# House Leveling Baton Rouge | Re-Shimming & Re-Leveling | Written Readings

> House leveling in Baton Rouge for pier and beam homes: laser survey, steel shims, new pier caps and before-and-after readings in writing. Free evaluation.

URL: https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/house-leveling/

![House Leveling in progress at a Baton Rouge home](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/images/hero-house-leveling-steel-shims-raised-home-baton-rouge.webp)

# House Leveling in Baton Rouge

Re-leveling raised homes with steel shims and new pier caps, measured with a laser before and after so you see the numbers. Typical range: **$1,500–$10,000**.

[Call (225) 635-8757](tel:+12256358757) [Book a free evaluation](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/contact/)

-   Free on-site evaluation
-   Written per-piling price
-   Same-day callback

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Free on-site evaluation · written price

-   20 years of industry experience
-   Written per-piling pricing
-   Same-day callback
-   Serving 5 parishes

Last updated: September 22, 2026

[Foundation Repair Baton Rouge](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/) is a foundation repair company with 20 years of industry experience, serving Baton Rouge and the Capital Region, and house leveling is the most common job we do on raised homes. When a pier and beam house settles, the floors slope toward the low piers, doors swing on their own or stick, and you notice gaps under baseboards. Leveling lifts each line of piers back toward a measured target and replaces the crushed or rotted shims that let the house drop.

House leveling typically costs **$1,500–$10,000**. A straight re-shim on sound piers is often **$1,200–$4,000**; the price climbs when caps need replacing or extra piers need adding under long spans.

## What we do on the first visit

We start with numbers. A laser level gives us a floor reading in every room, which we turn into a map of high and low spots. Then we go under the house and check every pier for plumb, every cap for cracks and every shim stack for crushing, rot or movement. That tells us whether this is a leveling job or whether failed piers, beams or sills need [pier and beam repair](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/pier-and-beam-foundation-repair/) first.

The written plan shows the target lift at each pier line and anything that needs replacing, with prices. If the house is within a reasonable tolerance — old homes are rarely dead level and don’t need to be — we say so.

## Why Baton Rouge houses go out of level

Most leveling calls come down to shims and soil. Older homes were often shimmed with wood, which compresses and rots in a damp crawl space. Shallow pier footings sink when the soil around them stays wet from poor drainage, and shift again as clay dries in late summer. Brick piers tilt with age. Each small movement shows up upstairs as a slope, a sticking door or a crack over a doorway.

## How we level without wrecking the plaster

Old plaster and trim don’t tolerate sudden movement. We lift in stages with hydraulic jacks, watching the readings, and set a target that makes the house sound and usable rather than forcing it perfectly flat. Old shims come out; steel shims go in on solid concrete caps. Where the span between piers is too long and the beam sags between them, we add piers. Then we re-measure every point and give you both sets of readings.

## Insurance and paperwork

Settling and wear are excluded under standard Louisiana homeowners policies, so leveling is almost always paid directly. It’s usually a one-day job and you can stay home. Residential work over $7,500 must be done by an LSLBC-registered contractor. For a full price breakdown, see [how much house leveling costs](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/guide/house-leveling-cost/).

## What's included

-   Laser elevation survey of every room
-   Crawl-space check of every pier and cap
-   Written plan with the target lift at each pier line
-   Old wood shims removed and replaced with steel
-   New concrete caps where caps are cracked or missing
-   Additional piers where spans are too long
-   Gradual lift in stages to protect plaster and trim
-   After-repair readings at the same points

## House leveling options compared

DIY / patch it

Cheapest crew

Done properly

Shims used

Scrap wood

Wood or plastic

Steel on concrete caps

Pier condition checked

No

Rarely

Every pier, before lifting

How much it lifts

Guesswork

Often forced flat — cracks plaster

Staged to a measured target

Measurement

None

Eyeballed

Laser readings before and after

Typical cost

$100–$500

Lowest bid

$1.5k–$10k, written plan

## Related resources

-   [How Much Does House Leveling Cost in Baton Rouge?](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/guide/house-leveling-cost/)
-   [How Much Does Pier and Beam Foundation Repair Cost?](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/guide/pier-and-beam-foundation-repair-cost/)
-   [House Settling vs Foundation Problems — How to Tell the Difference](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/guide/house-settling-vs-foundation-problems/)
-   [What Is the Best Time of Year for Foundation Repair in Louisiana?](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/guide/best-time-of-year-for-foundation-repair/)

Talk to a person

Free on-site evaluation, written price per piling.

[(225) 635-8757](tel:+12256358757) [Book online](#service-form)

Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sat 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Methods & standards

-   Laser elevation survey (±1/8")
-   Steel shims on concrete pier caps
-   Gradual lift — no forced flat
-   Pier plumb check at every support
-   Before/after readings in writing
-   LSLBC-registered contracting

Price guide

$1,500–$10,000

Re-shim only $1,200–$4,000; more when piers are added

[Estimate my house](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/tools/foundation-repair-cost-estimator/)

The process

## How house leveling works, step by step

1.  1
    
    ### Survey
    
    Floor elevations in every room and a pier-by-pier check under the house.
    
2.  2
    
    ### Plan the lift
    
    Target heights for each pier line, written down, with any added piers priced separately.
    
3.  3
    
    ### Lift in stages
    
    Hydraulic jacks raise each line gradually; failed shims come out and steel shims go in.
    
4.  4
    
    ### Re-measure
    
    The same points are shot again and the readings are yours to keep.
    

## What the work looks like

Illustrative photos of the methods described on this page.

[Foundation Repair Baton Rouge Call us to schedule a free house leveling estimate Free laser survey. Written plan with unit prices. (225) 635-8757](tel:+12256358757)

## House Leveling FAQ

### How often does a pier and beam house need re-leveling?

A well-built raised house on sound piers with steel shims and good drainage may go many years between adjustments. Houses on wood shims, brick piers or wet crawl spaces often need attention every few years. If yours needs leveling repeatedly, the cause — usually drainage or failed piers — hasn't been fixed.

### Will leveling crack my walls?

It can reopen existing cracks, especially in old plaster. That's why we lift in stages and set a realistic target rather than forcing the house perfectly flat. Some drywall touch-up after leveling is normal.

### Can you level a slab house?

A slab house is leveled by lifting it on pressed concrete pilings, which is a different job — see our slab foundation repair page. Concrete leveling with mudjacking or foam is for patios, walks and garage slabs, not the house itself.

### How long does house leveling take?

Most re-shims are finished in one day; jobs that add piers or replace caps take two to three. You can stay in the house.

### Is the foundation evaluation really free?

Yes. The on-site evaluation, laser elevation survey and written plan cost nothing and carry no obligation. If the numbers say your house is within normal tolerance, we tell you that and leave the readings with you. An independent engineer's report, when a lender or buyer requires one, is billed by the engineer — typically $500–$2,000.

## Related services

[Pier & Beam Foundation RepairReplacing failed piers, rotted sills and cracked beams under raised Baton Rouge homes — the structural parts, not just the shims.](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/pier-and-beam-foundation-repair/) [Sagging Floor RepairSistering joists, adding girders and supports under soft, bouncy or sloping floors in raised homes.](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/sagging-floor-repair/) [Crawl Space RepairVapor barriers, drainage and supplemental supports under raised homes — stopping the humidity that rots sills and joists.](https://foundationrepairbatonrougelouisiana.com/crawl-space-repair/)

Book a free house leveling evaluation

Start with clear answers from an experienced team. Tell us what you are seeing, and we will call back the same business day to arrange your free evaluation.

Faster by phone: [(225) 635-8757](tel:+12256358757)