Professional Building Moving Services
Planning to Move a House or Building? We're Ready to Help.
From historic homes and farm buildings to commercial structures, Badger Contracting has over 30 years of experience, specialized equipment, and skilled team to complete your move safely and efficiently. We handle every phase of the project—from planning and permitting to lifting, transportation, and precise placement on the new foundation.
Receive a free, no-obligation estimate by filling out our Moving Estimate Questionnaire, and discover why property owners throughout Wisconsin and Illinois trust us with their valuable structures.
Let's Talk About Your Project.
Every building move is unique. Whether you're moving across town or further, we'll help you understand the process, timeline, and costs before work begins. Once we receive your completed Moving Estimate Questionnaire, we will follow-up with an estimate or we may reach out with more questions.
Just not sure where to start? Give us a call at 262-215-6187 with your questions.
From historic homes and farm buildings to commercial structures, Badger Contracting has over 30 years of experience, specialized equipment, and skilled team to complete your move safely and efficiently. We handle every phase of the project—from planning and permitting to lifting, transportation, and precise placement on the new foundation.
Receive a free, no-obligation estimate by filling out our Moving Estimate Questionnaire, and discover why property owners throughout Wisconsin and Illinois trust us with their valuable structures.
Let's Talk About Your Project.
Every building move is unique. Whether you're moving across town or further, we'll help you understand the process, timeline, and costs before work begins. Once we receive your completed Moving Estimate Questionnaire, we will follow-up with an estimate or we may reach out with more questions.
Just not sure where to start? Give us a call at 262-215-6187 with your questions.
What We Move
Farmhouse moved in the winter.
- Historic homes
- Residential houses
- Cabins
- Garages
- Barns
- Pole buildings
- Churches
- Schools
- Commercial buildings
- Industrial buildings
- Municipal buildings
- Grain bins
- Storage buildings
Our Building Moving Process
Moving a house with a masonry fireplace.
- Initial site inspection by mover
- Engineering evaluation, if needed
- Route planning (determine if the route will sustain the moving of the building)
- Utility coordination (only needed for buildings taller than a ranch home)
- Permitting (municipal building permits by owner, road moving permits by mover)
- Lifting the building/structure
- Installing steel beams to support the structure for moving
- Installing hydraulic moving equipment
- Moving of the building
- Placement on the new foundation
- Final leveling
Factors that Affect the Cost to Move a Building
Size, Shape, and Type of Structure
Size. The size of the structure matters. The amount of time needed to move an 800-square-foot cottage is very different than a 5,000-square-foot house. Knowing the length, width, and height of the building is one of the key factors in estimating a price.
Shape. Different shapes can affect pricing as well — a 3,000-square-foot, rectangular, 2-story house takes less time to move than a sprawling 3,000-square-foot, single-story house that is long and has additions at odd angles. The type of structure is important as well.
Structure Type. There are many types of structures: frame, frame with masonry veneer, log, double brick, triple brick, block, terra-cotta tile, concrete, stone, steel, post, etc. Any building can be moved, but each type has its unique aspects that factor into the cost.
Type and Height of Foundation
Structural foundations vary as well. CMU block or poured concrete are the new standards for structural foundation.
Older homes often sit on a stone or rubble foundation. Wood pilings and piers are common under beach or shoreline homes. Some homes are built on brick piers or concrete slab floors.
The crawl space or basement height also is important since that is the area where we install the steel beam platform that carries the house. If the height under the first-floor system is fewer than 3 feet, it can add significant time to the project to excavate the dirt necessary to install the lifting steel. Tall crawl spaces and full basements are the easiest to work with, but all scenarios are possible.
Accessories
Garages, additions, porches, decks, balconies, chimneys, fireplaces, and other accessories can almost always be moved with the house, but add time and increase the project cost. In most cases, if the building can be moved with the accessories intact, it is cheaper to do so than to remove and rebuild.
However, if the accessories are intended to be demolished in the end anyway, then you will save money by doing so before the move.
Working Space
Time is money.
Inadequate working space around the house can significantly extend the amount of time a job takes and therefore the price of the lift and move. If our crew does not have sufficient room to get our standard equipment around and under the house, then we may have to use smaller equipment that can be installed by hand or with smaller machines. This does not prevent us from moving the building but can affect the overall cost.
