JAS BUILDERS / RESILIENT CONSTRUCTION
House lifting
Elevating a home is a complete construction project: supporting the existing structure, lifting it, building a permanent foundation, and reconnecting the home to daily life.
Schedule a Consultation →PLAN YOUR PROJECT
Your house lifting
process & timeline.
Understand every stage, how long construction may take, and how much time to plan away from home. Explore the eight steps before building your budget below.
Preconstruction timeline
12–16 weeksDesign & engineering through permitting · Steps 1–2
Construction timeline
19–35 weeksStructural preparation through lower level completion · Steps 3–8
Time out of home
13–21 weeksStructural preparation through structural set down · Steps 3–7
Planning totals add the step ranges below. Steps may overlap, and schedules vary. Return home after set down depends on utilities, safe access and required occupancy approvals.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Design & Engineering
Typical duration6 to 8 weeks
Assumes the homeowner makes decisions and responds promptly.
Evaluate the existing structure, survey, soils and desired elevation. Develop the engineered lifting, support and permanent foundation plans.
A CLEARER STARTING POINT
What could your
elevation project cost?
Start with the footprint being lifted. See how the foundation, lower slab, decks, stairs and enclosure length change the budget.
Count the footprint, not every floor. A 4,000 sq ft two-story home may have a 2,000 sq ft lifting footprint. Exclude detached structures outside the lift.
What is beneath your home?
Optional: new slab beneath your home
This is an optional new concrete slab at ground level beneath your elevated home, not the existing slab being lifted. The allowance starts at your lifting footprint. Enter 0 to exclude it.
Optional: block wall enclosure with exterior stucco finish
Optional concrete block walls beneath your home, including exterior stucco finish. Enter 0 to exclude this option. For preliminary planning, we suggest 12% of your lifting footprint: 2,000 sq ft gives 240 linear feet. This is an allowance, not a measured perimeter. Enter any length, or 0 for none. Assumes 10-foot walls.
Permitted enclosure does not mean approved living space.
Lift, permanent foundation, engineering/permitting and worksite operations.
Running total: $281,000–$364,000
Adds a new concrete slab at ground level beneath the elevated home. Enter 0 to omit this option.
Running total: $306,000–$399,000
Adds the preliminary decks and stairs allowance.
Total with enclosure: $354,000–$456,600
Adds concrete block walls with exterior stucco finish, assuming 10-foot walls. Enter 0 to omit this option.
Actual costs may fall outside these ranges. Only the displayed items are included in this calculation; renovations, landscaping and other unpriced work are excluded.
Want JAS to review your property?
Review your project with JAS →HOMEOWNER RESOURCES
Funding options.
Know where to start.
Explore recovery programs and insurance benefits for your property. Select a program for details and its official website.
Last checked September 19, 2026. Availability can change. Award limits are maximums, not guaranteed payments.
Pinellas County · People First
Accepting applications
Up to $375,000 for eligible rehabilitation, rebuilding or relocation following Idalia, Helene or Milton. Excludes properties within St. Petersburg. Income and primary residence requirements apply, along with a five year forgivable mortgage.
Official program information ↗St. Petersburg · Sunrise St. Pete
New applications paused
Repair, rebuilding and elevation assistance for qualifying storm damaged homes. Intake paused February 15, 2026. Existing applications continue; reopening is not guaranteed.
Official program information ↗Hillsborough County · Rebuilding for Tomorrow
Accepting applications
Eligible Helene and Milton recovery: up to $150,000 for repairs, $350,000 for reconstruction or replacement, or $50,000 for eligible completed repair reimbursement. Includes Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. Income limits apply.
Official program information ↗Pasco County · Better Future
Accepting applications
Repair, rebuilding or replacement for qualifying homes damaged by Idalia, Helene or Milton. The county advertises eligibility up to 120% of area median income.
Official program information ↗Manatee County · Lasting Manatee
Full application deadline: September 30, 2026
The published preapplication deadline was August 31, 2026. Existing applicants should confirm next steps promptly. Assistance may reach $250,000 for repairs or $450,000 for replacement or elevation, subject to income and property eligibility.
