House Lifting Services Victoria BC
Raising a House
Some homes are worth keeping. The neighbourhood is right, the yard is established, the walls hold years of memory. What’s missing — or failing — is what’s underneath.
At Fayzebuilt, we raise and relocate homes across Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island, giving existing structures a new foundation to stand on. It’s a serious undertaking, and one we approach with the same meticulous care we bring to every build. Fifteen houses raised. Zero shortcuts.
How exactly does house raising work?
Yes. It sounds like a mammoth task — and honestly, it is. But it’s also one of the most precise, methodical processes in construction. Our team has successfully raised or relocated 15 homes across Greater Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island. Here’s how it actually works.
Step 1 — Structural Assessment
Before anything moves, we assess the home’s condition. A structural engineer reviews the framing, foundation type, load distribution, and any compromised elements. Not every home is a candidate — and we’ll tell you upfront if yours isn’t.
Step 2 — Utility Disconnection & Site Prep
All connections to the home are safely severed: water, sewer, electrical, gas. The perimeter is cleared and the site is staged for equipment access. This phase is about setting the conditions for a safe lift.
Step 3 — Steel Beam Installation
A grid of structural steel beams is threaded beneath the home’s floor system. These beams become the temporary skeleton that transfers the entire load of the house off the foundation.
Step 4 — Synchronized Hydraulic Lifting
Hydraulic jacks — positioned at calculated load points — raise the structure in slow, controlled increments. Each jack moves in sync. The goal is a perfectly level lift, with no undue stress on the framing. This isn’t rushed.
Step 5 — Cribbing & Stabilisation
As the house rises, timber or steel crib stacks are built beneath it, creating a stable platform. The home rests on these while the work below — new foundation, relocated site — is completed.
Step 6 — New Foundation & Lowering
With the new foundation poured and cured, the house is carefully lowered onto its permanent position. The beams are removed, utilities are reconnected, and the structure is re-anchored.
From start to finish, a house raise typically takes two to four weeks of active work — though project timelines vary based on foundation type, site conditions, and the scope of work happening below grade.
It’s a significant undertaking. But done right, it gives an existing home an entirely new life.
Why lift your home?
When House Raising Makes Sense. Here are four problems house raising can solve.
House raising isn’t a workaround, it’s often the most practical, cost-effective solution to a problem that feels unsolvable. Here are the most common reasons homeowners choose to raise.
#1 To Increase Basement Height
Older homes were frequently built with low basement ceilings; 6’4″ was once standard. That’s enough for a furnace room, not much else. Raising the home allows us to either lower the basement floor or pour a taller foundation, bringing that space up to a full 8′ or 9′ ceiling height. Suddenly, what was dead storage becomes a legal suite, a home gym, or a finished family room. The house didn’t grow outward, it grew down.
#2 To Repair or Replace the Foundation
A failing foundation can feel like a death sentence for a home. Cracking, settling, moisture intrusion, or outdated materials; these problems don’t fix themselves. Raising the house gives us full, unobstructed access to remove the old foundation entirely and replace it with a modern, engineered one. It’s the difference between patching a problem and solving it permanently.
#3 To Build a Basement Where There Isn’t One
Some homes sit on a shallow crawl space — technically functional, practically wasted. If the structure above is sound, raising the home and excavating beneath it can convert that crawl space into a full basement. It’s uncommon, and it’s a serious undertaking, but for the right home it’s a genuine game-changer: meaningful square footage added without changing the footprint or the character of the house.
#4 To Reorient the Home
This one surprises people. Yes, a house can be rotated. Maybe you built your home with the living room facing east, and now you want those long evening hours in the sun. Maybe a new building went up next door and is cutting light to your kitchen. Reorienting the structure on its lot can restore what drew you to the property in the first place. It’s a significant move, but it’s a move we’ve made.
How much does it cost to lift a house?
Ah. The important question. The costs are going to vary depending on whether you are doing a more straightforward raise, vs a foundation rebuild vs installing a new basement.
