1950s lakefront chalet... Tear down or save?

Just Sold · 04-11-2007, 07:45 PM

To raise a house off its existing support system they install steel beams that extend beyond the exterior and use neumatic jacks with a central control panel that can be used to control each jack. Once everything is in place, which is time for setting up, the house goes up pretty quickly. They build wood platforms to support the house from the underside and stop periodically to add wood members to it. Pretty interesting to watch. The process is done in reverse once the excavation and foundation has been completed.

A bob cat or similar equipment is used to remove the earth under the cottage and dig the footings.

If your cottage already has a 6' height in front I would guess that you would go for a 2'-3' raise on the front which equates to only a small raise off the ground in the rear. It all sounds quite simple but you need experienced people to do it. There are quite a few in NH that are qualified to do so. The ones I know of do this type of work on the small lakes further south in NH.

SIKSUKR · 04-12-2007, 07:07 AM

Just Sold,are you sure they use pneumatic jacks?I always thought they used hydraulics.Air would be pretty spongy.

BlackCatIslander · 04-12-2007, 09:14 AM

I would recommend getting an estimate from a reliable contractor who has done this before. Based upon my experience several years ago, I would expect that it could cost $60-75,000 to raise the house and install a concrete foundation and walls. Site issues could impact that number. Good luck.

Weirs guy · 04-12-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Just Sold,are you sure they use pneumatic jacks?I always thought they used hydraulics.Air would be pretty spongy.

A buddy of mine does it with a couple dozen large size "bottle" jacks like the one you use to jack your car up with. All manually done with rr ties and a few helpers.

Its been quite popular here at the Weirs to have it done (a few places in the last year or so) and I believe the cost was in the $50-75K range depending on size, ect.

If you are planning to add radiant heat to the basement you should also look into doing it for the rest of the house at the same time. You will not be disappointed with the heat you get or money you save in fuel costs.

Just Sold · 04-12-2007, 09:21 PM

SIKSUKR,

OOPS, it is a hydraulic jack. It is interesting though to watch how fast a home can go up using the control box with those hoses attached to it. Just a few hours and it's up in the air and ready to work under.

Water Camper · 04-17-2007, 02:59 PM

I would like to 2nd the use of Getty Construction. Kevin just did my neighbors place on Weirs Boulevard along with a lot of the other modifications. Came out quite nice.

Bill

04-11-2007, 07:45 PM	#1
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	Raising A house off the posts or foundation To raise a house off its existing support system they install steel beams that extend beyond the exterior and use neumatic jacks with a central control panel that can be used to control each jack. Once everything is in place, which is time for setting up, the house goes up pretty quickly. They build wood platforms to support the house from the underside and stop periodically to add wood members to it. Pretty interesting to watch. The process is done in reverse once the excavation and foundation has been completed. A bob cat or similar equipment is used to remove the earth under the cottage and dig the footings. If your cottage already has a 6' height in front I would guess that you would go for a 2'-3' raise on the front which equates to only a small raise off the ground in the rear. It all sounds quite simple but you need experienced people to do it. There are quite a few in NH that are qualified to do so. The ones I know of do this type of work on the small lakes further south in NH. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

04-12-2007, 07:07 AM	#2
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Just Sold,are you sure they use pneumatic jacks?I always thought they used hydraulics.Air would be pretty spongy. __________________ SIKSUKR

04-12-2007, 09:21 PM	#5
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	SIKSUKR, OOPS, it is a hydraulic jack. It is interesting though to watch how fast a home can go up using the control box with those hoses attached to it. Just a few hours and it's up in the air and ready to work under. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

04-17-2007, 02:59 PM	#6
Water Camper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pembroke, NH / Laconia, NH Posts: 451 Thanks: 10 Thanked 207 Times in 89 Posts	Lift Cottage I would like to 2nd the use of Getty Construction. Kevin just did my neighbors place on Weirs Boulevard along with a lot of the other modifications. Came out quite nice. Bill

04-12-2007, 09:14 AM	#3
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	I would recommend getting an estimate from a reliable contractor who has done this before. Based upon my experience several years ago, I would expect that it could cost $60-75,000 to raise the house and install a concrete foundation and walls. Site issues could impact that number. Good luck.