In many North Carolina coastal towns—where sunset porches overlook shifting dunes and centuries-old cottages line salt-sprayed streets—the houses themselves serve as emblems of local history. Decorative trim, wraparound porches, old-world shutters, and time-worn gables speak to the region’s heritage. Yet, these shorelines face increasing flood threats, prompting a surge in house lifting projects to keep homes safe from rising waters. While elevating a structure often conjures visions of radical change, it’s entirely possible to preserve—or even highlight—those architectural touches that define a property’s aesthetic. At DeVooght House Lifters, we’ve guided countless property owners through the delicate process of lifting a house without sacrificing its coastal charm.
1. The Need for Elevation and Preservation
Coastal living has always entailed balancing proximity to the sea with exposure to storms, flood surges, and salt-laden air. House lifting answers the safety side, pushing a home’s living floors above flood risk levels. In many of North Carolina’s barrier-island or marsh-adjacent areas, insurance companies and local codes push for higher foundations to ensure resilience.
Yet, the moment you mention “lifting a house,” owners of older or stylistically distinct homes may cringe. Will my porch columns survive the process? What about the carved trim my grandparents installed? Will I lose the original look that’s made my place so special? The truth is, a careful house-lifting project can incorporate methods to preserve or restore these components, leaving the elevated home looking almost unchanged from its previous stature—just safer and perched a few feet higher off the ground.
2. Historic and Coastal Charm: Key Elements at Stake
Each house has its own unique quirks, yet certain features commonly define “coastal charm” or “historic identity.” When planning a lift, it helps to inventory what matters most in retaining your home’s character:
- Porches or Wraparounds: Many coastal homes have expansive front porches or side nooks used for rocking chairs, socializing, or admiring the water. These can be integral to the architecture—complete with pillars, balustrades, and decorative spindles.
- Shutters and Window Frames: Vintage shutter hinges and carved window trim add texture and authenticity. For homes near saltwater, painted shutters might exhibit a charming weathered look that owners wish to keep.
- Wood Siding or Cedar Shakes: Clapboard, wooden shingles, or cedar shakes often define a historic coastal aesthetic, especially in older properties. Matching original siding post-lift can be crucial.
- Columns and Railings: These load-bearing or decorative posts—particularly if ornate—shape how a porch or entry appears from the street or beach path.
- Rooflines and Dormers: The silhouette of a gabled or gambrel roof may be iconic. While a lift doesn’t directly modify the roof, the increased foundation height can shift the overall proportion.
Preserving such elements means foreseeing how to carefully remove, store, or protect them when the house is detached from its foundation—and then reattach or adapt them once the structure is perched at a new, flood-safe height.
3. House Lifting Basics: A Recap
House lifting entails separating a home from its existing foundation—be it a crawlspace, slab, or short pilings—and gently elevating it using hydraulic jacks and steel beams. Once lifted, a new or extended foundation (e.g., reinforced block walls, taller pilings, or concrete piers) is built underneath to support the home at the desired elevation. This typically aims to surpass the local Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or meet additional freeboard requirements, thus cutting flood damage and insurance premiums.
Where do architectural elements fit into this? The lifting process involves some disassembly. For example, if a porch wraps around the entire house, the contractor might remove sections to allow beams to fit underneath. Ornamental shutters may need taking down so they don’t rattle loose during jacking. Balusters or columns might be temporarily supported or lifted along with the structure. With the right planning, none of this precludes restoring those pieces exactly or nearly as they were.
4. Coordinating with a Preservation-Focused Contractor
Not all house-lifting firms approach aesthetics with equal weight. At DeVooght House Lifters, we often collaborate with homeowners specifically on preserving architectural identity. Achieving this demands open communication at each step:
- Initial Consult: Homeowners highlight must-save elements—whether it’s an antique porch swing or a distinctive carved window shutter. We evaluate how feasible it is to remove/store these items during the lift.
- Documentation: Taking photographs, sketches, or measurements of each decorative piece ensures everything can be reattached in the correct position and orientation.
- Labeling and Storage Plan: If shutters or railings come off, label them systematically. Store them in safe, dry conditions so they’re shielded from weather, pests, or accidental damage.
- Inspection for Repairs: Lifting time might be ideal to mend rotted porch boards or refinish shutters. This can merge seamlessly with reinstallation, leaving the final structure both historic in feel and new in sturdiness.
Through coordinated efforts, a preservation-minded contractor helps ensure the building’s architectural DNA remains unchanged, even as the foundation gains vital elevation.
5. Caring for Porches, Columns, and Decorative Trim
Porches in coastal areas are more than just an entrance—they’re social hubs, vantage points, and statements of style. But a porch can pose challenges during a lift if it’s tightly integrated with the main frame:
- Temporary Disassembly: Contractors often remove porch floors, railings, or columns that obstruct the lift equipment. Labeling each piece (column 1, column 2, etc.) ensures accurate reassembly.
- Bracket Support: Sometimes, you can lift the porch along with the house if it’s structurally integrated. In that case, specialized brackets or additional beams might brace the porch to avoid cracks or shifts.