New Foundation
There are several methods for installing a new foundation. The most common way is to have only the footers poured ahead of time. This allows the house to be driven down a ramp and over the footers. Then the house will be lifted up and supported while the new foundation is built up under it. If there is no room for a ramp, another option is to have the new foundation installed before the house arrives and then the house can be moved up to and slid on top of that foundation. This tends to be more expensive but is useful when necessary.
Additional Factors to Consider
Permits. You may need a survey completed for the new site and permits are required in most areas to install a new foundation under a house.
Prepping the building. The utilities must be shut off and disconnected from the house, including electric, water, sewer, gas, telephone, cable, etc. All pipes, plumbing, and ductwork in the crawl space or basement must be removed from beneath the floor joists. The exterior steps, skirting, shrubbery, outdoor showers, fences, and any accessories that are not being moved must be demolished and removed ahead of time.
Move route. Clearing a move route is a very large price factor. Onsite moves are generally not a problem, although excavation can be required in some cases; however, once you start heading down a road, there can be multiple obstacles. Overhead utility lines and other overhead structures often are obstacles and the cost of lifting utility lines alone keeps most moves limited to a few miles. Tree trimming, traffic signals, sign and light posts, and traffic control are the other obstacles that must be looked into for feasibility and cost.
Excavation and the new foundation. The new foundation will need to be excavated and the foundation installed at the new site. Most houses will require a minimum of a 4’ crawlspace, and some masonry houses could require a full basement. In most cases, beam pockets are required for the top of the new foundation to give our steel a place to be removed from as the house is set down. Our company can also assist with the construction of a new foundation. If you are interested in receiving a price for a new foundation, be sure to mention this on our Moving Estimate Questionnaire.
Final steps. Once the foundation is built up, our crew will return to the site and remove our equipment. At that time, the foundation can be finished, waterproofed, and back-filled. Some framing may be necessary for new decks and steps. Utilities will need to be reinstalled and hooked up under the house, and then final landscaping can be done.
Size. The size of the structure matters. The amount of time needed to move an 800-square-foot cottage is very different than a 5,000-square-foot house. Knowing the length, width, and height of the building is one of the key factors in estimating a price.
Shape. Different shapes can affect pricing as well — a 3,000-square-foot, rectangular, 2-story house takes less time to move than a sprawling 3,000-square-foot, single-story house that is long and has additions at odd angles. The type of structure is important as well.
Structure Type. There are many types of structures: frame, frame with masonry veneer, log, double brick, triple brick, block, terra-cotta tile, concrete, stone, steel, post, etc. Any building can be moved, but each type has its unique aspects that factor into the cost.
Type and Height of Foundation
Structural foundations vary as well. CMU block or poured concrete are the new standards for structural foundation.
Older homes often sit on a stone or rubble foundation. Wood pilings and piers are common under beach or shoreline homes. Some homes are built on brick piers or concrete slab floors.
The crawl space or basement height also is important since that is the area where we install the steel beam platform that carries the house. If the height under the first-floor system is fewer than 3 feet, it can add significant time to the project to excavate the dirt necessary to install the lifting steel. Tall crawl spaces and full basements are the easiest to work with, but all scenarios are possible.
Accessories
Garages, additions, porches, decks, balconies, chimneys, fireplaces, and other accessories can almost always be moved with the house, but add time and increase the project cost. In most cases, if the building can be moved with the accessories intact, it is cheaper to do so than to remove and rebuild.
However, if the accessories are intended to be demolished in the end anyway, then you will save money by doing so before the move.
Working Space
Time is money.
Inadequate working space around the house can significantly extend the amount of time a job takes and therefore the price of the lift and move. If our crew does not have sufficient room to get our standard equipment around and under the house, then we may have to use smaller equipment that can be installed by hand or with smaller machines. This does not prevent us from moving the building but can affect the overall cost.
New Foundation
There are several methods for installing a new foundation. The most common way is to have only the footers poured ahead of time. This allows the house to be driven down a ramp and over the footers. Then the house will be lifted up and supported while the new foundation is built up under it. If there is no room for a ramp, another option is to have the new foundation installed before the house arrives and then the house can be moved up to and slid on top of that foundation. This tends to be more expensive but is useful when necessary.
Additional Factors to Consider
Permits. You may need a survey completed for the new site and permits are required in most areas to install a new foundation under a house.
