I wasn't watching close enough to see how the house was raised, but the builder (Pineo) put something like stacks of railroad ties underneath as the house gradually got higher. It isn't rocket science. They just do it.
Digging and pouring have got to be much more expensive than just the raising. Wood finishing inside took a long time.
If radiant heating is added to the foundation, heating the upper part of the house should be much more efficient. Plastic tubing is imbedded in the concrete floor for radiant heating, and all the lengths are gathered into a control unit. If the old structure isn't insulated, heating will be more costly.
The end result is spectacular. Larger triple-paned windows were added and the porch extends towards the lake more and wraps around both sides of the house. It's the old place, but it's "huge".
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