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Elevating or moving a home is highly technical and requires trained professionals for every stage of the job. It is essential to utilize these professionals if you are to have success with any project of this nature. Technical issues are not the only consideration, particularly when elevating a home in order to comply with new flood zone standards - where the desired elevation is determined by something other than aesthetics.

When elevating a home in a developed area you are fundamentally changing the relationship between the house and the street. Front porches and stoops play an important role in facilitating interaction between neighbors, and the way the house meets the sidewalk impacts the experience of every person moving through a given neighborhood. With this in mind it is important to consider the design elements as well as the technical elements of elevating your house. Will the porch be raised with the house? How will the new stairs be integrated into the design? How will the interaction between house and street be best preserved?

Once your home is raised, the living area will be located above the FPE (Flood Protection Elevation). This will vary depending on your neighborhood. If your home must be raised more then 4 feet, it is probably worth raising the home an entire story. This will allow you to utilize the space under your home for wet storage or parking and covered access to the living area.