Fear of flooding prompts property owners in B’luru to go for house lifting

BENGALURU: After having borne the brunt of repeated flooding, many people in the city are now opting for a new technique called house lifting to prevent further damage to their houses. The number of people contacting companies specialising in house-lifting using hydraulic jacks and other means has increased after the flooding in the first week of September.

The residents of Talakaveri Layout in Marathahalli have used modern technology to lift their three-story houses by as much as 3-4 feet to avoid flooding. The heavy rain which led to flooding in the month of September damaged many houses in the city.

Houses are raised using hydraulic jacks and the foundation heightened.

The cost of house-lifting depends on the dimension of the house. It can cost anywhere between Rs 8 lak to Rs 20 lakh. Firms  like Sriram Building Lifting and TDBD Engineers confirmed that the number of people contacting them for lifting houses has increased. In the last three months, more than 400 people have approached house-lifting companies.

A house in Talakaveri Layout of Marathahalli was raised by four feet to prevent damage from floods.

How are houses lifted?

The two main components used are: hydraulic jacks for the house lifting and cribbing for support.

House lifters separate the house from its foundation and raise it on hydraulic jacks during the elevation process. The houses are then held by temporary supports called cribs.

Holes are made at intervals in the foundation so that a series of steel beams can be installed.

Once the house is elevated enough to one foot, additional foundation is laid.

It takes 30-40 days to lift a house measuring 1,200 square feet.

The cost depends on the dimension and height of the building.