Raising a house is less expensive than building on top of the structure, saving as much as 50%. It is a difficult decision whether to raise, level or move a home, especially after a natural disaster. Flooding is the biggest natural disaster affecting foundation repair declared by the President. In most instances, the repair of a home will include sill replacement.
Also, according to the National Flood Insurance Program, floods are the number one disaster in America, averaging over $3 billions in claims per year. You may be one of the unfortunates who have experienced flooding. If your foundation has cracks wider than one fourth of an inch, you should take measures to fix it.
It is comforting to know that elevating a house up to three or four feet above the existing ground level typically won’t have a major impact on its appearance and will require only minimal landscaping and regrading.
Other things to be aware of if you have had flooding or want to prepare your home against flooding include: Be aware that the soil around your home’s foundation should slope at least six inches for every 10 horizontal feet and also that plants should be placed a minimum of two feet from the foundation and low enough in the soil so as not to direct water toward the foundation.
It takes about 22 mature pine trees to build a 2,600 square foot house. The 15,140-ton Fu Gang Building in China?s Guangxi Province is the heaviest building to ever be moved fully intact. It took 11 days to move it 118 feet in 2004. If you decide to move your home to a better locale, be aware of these facts: To prepare your house for a move, all utilities must be disconnected. House movers also need at least 10 feet of room around the house for excavation, so dig out any trees or plants.
Rotted window sills are very important regardless of what you decide to do with your home. They keep the moisture out and help protect your valuables. Sill replacement should be done by reputable companies that have the safety of your home in mind. House moving companies know the ins and outs of safely and economically moving your home including sill replacement, All three decision including house elevation , house leveling, and house lifting require numerous skills to make your home safe and livable.