Most homeowners have never watched a foundation get repaired, and the unknowns are the stressful part. Here is what the week actually looks like.
Before the crew arrives
The survey. A technician takes zip-level readings across the floor plan, walks the exterior, and gets into the crawlspace if there is one. You should get a drawing showing elevation differences in inches.
The plan. Pier locations, pier type, and target lift are laid out. On larger scopes a structural engineer signs off. Permits are pulled where the jurisdiction requires them.
Your part. Move furniture and breakables away from exterior walls, take pictures of existing cracks, and unhook anything fragile from the walls. Pull plants back from the perimeter where piers are going in.
Day 1 — Access and excavation
Crews dig access pits at each perimeter pier location. Expect dirt piles, noise, and a yard that looks worse than you were mentally prepared for. Interior slab piers, if any, mean cutting flooring and breaking a section of concrete.
Days 2–4 — Piers go in
Concrete cylinders or steel piles are pressed into the ground using the weight of the house itself as resistance, until they hit load-bearing soil and the pressure gauge holds. Depth varies pier to pier — that is normal.
Day 4–5 — The lift
Hydraulic jacks bring the structure up in small increments while a technician re-checks elevations and watches interior finishes. You will hear popping and cracking. That is normal too. Expect some new hairline cracks; a good crew slows down when they hear them.
Final day — Backfill and closeout
Pits are backfilled and tamped, landscaping is put back as close to original as possible, and a closing elevation survey documents the result. You should walk away with before-and-after readings, photos, and a signed warranty.
The week after
Doors and windows usually operate better immediately. Give the house two to four weeks to settle into its new position before you patch drywall and repaint — patching too early means doing it twice.
