The 5 Tips to Raise and Build Under Your Home I Wish Someone Told Me Sooner

Ever since I moved into my new house, I’ve been trying to think about how I could make it feel just like home to me. I loved the property, but I wanted more space – and there just wasn’t room for an expansion. So I went with my only option – I went UNDER the house.

Now if you’re considering your own house extension project, I’m here to tell you that you need to raise and build under your house. It’s a pain, sure – but it will be worth it in the end. And I have just the tips for you to make it go a lot more smoothly.

Raise And Build Under Your House: A Quick Overview

Going “under” the house sounds like a nightmare to most people, but it really isn’t! And for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, you will be taking out the foundation of your house and dropping a few floors down. Not literally, of course – that’s impossible, right?

What IS possible, is for you to take out the existing foundation and create a space under there for new rooms, living quarters, a place for all your junk, or even an entertainment room. All you have to do is dig down, then build back up the exterior walls with new concrete and bricks. The space is yours to do what you want with! It’s quite popular in Brisbane, but it can be done in just about any neighbourhood in Australia.

Your Must-Knows To Raise And Build Under

I’ve been a part of a few house raising projects, and I have to say that it’s harder than it looks. Raising and building under can seem like an adventure, but it’s something that you will have to take seriously to avoid a disaster. So I’m going to tell you everything I think you should know about your first (or next) house raising and building project.

It Takes Time:

This one’s quite obvious, but getting ready for the big day won’t happen overnight. There’s always a lot of work to do before you even start to raise the walls – and it never ends! As I said earlier, many people don’t realise how long they’re going to have to put in, how much preparation needs to be done, and so on. And definitely don’t try to do everything yourself, it will just take you way more time than it should. Family-run builders like Watara Homes would be more than willing to help out with your project.

Check The Soil:

Nothing is worse than finding out that your house is going to collapse after the foundation has been dug out. And this is something you can avoid with a simple soil check. Is there enough ground beneath you to build? If not, you may have to get a specialist in to build an artificial bowl before you can even start raising and building under your home.

House Structure:

When the house is being raised, the foundation will be ripped out. This can be quite a nerve-wrecking process for your home. Your walls may actually end up leaning to one side – and that’s something you’ll have to deal with before you do anything else. Check the stability of your home at a professional level to make sure it’s safe enough for you to continue with your project.

Regulation And Law:

You really don’t want to get into this one! If you’re going to build under your home, then you’re expected to follow the regulations and standards. Make sure that your house is safe and meets all the recommended construction standards before you start raising it. Your city council will be able to refer you to the relevant official affairs if there’s anything that needs a change.

You Can Move The House To A Different Location:

This is VERY important – it means you can move your home to another location and re-build with a completely new foundation. This may not seem like such a big deal, but imagine moving a house from one place to another – and then doing it again. It’s basically like moving into a new house – twice.

Ready To Get Your Hands Dirty?

Well, that’s all I’ve got for you right now. These are the basics that everyone should know before they even start their project. I can’t guarantee that it will be easy – but it WILL be worth it in the end. When the project is complete, you’ll have gained a lot more space and taken advantage of your available land. If you’re also looking to prepare your home for winter, then I have just the article you need.