The problem is scaffolding isn’t cheap. A full scaffold package for a second storey build can run $20,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the size of the house and how long it needs to stay up. It also takes time to erect, time to pull down, and it sits there for the whole build, in the way, collecting dust, and adding risk every time someone climbs it.
At Raise My House, we think there’s a better way for a lot of these jobs, and it’s one most builders and homeowners haven’t considered yet: build on our lifting gear instead.
When we raise a house, we use a system of steel beams and hydraulic jacks to lift the entire structure off its footings. That gear stays under the house for the full raising process, sometimes for weeks, while stumps or a new subfloor go in underneath.
Here’s the part most people don’t realise: that same gear can support a house while a second storey, an extension, or a new deck is being built on top of it, before the house is actually raised.
Instead of raising first and building second, you can build first while the house sits low on our gear, close to the ground, and then we raise the finished structure afterwards to its final height. The lifting gear does double duty. It’s there to support the build, and it’s there for the raise, but you only pay for one mobilisation instead of two separate processes.
The biggest advantage is height, or rather, the lack of it. When a builder works low to the ground instead of up on scaffold. Framing, gyprocking, and second fix work all happen at a comfortable working height instead of several metres up. That means less time spent climbing, less time moving materials up and down, and fewer trades waiting on each other because access is restricted.
There’s no scaffold to erect, maintain, inspect, or pull down. That’s a direct saving, and it’s also one less thing for a site supervisor to coordinate and one less certified contractor to book in and wait on. Working near ground level is safer. Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious injury on residential building sites. Keeping the work low removes a large part of that risk for the whole build, not just for us.
There’s less mess and clutter around the site. Scaffold takes up space, restricts access for other trades and deliveries, and often has to be worked around for the life of the project. With the house sitting low on our gear, the site stays more open and easier to manage.
For builders, this is really a time and cost play. If you’re pricing a second storey addition or a large extension, cutting a $30,000 scaffolding line item out of the job is a significant saving that can be passed on to the client, absorbed into margin, or used to make the quote more competitive.
It also changes the sequencing of the build. Rather than scaffolding going up before frame stage and staying there until roofing and cladding are done, the crew works at ground level for the bulk of the build. Only once the structure is complete do we come in to raise it to its final height. That can mean a faster, simpler build program with fewer trades waiting on scaffold access.
We can also assist with structural steel for these builds, so if your second storey or extension needs additional steel support to carry the new loads, that’s something we can help price and supply as part of the job, rather than you needing to source it separately.
If you’re a homeowner planning to raise your Queenslander, or add a second storey down the track, this approach can make a real difference to your budget and timeline. Instead of budgeting for scaffolding on top of your build costs, then raising the house separately later, you can look at getting the lifting gear in early, building your extension or second storey while the house is supported at a low working height, and then having us raise the finished home once the build is done. It’s one mobilisation of gear doing two jobs.
It’s also worth knowing that a lot of homeowners raise for the extra living space underneath, whether that’s for parking, a rumpus room, or a future granny flat. Getting the sequencing right, building first while the house is low, then raising afterwards, can make the whole project more efficient from a scheduling perspective as well as a cost one.
Getting our lifting gear installed to support a build starts from $9,900. That covers getting the beams and jacks in place under the house so your builder can start work at a low, stable height. From there, the actual raise to final height is priced separately once the build is complete and we know the final height and any additional load considerations.
Compare that to a $20,000 to $30,000 scaffold package that only serves one purpose, for one part of the job, and the numbers start to make a lot of sense.
This approach isn’t for every job. It works best where a house is already a good candidate for raising or has a raise planned as part of the overall project, and where the build sequencing can be planned around having the lifting gear in place from an early stage.
If you’re a builder pricing a second storey addition, or a homeowner planning renovations that involve raising your home, it’s worth having a conversation with us before scaffolding gets locked into the quote. We can walk you through whether building on our gear makes sense for your specific project, what the sequencing would look like, and how the costs compare to a traditional scaffold approach.
