Raising your home can double your living space without using any more of your yard. Here’s an overview of the process, from approvals to building in underneath.
Raising a house lifts the existing home so a new lower level can be built underneath. It’s a common way to add bedrooms, a rumpus or a second living area to a Brisbane home without losing the backyard.
The main stages
- Feasibility and design. We look at the site, the house’s condition and your goals. Plans, engineering and any council approvals come next.
- Preparing the house. Services are disconnected, and the home is supported on temporary cribbing (the timber stacks you’ll see in our Brighton and Graceville photos).
- The lift. The house is raised to its new height and supported on temporary steel props.
- New footings and posts. Permanent footings and posts or a new lower structure are installed and the house is lowered onto them.
- Building in underneath. Walls, windows, plumbing, electrical and finishes turn the new space into living areas.
- Reconnecting. Stairs, services and landscaping complete the job.
Things to consider
- Height limits and character overlays can affect how high you can go.
- You will usually need to move out during the lift.
- Building in underneath is often the larger part of the cost, so plan the two stages together.
Thinking about raising your home? Book a free onsite inspection and we’ll talk through what’s achievable on your block.
