When Sunset Beach resident Grant Smith and his wife first discussed disaster plans for their 1940s cottage-style home, they assumed a major storm would mean a full rebuild.

But after Hurricane Helene flooded their home with 3 to 5 feet of water, they took a different route: lifting the house 14 feet to meet current floodplain and building code requirements—preserving the home they loved and saving significantly on cost.

“We liked the floor plan, so rebuilding wouldn’t have changed our house. It just would’ve given us a new version of the same thing,” Smith told Bay News 9.

The decision ultimately came down to economics. For their home, which is under 1,000 square feet, elevating it was about 20% of the cost to rebuild under today’s codes.

“It was just over $100 per square foot to elevate, compared to $500 to $600 per square foot to rebuild,” Smith explained.

He got quotes from three companies that specialize in home lifting and moved forward before receiving FEMA’s substantial damage determination letter.

“I figured demand for this would be high and options would be limited,” he said. “There just aren’t that many contractors who do this kind of work.”

By December, Smith had signed with JAS Builders. Design work began shortly after, and in late May, crews began the lift.

According to Albert Jasuwan, owner of JAS Builders, once work begins, the elevation process takes just two to four weeks. The house is raised using a hydraulic jack system set inside cribbing—temporary support structures placed beneath the home.

Due to Sunset Beach’s sandy soil, contractors used a specialized foundation system involving Helical piles.

“We screw them down into the ground and then pour concrete to lock everything in place,” Jasuwan said. “They help resist both uplift and downforce.”

Before any lifting begins, homes are assessed for structural integrity. Jasuwan said that every home they’ve worked on in Pinellas County so far has qualified for elevation.

To support the structure, his team also installs a permanent steel base.

“That way, the entire house is cradled. We’re not putting stress on it—we’re lifting it as if it’s sitting on a steel tray,” he said.

Once the elevation and structural work are finished, JAS Builders will install a staircase and reconnect utilities, including plumbing and electrical, to make the home livable again.

For Smith, it’s a second chance to enjoy the home he wasn’t ready to let go of.

“I’m excited to see it once everything’s done,” he said.

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