Serving Dover, NH
Excavation & structural contractor in Dover, NH
From riverfront homes near the Cochecho to older houses around downtown and new lots toward Long Hill, Payne Construction handles excavation, foundations, structural repair and house lifting across Dover.
✓ No subcontractors ✓ Licensed & fully insured ✓ Free estimates
Get your free estimate
Tell us about your project. Our team will follow up to schedule a site visit.
Dover, Strafford County
Building work in New Hampshire's oldest settlement.
Dover was settled in 1623 at Dover Point, and the city still carries every era of building since: colonial homes, mill era housing near the Cochecho Falls millyard and newer neighborhoods spreading out from the center.
That mix shapes the work. An older downtown house may need its sills, beams or foundation walls rebuilt, while a new lot on the edge of the city needs clearing, a cellar hole and utility trenches. Our crew handles both with our own equipment.
Dover is a short drive from our base in Strafford, so site visits, estimates and follow ups are easy to schedule.
Dover at a glance
County
Strafford County, New Hampshire
Settled
1623, at Dover Point
Rivers
Cochecho, Bellamy, Piscataqua and Salmon Falls
Areas we work
Downtown, Dover Point, Garrison Hill, Sawyer Mills and outlying lots
Highest ground
Long Hill, a little over 300 feet
Tidal rivers
Where Dover meets the tide.
The Cochecho and Bellamy rivers both run into the tidal Piscataqua, and Great Bay borders the south end of the city. Dover's FEMA flood maps show flood zones along these shores, and homes inside them have to be built and repaired to those rules.
✓ Elevation checked against the Base Flood Elevation before we plan a lift
✓ Helical piles where riverfront soil is too soft for a standard footing
✓ Permits pulled with the City of Dover before work starts
What we see in Dover
Common projects around the city.
Most of the calls we get from Dover fall into three groups.
Older homes
Tired foundations under older houses
Stone and brick foundations under older Dover homes can bow, settle or let water in. We rebuild or replace them, often by lifting the house so we can work underneath it.
Riverfront
Homes near the water
Lots along the Cochecho, Bellamy and Piscataqua can sit in a mapped flood zone. Lifting, piles and flood vents help those homes meet the rules and stay dry.
Growth areas
New lots and additions
As Dover keeps growing, we clear and excavate new house sites, dig for additions and garages, and trench for water, sewer and drainage lines.
Services in Dover
What we do in Dover.
Each service below has its own page with details for Dover properties.
01
Excavation in Dover
Site work, cellar holes, utility trenches and drainage for Dover lots.
Learn more →
02
Foundation repair in Dover
Repair or full replacement of cracked, bowing or settled foundations.
Learn more →
03
Structural repair in Dover
Sills, beams, bearing walls and floor systems rebuilt the right way.
Learn more →
04
House lifting in Dover
Raise a home for a new foundation, more headroom or flood elevation.
Learn more →
05
Flood mitigation in Dover
Elevation, flood vents and piles for homes in Dover's flood zones.
Learn more →
06
Helical piles
Deep foundations driven past soft soil into load bearing ground.
Learn more →
How it works
From first visit to final grade
A clear, no surprises process built around how heavy structural and excavation work actually gets done.
01
Site visit & estimate
We walk the property, look at the structure, soil and access, and give you a clear scope and a free estimate.
02
Planning & permits
We plan the lift, the dig or the repair, secure local permits and call 811 Dig Safe before any machine moves.
03
Lift, dig & build
Our crew shores, lifts, excavates and builds in the right order with our own hydraulic jacking systems and equipment.
04
Backfill & grade
We backfill, grade the ground to slope water away from the structure and leave the site clean.
FAQ
Dover questions we hear often
Do you work on older homes in downtown Dover?
Yes. A large share of our structural and foundation work is on older homes. We look at the framing, the foundation and how water moves around the house before we recommend anything.
Is my Dover property in a flood zone?
Homes near the tidal rivers and Great Bay may be. The City of Dover publishes its FEMA flood maps, and we can check your lot during the site visit and explain what it means for your project.
Do I need a permit for foundation work in Dover?
Most foundation, lifting and structural projects need a building permit from the city. We handle the permit process as part of the job.
How far is Dover from your shop?
Our base is in Strafford, a short drive from Dover, so site visits are easy to fit into the schedule.
Let's talk
Ready to start your Dover project the right way?
Tell us about your home or lot in Dover. We will set up a free site visit and give you a clear, honest plan for the work.
✓ Free on site estimates
✓ Serving New Hampshire and Southern Maine
✓ Every step of the process, covered by us!
Request a free site visit
Takes about 60 seconds. Or call (603) 664-7488.