Official program information ↗Sarasota County · Resilient SRQ
Closed to new intake
The 2024 storms interest survey closed July 7, 2025. Eligible participants may be invited to complete applications for repair, reconstruction or reimbursement. The separate Hurricane Ian housing program also reports closed applications.
Official program information ↗Citrus & Hernando · Rebuild Florida
Closure notice posted
Both counties are included in the 2023 and 2024 storms repair and replacement program. Its eligibility page posts an application closure notice, although older FAQ language still describes open intake. Confirm with the program at 888-530-3025.
Official program information ↗Hernando County · Disaster assistance
Contact county for available funding
Income qualified assistance may cover emergency repairs, weatherproofing, certain insurance deductibles and other Helene or Milton recovery needs. Call 352-540-4338. This is not a general house lifting grant.
Official program information ↗Citrus County · SHIP home repairs
Subject to funding availability
Assistance for serious structural, foundation and health or safety problems. Occupancy and repayment conditions apply. Contact Housing Services to confirm available funds and eligible repairs.
Official program information ↗Elevate Florida
New applications closed April 11, 2025
FDEM accepted applications February 7 through April 11, 2025. Existing applicants should use their case manager and portal for review, funding and construction updates.
Official program information ↗Flood insurance · Increased Cost of Compliance
Conditional insurance benefit
Qualifying National Flood Insurance Program policyholders may receive up to $30,000 toward required floodplain compliance measures, including elevation. File a separate ICC claim with your insurer; eligibility and coverage limits apply.
Official program information ↗My Safe Florida Home
Inspection and grant application process available
Free wind mitigation inspections and potential grants up to $10,000 for approved wind protection improvements. This program supports measures such as roof connections and opening protection, not house lifting.
Official program information ↗Confirm eligibility and required approvals before starting work that depends on assistance. Programs may impose income limits, owner contributions, insurance, occupancy or repayment conditions. Contractor selection varies; an award does not guarantee you can choose JAS. Assistance for the same costs cannot simply be added together.
The structure you already own
Wood framed, concrete block, brick and slab-on-ground homes need different lifting plans. The condition of the structure, the floor system, attached additions and access around the building all matter. A feasibility review comes before a lifting design.
What JAS builds
JAS manages and constructs the elevation project: site preparation, excavation, structural steel, foundation construction, lower slabs, permitted enclosures, decks, stairs and related renovation. Specialized lifting teams perform the physical lift and set under the project’s engineered plan.
Start with the existing slab
An existing slab is not automatically a dependable lifting platform. JAS takes a conservative approach to slab reinforcement and its condition. The engineered support arrangement may include substantial steel to distribute loads. Support spacing and methods are specific to the home.
From soil to permanent support
Site investigation and soil testing inform the foundation design. Helical piles may be appropriate where the engineered design calls for deep support. Required capacity, corrosion protection, installation access and connections must be considered together. No single foundation system is right for every lot.
Additions, porches and garages
A connected roof does not mean every part of a home has the same foundation. Identify changes in floor elevation, past additions, porches and garages early. Some portions may be lifted together; others may need separation, reconstruction or their own design. Detached structures outside the lift scope do not count toward lifted footprint.
Living arrangements and utilities
Plan for temporary relocation during the lift and the work that makes the home ready for occupancy. Utility disconnections, reconnections, safe access and inspections are part of the schedule. Do not assume the hydraulic lift is the entire construction period.
Lift or rebuild?
Compare the condition and usefulness of the existing home with the scope of change you want. Significant deterioration, an unsuitable layout or extensive planned changes may favor rebuilding. Elevation can be worth studying when the existing structure and floor plan have value to preserve.
Permitting, insurance and floodplain review
Confirm the permitting jurisdiction before committing to a design. Required elevation, setbacks, access and lower-level use are property-specific. Ask the local floodplain office how substantial improvement or damage review applies, and ask your insurer to evaluate your proposed finished condition. Elevation does not guarantee a particular premium or eliminate storm risk.
LET’S START WITH YOUR HOME
What are you
ready to change?
Tell us where you are, what you have, and what you want your home to become.
Schedule a Consultation →Or call (727) 607-8813