Serving Portsmouth, NH
Excavation & structural contractor in Portsmouth, NH
Historic homes near the waterfront, low streets that flood at high tide and new building on the edges of the city: Payne Construction handles excavation, foundations, structural repair, lifting and flood mitigation across Portsmouth.
✓ 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.
Sea level and the old city
Portsmouth's history sits near the water.
The city has studied how coastal flooding and rising groundwater threaten its historic district, mapping buildings exposed at a 13.5 foot coastal flood elevation and flooding on streets like Mechanic Street. For owners of older waterfront homes, raising, waterproofing and strengthening foundations are real decisions.
✓ Lifting and new foundations for homes in flood zones
✓ Foundation repair that deals with groundwater, not just cracks
✓ Work planned around city permits and historic review
Portsmouth, Rockingham County
Building work in a city of old houses.
Portsmouth has homes dating to the 1600s. The Richard Jackson House was built in 1664, and the waterfront neighborhood once called Strawbery Banke still holds dozens of restored early homes.
After the fire of 1813 destroyed 244 buildings, the downtown was rebuilt in brick with slate roofs. Those heavy masonry buildings and the wood framed homes around them each bring their own foundation and structural problems.
Our work in Portsmouth ranges from careful foundation and sill repairs under old houses to lifting homes near the tide and excavation for new projects across the city.
Portsmouth at a glance
County
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
Waterways
Piscataqua River, Sagamore Creek, Berrys Brook
Oldest homes
Richard Jackson House, 1664
Building history
Brick rebuild after the 1813 fire
Population
About 22,000 (2020 census)
Services in Portsmouth
What we do in Portsmouth.
Each service has its own page with Portsmouth details.
01
Excavation in Portsmouth
Digging and drainage on tight city lots and new sites.
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02
Foundation repair in Portsmouth
Stone, brick and concrete foundations under older homes.
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03
Structural repair in Portsmouth
Sills, beams and posts in historic framing.
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04
House lifting in Portsmouth
Raising homes for new foundations or flood elevation.
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05
Flood mitigation in Portsmouth
Elevation and flood vents for homes near the tide.
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06
Helical piles
Deep support where waterfront soil is soft.
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What we see in Portsmouth
Three kinds of Portsmouth projects.
Most work in the city falls into one of these.
Historic homes
Old foundations, old framing
Early Portsmouth homes often sit on stone foundations with original sills. We repair and replace them with care for the house above.
Waterfront
Homes near the tide
Homes near the Piscataqua and the creeks face tidal and groundwater flooding. Lifting and flood resistant foundations help.
City lots
Tight sites
Many Portsmouth lots are small with neighbors close by. We plan equipment, staging and shoring around tight access.
FAQ
Portsmouth questions we hear often
Can you work on a historic home in Portsmouth?
Yes. Much of our structural and foundation work is on older homes. Work in the city's historic district may also need review by the city, and we plan the project with that in mind.
Is my Portsmouth home in a flood zone?
Homes near the Piscataqua, Sagamore Creek and other tidal areas may be. We check your property against the FEMA flood maps during the site visit and explain what it means.
My basement gets water at high tide. What can be done?
Groundwater rising with the tide is a known problem in parts of Portsmouth. Depending on the house, the answer may be drainage and foundation repair, or lifting the house to a safer height.
Can you work on a tight downtown lot?
Yes. We plan access, staging and shoring for small lots so the work stays safe for the house and the neighbors.
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.
Let's talk
Planning work on a Portsmouth home?
Tell us about the house and what you are seeing. We will visit, check the flood map and give you an honest plan.
✓ 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.