House leveling for raised homes in Monroe, Louisiana
A lot of Monroe and West Monroe houses sit up on piers over a crawl space. When their floors sag or tilt, this is how they get brought back.
A raised or pier-and-beam house rests on a perimeter wall or beam and rows of interior piers, with wood beams and floor joists spanning between them. When the clay under an interior pier dries and shrinks, or swells after a wet spell, that pier drops or rises and the floor above follows. Damp crawl spaces add a second problem: wood sills and beams that sit wet for years soften and crush.
How can I tell it's a crawl space problem?
- Floors that dip toward the middle of a room or bounce when you walk
- Doors in the center of the house sticking more than doors on outside walls
- Standing water, wet soil or a musty smell coming up from the crawl space
- Wood or masonry shims that have slipped, split or crushed on top of piers
- Sills or beams that are soft, cracked, or damaged by termites
What does leveling involve?
- Readings. The contractor measures floor elevations room by room to see where the house is high and low.
- Crawl space inspection. They check each pier, the shims, the beams and sills, and how wet the ground is.
- Lift and support. Low areas are jacked up gradually, and new shims, new piers, or longer beams are set to hold them.
- Wood repair. Rotted sills or beams are replaced or sistered so the new support has something sound to hold.
- Moisture work. Drainage, vents or a vapor barrier keep the crawl space from soaking the soil and the framing again.
Why does leveling sometimes need to be redone?
Because the clay keeps moving with the seasons. Shimmed piers are adjustable for exactly that reason. Ask whether the price includes any return visits to readjust, for how long, and what counts as covered movement.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many supports are being added or reset, and where?
- What are the new piers and shims made of?
- Is rotted or termite-damaged wood included in the price, or extra once found?
- What's being done about water under the house?
- Will plumbing, ductwork or tile be affected by the lift?
The contractor sets the price after taking readings and figuring out why the house is moving. We don't quote prices, and nobody can price a leveling or piering job honestly over the phone before they've been under or around the house.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How long does it take to level a raised house?
It depends on how far the floors have dropped and how much wood needs replacing. Contractors usually lift gradually to limit cracking in drywall and tile. Ask for a schedule with your quote.
Can a house be lifted too fast?
Lifting a long-settled house quickly can crack drywall, tile and plaster. A careful contractor lifts in stages and tells you what to expect inside.
Related services
- Slab foundation repair
- Foundation piers (concrete, steel, helical)
- Foundation drainage and moisture control
- Foundation inspections and crack repair
More background: Monroe, Louisiana foundation guide.
Floors sloping, doors dragging, or brick cracking after a wet spring?
Call and a local foundation contractor will come take readings and tell you what's moving.