•How do you know what can be moved and what can’t?
There
are no real physical limitations to what Davis Construction can move only financial limitations. Typically, a wood frame house
on a crawlspace is a good candidate for a lot move or cellar dig-out. We can install an eight, nine or ten foot basement under
your home to give you more usable space at a far cheaper price than building up or out.
•How much does it cost to raise or move a
house?
Every project is different. Cost is affected by site conditions, size, weight and the geometry of the building. The distance of a move doesn’t
necessarily affect the cost because the majority of our work is in the prepping, the loading and unloading the building. Each
project is priced based on the amount of equipment and time required.
•What do we need to get started?
•Do we need moving or building permits?
•What
kind of prep work is necessary before the move?
First call your local building authority and ask what regulations are in place
concerning the type of project you would like to do to determine if it is feasible. Then Davis Construction can schedule a
site visit to give you a ballpark price, ideas and suggestions. Next you would have an architect or engineer draw
up plans and write a description of the scope of the work. We can recommend or obtain estimates from any other reliable building
contractors that you may need. You must submit these to your local building department for building permit approval. Before your project starts all
necessary prep work must be completed including: all services disconnected, cleaned and striped out the basement/crawlspace
and possibly remove the fireplaces, chimneys and porches (to be determined on an individual basis by Davis Construction).
We do not require you to remove all your furniture, but you should check with your insurance company to ensure your policy
will cover the contents during the move as Davis Construction cannot be held responsible.
•How high can you raise a building?
•How do you know how much weight the blocks can hold?
•How do you dig a basement once the house is blocked up?
•Can you live in the house when it is up on blocks?
Davis
Construction can raise the house to any height although there are usually economic and aesthetic restrictions. The blocking
and design of the support cribs are individually engineered to each job and depending upon their layout, the blocking can
support various amounts of weight. And yes, you can live in a house while it is on blocks but we don’t recommend it.
•What kind of damage including cracking can be expected?
•Will insurance
cover it?
•Would
my building be insured against excess damage or liability claims?
•What kind of insurance do you carry?
Minor cracks
in the drywall can occur. Lathe and plaster tends to crack more often than drywall. But the majority of cracking is caused
by your house settling over a period of years on your current foundation; therefore if your house has not yet settled you
can expect marginal cracking. There should be no other forms of damage to your home structurally or aesthetically. We have
raised most homes with no cracking. Minor cracking is not covered by our insurance; however we carry the most comprehensive
coverage available including liability.
•Does
it matter what time of year it is?
•How long does it take
to move a building?
It doesn’t
matter the time of year unless excavation or a new foundation is involved, and then it’s better to wait for good weather.
To move a building of 1,200 square feet it typically takes two or three days.
•Can you move a house with a chimney and fireplace even if it is a gas insert?
•Can additions, attached garages, glass sunrooms and porches (with or without columns) be
raised?
Davis Construction will determine if it is feasible to move the house with the fireplace/chimney still intact.
Attached garages, glass sunrooms, additions and even porches (with or without columns) usually can be moved.
•Will my landscaping be damaged?
•Is it possible to move the house even if there is a ditch between the original location
and the new location?
Depending on the
site, some to most of the landscaping will need to be removed. During the excavation and prep work, the route from one site
to the other would be prepared regardless of ditches or other obstacles.
•Can we use part of the existing foundation for
new construction?
•Can the house be turned without removing
the foundation?
Davis
Construction doesn’t recommend using any part of the old foundation for new construction because differences in the
age of sections of the foundation will cause future settling to become unequal. The house can be rotated while the existing
foundation is intact depending upon the site conditions and future accessibility to remove the old foundation. It is both
economical and favorable to have the new foundation ready at the time of the move.
•How does Davis Construction remove their equipment when the foundation is completed?
Foundation pockets are required to be made in the new walls
for the removal of equipment. If
you have any other questions please contact us:
Davis Construction Building Movers
(631) 288-1881
Fax –
(631) 288-1811
info@davisbuildingmovers.com Remember that every project is different and should be assessed on
an individual basis.
