Yes — in almost every case you can stay in your house. Exterior piling work happens outside. Interior pilings mean a few small openings in the slab in one or two rooms for a day or two. Pier and beam work and leveling happen under the house. Most slab jobs take 1–3 days on site.
Foundation Repair Baton Rouge crews work around families, pets and people working from home every week. Here’s what each type of job looks like from inside.
Exterior piling work
Pits are dug along the outside of the beam where pilings go. You’ll hear digging and the hydraulic jack, and see crews in the yard. Inside, you may hear creaks as the house is lifted — that’s normal. Landscaping along the work line is removed and put back.
Interior pilings
Where pilings are needed under interior beams, a section of floor covering and slab — typically about 2 by 3 feet — is opened, the piling installed, and the slab re-poured. Those rooms need to be clear and off-limits for a day or two while the concrete sets. Expect some dust; crews use plastic sheeting to contain it.
Pier and beam repair and leveling
Work happens in the crawl space. Upstairs, you’ll hear jacks and hammering, and doors may start fitting differently as the house moves. Leveling is often a one-day job.
Water, plumbing and utilities
On older slab homes, we recommend a plumbing test before and after the lift. Water may be off for a short time during testing. Utilities under raised homes stay connected during leveling.
How to prepare
- Clear 3–4 feet along exterior walls where work is planned.
- Take pictures and fragile items off walls being lifted.
- Clear rooms with interior pilings.
- Keep pets inside or away from open pits.
- Plan parking so equipment can reach the house.
Bottom line
Foundation repair rarely requires moving out. For a written scope that shows exactly which rooms are affected, call Foundation Repair Baton Rouge. See also how long foundation repair takes.