- Reinstalling at New Height: Once the home’s foundation is complete, porch elements are reattached. Additional steps might be necessary to reach ground level from the porch’s higher position. The original newel posts, railings, and spindles can fit right back in to maintain that timeless coastal vibe.
Similar logic applies to columns and decorative trim. If they’re load-bearing, they’ll move with the structure. If ornamental, removing and reattaching them at the final stage is often simpler. Whether purely decorative or integral, each piece can be preserved through careful craftsmanship.
6. Preserving Shutters and Windows
Shutters, especially in older or historically significant homes, might feature unique wood carvings or wrought-iron hinges. Because vibrations from jacking can loosen them, we often advise removing shutters beforehand. Meanwhile, window frames can stay in place if they’re well integrated—though it’s wise to protect glass with boards or removable shutters to prevent cracks.
- Refinishing Opportunity: Once shutters are off, it’s a perfect moment to scrape old paint, re-stain or repaint, and maybe swap out rusty hinges for historically appropriate replicas. This approach merges restoration with the needed structural changes.
- Vent or Breakaway Requirements: If you’re in a VE flood zone and want partial enclosures or shutters on ground levels, codes might require specific venting or removable panels. Incorporating the same shutter aesthetic can be done, so long as they meet breakaway or venting guidelines.
The outcome: your window areas look nearly identical to their pre-lift selves, preserving that coastal cottage vibe, while ensuring the new foundation stands resilient against floodwaters.
7. Rooflines and Overall Proportions
When a house rises a few feet, the building’s proportions can shift visually. If your roof’s ridge or gables were previously at a perfect vantage from the street, elevating the house might alter that sense of scale:
- Height Restrictions: Many coastal zones limit total building height (foundation plus roof). Confirm that the final project—especially if you add freeboard above BFE—doesn’t exceed local limits. If it does, a variance might be necessary.
- Stepping the Site: In some instances, homeowners use gentle landscaping or terracing to soften the visual jump from ground to porch. Retaining walls, steps, or native plantings can ease the transition and maintain aesthetic harmony.
- Maintaining the Roof Profile: Usually, the roof remains untouched besides possibly reinforcing connections to the elevated walls. The home’s silhouette stays recognizable, preventing a jarring difference post-lift.
Ensuring the elevated structure doesn’t jar your neighborhood’s aesthetic (or your own memory of the house) can come down to tasteful design choices and small additions around the foundation perimeter.
8. Balancing Modern Codes With Nostalgic Design
Modern flood regulations exist to protect lives and property. For homes in velocity zones (VE) or high-risk areas, FEMA guidelines demand open foundations, breakaway walls, or vents that let floodwaters pass through. The challenge: how to keep that vintage wraparound porch or old-lattice skirting while satisfying these safety mandates?
One solution is breakaway paneling that mimics traditional lattice or wood planks. In minor floods, it appears as a typical enclosure—giving an appearance of old-school craftsmanship—yet in severe surges, the paneling tears away without damaging the home’s main supports. Alternatively, partial enclosures or elevated decks allow you to replicate decorative railings overhead, keeping the spirit of the design but meeting flood vent rules at ground level.
At DeVooght House Lifters, we find that communication between local code officials, homeowners, and design professionals leads to creative outcomes. You get to keep your porch’s characteristic arches or shutters, but anchor them in a compliant, breakaway-friendly manner.
10. Tips for Homeowners Committed to Preservation
- Document Everything: Take detailed photos of your porch, shutters, trim, and columns from multiple angles. These become invaluable references during reassembly.
- Communicate Early: Let your house-lifting team know which decorative elements matter most. They can plan accordingly to safeguard them during jacking.
- Use the Opportunity to Restore: During dismantling, check for rot, termite damage, or worn paint. Revitalize or replicate damaged pieces using matching materials.
- Coordinate with Local Boards: If your home falls under a historic district or HOA, gather approvals up front to ensure no last-minute hurdles slow down the project.
- Plan the Landscaping: Post-lift, the foundation’s new height can be softened with strategic plantings or steps, blending old and new gracefully.
Conclusion: Elevating Homes Without Losing Soul
Though house lifting may seem like a high-tech operation aimed solely at flood mitigation, the architectural identity of your home doesn’t have to be overshadowed. By carefully dismantling beloved porch elements, labeling and storing shutters, and finding creative solutions for code-compliant enclosures, you can preserve the exact style that made you love the home from day one. In fact, many homeowners discover that the process can enhance their property’s historic or coastal aesthetic by providing an opportunity for gentle restoration.
At DeVooght House Lifters, our mission is to protect homes while respecting the heritage and charm that define so many North Carolina shoreline communities. With open communication, thorough planning, and a commitment to craftsmanship, lifting a house can be a turning point—one that safeguards your future against floods and celebrates your home’s past in every decorative detail. Because ultimately, going higher doesn’t mean leaving tradition behind. It means carrying it upward, ensuring that porch columns, shutters, and timeless façades remain proudly on display, even as the foundation stands taller and stronger than ever.