In the Greater Victoria market, a house raise typically starts at $30,000–$50,000 for the lift itself, and $60,000–$120,000+ when foundation replacement is included. Adding a full basement brings the total closer to $150,000–$200,000 before finishing. Every project is different, that why we do a proper assessment before planning your budget.
FAQs
All your questions answered about House Lifting
Do I need a permit to lift a home, and how do I get one?
Yes — a building permit is required to lift a house in Victoria. No exceptions.
The City of Victoria requires a building permit for any project that alters a home’s foundation or structure. A house raise qualifies. Depending on your lot and what’s being done below grade, a development permit may also be required before the building permit can be issued.
Permit fees for a structural project like this run higher than a standard renovation permit. Budget for it.
We manage the permit process as part of every house raise, you don’t have to figure that out yourself.
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How much does it cost to lift a house?
In the Victoria/Vancouver Island market, lifting the structure alone — without major foundation work — runs roughly $20,000–$50,000 CAD depending on home size, weight, and site access. You’re paying for the equipment, engineering, utility disconnection, and labour. That’s the “just the lift” number.
| Scope | Estimated Cost |
| Foundation wall repair (partial) | ~$20,000 |
| Lift + full foundation replacement | $40,000–$60,000 |
| Lift + add crawl space | ~ $80,000 |
| Lift + full finished basement | $200,000+ |
What’s the cost to lift and replace a foundation?
$50,000–$100,000+ is a realistic range for this market. Partial foundation repair is at the lower end; full replacement to current BC code is at the upper end. Older homes that need structural upgrades before work can begin will push higher.
Does 1 foot cost less than 2 feet? Or 4 feet?
Mostly no; let’s explain. The lift height itself is rarely the major cost driver. What drives cost is everything below the house: the foundation work, excavation, new concrete, waterproofing, and what you’re doing with the space. Going from 1 foot to 4 feet adds some cribbing and engineering, but it doesn’t come close to doubling the price. The honest answer is: the height is almost a secondary consideration once you’ve committed to the lift.
Do you move houses too?
Yes, we can lift house and transport them to a new location.
House Lift Project Spotlight
- Location: Victoria, BC
- Completed: 2024
The home had good bones and a loyal owner who wasn’t ready to leave the neighbourhood. What it didn’t have was a functional basement, just 5’8″ of headroom beneath a house that had sat on its original foundation for decades.
We raised the structure 2 feet, removed the old foundation entirely, and poured a full replacement to current BC code. The crawl space below became an 860-square-foot basement; dry, bright, and finished to match the rest of the home.
Award Winning Custom Homes
Fayze Contracting won Gold in the CARE Awards for this modern beach-style design house. We’re extremely proud to be recognized as one of the best residential builders in the Greater Victoria area.
Winner of the following CARE Awards;
- Gold—Best traditional kitchen 100k-150k
- Gold—Best single-family dwelling 1M – 1.25M
- Silver—Best residential interior
Explore gallery for the Beach House property.
About Fayzebuilt
Fayzebuilt is a locally owned and operated custom home builder and renovations contractor in Greater Victoria region. We specialize in high quality residential construction projects from beginning to end. Our mission is to create valuable relationships and quality that stand the test of time.
We believe a home should feel as inevitable as it is intentional. That’s why we take a meticulous, fayze-by-fayze approach — breaking complex projects into deliberate, manageable steps. This lets us stay nimble where it counts and exacting where it matters most.
We blend West Coast sensibility with Scandinavian calm, crafting spaces that feel grounded, graceful, and entirely your own. With transparent planning, refined craftsmanship, and a deep respect for the land, we build homes that feel lived in from day one, and last for generations.
Looking for House Lifting services in the Victoria area?
After a few simple questions, we’ll schedule a site visit to assess your structure, and then provide a estimate for home lifting in Victoria, Saanich, Sidney, or anywhere in Greater Victoria. Call the House Raising experts now at 604-332-6844 or contact Fayzebuilt by email. Reach out today to gets started.
Where to find us?
Our office is located in Brentwood Bay, Saanich.
Neighbourhoods in Greater Victoria where we do House Lifting Services:
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