Driveway Damage After Foundation Raising

Foundation

• Raising a foundation to avoid home damage is done by lifting the home using a hydraulic jacks. The house frame – in part or in its entirety – sits on the jacks until the foundation is completed. Either the foundation is saved and walls are extended or an open foundation is installed on pillars or similar structures.

Driveway

• After the foundation is raised, the driveway may get damaged for a number of reasons. It may need to be raised or sloped to accommodate the new foundation. The driveway can be repaired or a new drive can be installed, depending on the type of driveway and how the foundation was raised.

Costs

• Costs vary for repaving or resurfacing a driveway. A completely repaved driveway can last over 25 years. A stone driveway, which isn’t secured with liquid asphalt, generally costs $1 to $3 per square foot. Costs are similar for refacing a driveway. When liquid asphalt is added, the cost can increase up to $5 per square foot. A standard concrete driveway generally costs $3 to $10 per square foot. Other types of driveways, such as cobblestone and brick, cost more.

Considerations

• Consider how old the driveway is. For standard asphalt driveways under a few years old, the top layer of pavement can be removed and new pavement can be installed on a slope to accommodate the newly raised foundation. If the driveway is over 10 to 15 years old, homeowners typically replace or resurface the entire driveway. A concrete driveway can be raised to meet the foundation by adding more concrete.