We'll confirm what applies with the city before any work begins.
Do older Tustin homes need special care before they're raised?
Some do, because a number of early Tustin homes were built without permanent foundations, sitting on loose stones or on a wooden mudsill, a board laid on the ground with the frame attached. In those cases the city advises getting advice from an architect or civil engineer before other restoration work. If I see that at your house, I'll tell you at the visit.
What kind of contractor raises a house in California?
The state licensing board defines a building moving contractor as one who raises, lowers, underpins and moves structures, including their foundations. It's fair to ask anyone you're considering how the lift on your house will be licensed and carried out.
Book a look at your Tustin house
Since the city's plan review comes before any lift, an early visit gives your schedule more room, so call (714) 361-0137 or send the form.