Prepping the building. The utilities must be shut off and disconnected from the house, including electric, water, sewer, gas, telephone, cable, etc. All pipes, plumbing, and ductwork in the crawl space or basement must be removed from beneath the floor joists. The exterior steps, skirting, shrubbery, outdoor showers, fences, and any accessories that are not being moved must be demolished and removed ahead of time.
Move route. Clearing a move route is a very large price factor. Onsite moves are generally not a problem, although excavation can be required in some cases; however, once you start heading down a road, there can be multiple obstacles. Overhead utility lines and other overhead structures often are obstacles and the cost of lifting utility lines alone keeps most moves limited to a few miles. Tree trimming, traffic signals, sign and light posts, and traffic control are the other obstacles that must be looked into for feasibility and cost.
Excavation and the new foundation. The new foundation will need to be excavated and the foundation installed at the new site. Most houses will require a minimum of a 4’ crawlspace, and some masonry houses could require a full basement. In most cases, beam pockets are required for the top of the new foundation to give our steel a place to be removed from as the house is set down. Our company can also assist with the construction of a new foundation. If you are interested in receiving a price for a new foundation, be sure to mention this on our Moving Estimate Questionnaire.
Final steps. Once the foundation is built up, our crew will return to the site and remove our equipment. At that time, the foundation can be finished, waterproofed, and back-filled. Some framing may be necessary for new decks and steps. Utilities will need to be reinstalled and hooked up under the house, and then final landscaping can be done.
FAQs
Here are some common questions we are asked.
Can any building be moved?
Yes! Some buildings may need additional support if they have weak sections, such as a porch, or older addition, but we have never viewed a structure that cannot be moved. There are other factors that can prohibit a building from being moved. A good example is a route that doesn't allow the building to go down the road because the road is too narrow or has obstacles that cannot be moved. And sometimes a building needs to be moved in a very short timeframe and permits cannot be obtained in time for the move.
Do I need permits?
Yes! You will most likely need a building permit and each municipality and county is unique in their requirements for the permit. The property owner obtains these permits. Permits to move the building over the road are obtained by Badger Contracting Inc.
Can you move buildings in winter?
Absolutely! In some instances it is even better to move in the winter. We have gone through farm fields that are solid and frozen and didn't have any crops on them during the winter and shortened the distance to move and avoided obstacles by being able to go through the field.
How far can a house be moved?
That depends on the route and the house! If the roads are wide open without any obstacles, the house can go hundreds of miles. The smaller the house, the further it can be moved. We have moved a small cottage from southern Wisconsin to northern Wisconsin. Signs, trees, stop lights, utility lines, and small bridges are obstacles to be considered when looking at a house moving route.
How long does a building move take?
A simple ranch house can be ready to move in a week. A more complex building with brick, fireplaces, and porches takes longer to load onto the steel beam structure. Generally the time to move a building can be greatly affected by permitting and coordinating moving of utility wires (if required).
Can any building be moved?
Yes! Some buildings may need additional support if they have weak sections, such as a porch, or older addition, but we have never viewed a structure that cannot be moved. There are other factors that can prohibit a building from being moved. A good example is a route that doesn't allow the building to go down the road because the road is too narrow or has obstacles that cannot be moved. And sometimes a building needs to be moved in a very short timeframe and permits cannot be obtained in time for the move.
Do I need permits?
Yes! You will most likely need a building permit and each municipality and county is unique in their requirements for the permit. The property owner obtains these permits. Permits to move the building over the road are obtained by Badger Contracting Inc.
Can you move buildings in winter?
Absolutely! In some instances it is even better to move in the winter. We have gone through farm fields that are solid and frozen and didn't have any crops on them during the winter and shortened the distance to move and avoided obstacles by being able to go through the field.
How far can a house be moved?
That depends on the route and the house! If the roads are wide open without any obstacles, the house can go hundreds of miles. The smaller the house, the further it can be moved. We have moved a small cottage from southern Wisconsin to northern Wisconsin. Signs, trees, stop lights, utility lines, and small bridges are obstacles to be considered when looking at a house moving route.
How long does a building move take?
A simple ranch house can be ready to move in a week. A more complex building with brick, fireplaces, and porches takes longer to load onto the steel beam structure. Generally the time to move a building can be greatly affected by permitting and coordinating moving of utility wires (if required).
Illinois winter house move through a farm field.
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Lake Geneva, WI Tour Boat
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