House elevation
in Houma, LA
Raise your home above the flood line. Tell us about the house once, and independent, licensed contractors in Terrebonne and Lafourche quote you directly.
A free quote-request service. We don't do the work; local contractors do.
What the house needs
Most requests are about raising a home onto new piers. Contractors here also lift houses for repairs, level sagging floors and rebuild slab homes higher.
- Raise it on new piersHouse elevation. The whole house is lifted and set on new, taller piers or pilings, usually to base flood elevation plus freeboard.House elevation
- Lift it to fix what's under itHouse lifting for repairs. The house goes up on jacks and cribbing long enough to replace what's failing below, then comes back down.House lifting
- Level the floorsHouse leveling. Sagging floors and sticking doors on pier-and-beam or slab homes, brought back to level.House leveling
- Replace rotted piersPier and beam repair. Rotted piers, beams and sills under older Houma homes, replaced before they take the floor with them.Pier and beam repair
- Rebuild a slab home highSlab homes and elevated rebuilds. Slab houses are generally demolished and rebuilt raised rather than lifted, and Restore Louisiana won't fund slab elevation.Elevated rebuilds
- Get the heights surveyedElevation certificates. A licensed surveyor records your lowest floor and the BFE, for flood insurance and permits.Elevation certificates
A house mid-lift on timber cribbing, New Orleans, 2006.
First, describe the house.
Parish, foundation, flood zone, grant status. Answer what you know; "not sure" is a fine answer.
- Then we pass it on.
Your request goes to independent elevation and leveling contractors who work in Terrebonne and Lafourche.
- They visit and quote.
Contractors contact you, look at the house and give you their own written price. We don't set prices or take payment.
- You decide.
Compare quotes, ask for license numbers and check them. There's no cost and no obligation from us.
Terrebonne and Lafourche
Requests come from Houma and the bayou communities south of it, and from Thibodaux down Bayou Lafourche to the Gulf.
Terrebonne Parish
- Houma
- Bayou Cane
- Gibson
- Schriever
- Bourg
- Chauvin
- Montegut
- Dulac
Lafourche Parish
- Thibodaux
- Raceland
- Lockport
- Larose
- Cut Off
- Galliano
- Golden Meadow
Further out, such as Morgan City or Grand Isle? Send the request anyway and say where the house is.
All service areasHow high is high enough?
Elevation is measured against base flood elevation (BFE), the flood height FEMA's maps set for your lot. Restore Louisiana's standard is the highest of several heights, and one of them is BFE plus 2 feet.
Put in two numbers from your elevation certificate to see roughly where the new floor lands. The math is simple: target floor = BFE + freeboard; the lift is the target minus your floor today.
Example: with a BFE of 8 ft and a floor at 3 ft, BFE + 2 ft puts the target floor at 10 ft, about 7 ft up. Enter your own numbers above.
A rough guide, not a determination. Your parish permit office and any grant program set the height you must build to, and some require more than BFE + 2 ft. Advisory BFEs adopted after a storm can differ from the printed map. No certificate yet? A licensed surveyor makes one: see elevation certificates.
Water sets
the height
Pointe-aux-Chenes, October 2002: raised homes standing above the water Hurricane Lili's surge pushed in. FEMA photograph.
Terrebonne Parish has used FEMA grants to raise homes in groups. Its current program covers elevating, or demolishing and rebuilding, qualifying homes, and applicants need NFIP flood insurance.
The rules behind a lift
Four bodies decide most of it: FEMA's flood maps, your parish permit office, any grant program you join and the state contractor board. Contractors who do this work can quote to a program's rules. Whether you qualify is the program's call, not ours.
Who decides
| Flood zone and BFE | FEMA flood maps | The flood height set for your lot. Advisory BFEs can take its place after a storm. |
|---|---|---|
| Freeboard | Restore Louisiana | Its standard is the highest of several heights, including BFE + 2 ft. |
| Slab homes | Restore Louisiana | Will not fund elevating a slab-on-grade house. |
| Building permit | Parish or city permit office | Issued locally. A grant program can ask for more than local code. |
| Parish mitigation grants | Terrebonne Parish, FEMA funds | Elevation or rebuild of qualifying homes; windows open and close. |
| NFIP policy | Your insurance agent | Required to apply to Terrebonne's current program. |
| Elevation certificate | Licensed surveyor | Records your lowest floor and BFE. More |
| Contractor license | LSLBC | Ask for the license number and look it up before you sign. |
| Digging pier holes | Louisiana 811 | Ask that buried lines are marked before anyone digs. |
Questions homeowners ask
- Covers: Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes
- Cost to ask: nothing
- Who quotes: independent, licensed contractors
Do I have to elevate my house?
It depends on your flood zone, local code and any grant you accept. If you take Restore Louisiana money, its standard includes elevating to at least 2 feet above base flood elevation. Your parish permit office can tell you what applies to your lot.
Can a grant pay to raise my house?
Sometimes. Terrebonne Parish runs FEMA-funded programs to elevate, or demolish and rebuild, qualifying homes, and applicants must carry NFIP flood insurance. Application windows open and close, so check with the parish. We can't tell you whether you qualify; contractors can quote work built to your program's rules.
Can a slab house be elevated?
Restore Louisiana says it will not fund elevating a slab-on-grade house. Where elevation is required, slab homes are generally demolished and rebuilt on a raised foundation instead. Contractors can quote either route.
What is base flood elevation (BFE)?
The flood height FEMA's maps set for your lot. It is printed on an elevation certificate. After big storms, advisory BFEs are sometimes adopted in its place. Restore Louisiana's standard uses BFE plus 2 feet as one of its heights.
How much does it cost to raise a house?
We don't publish a price because we haven't found a reliable local range. Cost depends on the size of the house, its foundation, how high it goes, which utilities move and how easy the site is to reach. Contractors price it after seeing the house, and asking is free.
Do I need flood insurance to get help?
For Terrebonne Parish's current elevation program, yes: applicants must hold an NFIP flood insurance policy. Grant or not, ask your insurance agent how elevating changes your policy.
How do I check a contractor?
Ask for their Louisiana contractor license number and look it up with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC). Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation, and get the price and scope in writing.
Who are you, exactly?
A free quote-request service. We don't own jacks or employ crews. We pass your request to independent, licensed and insured contractors who work in your parish, and they quote you directly.
Get quotes for your house
Send the details once. Contractors who raise and level homes in Terrebonne and Lafourche quote you directly, or you can message us on WhatsApp.
Free to request, no obligation. We pass your request to independent, licensed and insured local contractors who quote you directly.
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