Get in touch through www.raisemyhouse.com.au to talk through your project and find out whether this approach could save you time, money, and a lot of headaches on your next build.
When we raise a house, we use a system of steel beams and hydraulic jacks to lift the entire structure off its footings. That gear stays under the house for the full raising process, sometimes for weeks, while stumps or a new subfloor go in underneath.
Here’s the part most people don’t realise: that same gear can support a house while a second storey, an extension, or a new deck is being built on top of it, before the house is actually raised.
Instead of raising first and building second, you can build first while the house sits low on our gear, close to the ground, and then we raise the finished structure afterwards to its final height. The lifting gear does double duty. It’s there to support the build, and it’s there for the raise, but you only pay for one mobilisation instead of two separate processes.
The biggest advantage is height, or rather, the lack of it. When a builder works low to the ground instead of up on scaffold. Framing, gyprocking, and second fix work all happen at a comfortable working height instead of several metres up. That means less time spent climbing, less time moving materials up and down, and fewer trades waiting on each other because access is restricted.
There’s no scaffold to erect, maintain, inspect, or pull down. That’s a direct saving, and it’s also one less thing for a site supervisor to coordinate and one less certified contractor to book in and wait on. Working near ground level is safer. Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious injury on residential building sites. Keeping the work low removes a large part of that risk for the whole build, not just for us.
There’s less mess and clutter around the site. Scaffold takes up space, restricts access for other trades and deliveries, and often has to be worked around for the life of the project. With the house sitting low on our gear, the site stays more open and easier to manage.
For builders, this is really a time and cost play. If you’re pricing a second storey addition or a large extension, cutting a $30,000 scaffolding line item out of the job is a significant saving that can be passed on to the client, absorbed into margin, or used to make the quote more competitive.
It also changes the sequencing of the build. Rather than scaffolding going up before frame stage and staying there until roofing and cladding are done, the crew works at ground level for the bulk of the build. Only once the structure is complete do we come in to raise it to its final height. That can mean a faster, simpler build program with fewer trades waiting on scaffold access.
We can also assist with structural steel for these builds, so if your second storey or extension needs additional steel support to carry the new loads, that’s something we can help price and supply as part of the job, rather than you needing to source it separately.
If you’re a homeowner planning to raise your Queenslander, or add a second storey down the track, this approach can make a real difference to your budget and timeline. Instead of budgeting for scaffolding on top of your build costs, then raising the house separately later, you can look at getting the lifting gear in early, building your extension or second storey while the house is supported at a low working height, and then having us raise the finished home once the build is done. It’s one mobilisation of gear doing two jobs.
It’s also worth knowing that a lot of homeowners raise for the extra living space underneath, whether that’s for parking, a rumpus room, or a future granny flat. Getting the sequencing right, building first while the house is low, then raising afterwards, can make the whole project more efficient from a scheduling perspective as well as a cost one.
Getting our lifting gear installed to support a build starts from $9,900. That covers getting the beams and jacks in place under the house so your builder can start work at a low, stable height. From there, the actual raise to final height is priced separately once the build is complete and we know the final height and any additional load considerations.
Compare that to a $20,000 to $30,000 scaffold package that only serves one purpose, for one part of the job, and the numbers start to make a lot of sense.
This approach isn’t for every job. It works best where a house is already a good candidate for raising or has a raise planned as part of the overall project, and where the build sequencing can be planned around having the lifting gear in place from an early stage.
If you’re a builder pricing a second storey addition, or a homeowner planning renovations that involve raising your home, it’s worth having a conversation with us before scaffolding gets locked into the quote. We can walk you through whether building on our gear makes sense for your specific project, what the sequencing would look like, and how the costs compare to a traditional scaffold approach.
Get in touch through www.raisemyhouse.com.au to talk through your project and find out whether this approach could save you time, money, and a lot of headaches on your next build.
