Serving Shapleigh, ME
Excavation & structural contractor in Shapleigh, ME
Payne Construction handles excavation, foundations, structural repairs and house lifting for homes and properties in Shapleigh and across York County. Our own crew and our own equipment on every job.
✓ No subcontractors ✓ Licensed & fully insured ✓ Free estimates
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Tell us about your project. Our team will follow up to schedule a site visit.
Serving southern Maine
Your excavation and structural team in Shapleigh.
From lakeside camps to new homes on rural lots, our crews handle excavation, foundations, lifting and structural repairs across Shapleigh.
Projects in Shapleigh face the conditions we see across southern Maine: deep frost, ledge, clay and high groundwater. We plan every dig, lift and foundation around them, pull the right local permits and handle the work start to finish without subcontractors.
All services
Every service we offer in Shapleigh.
From the first dig to the finished foundation, here is everything our crew handles for Shapleigh homes and properties.
01 · Lifting
House Lifting
Homes raised on hydraulic jacking systems for new foundations, flood elevation or space below.
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02 · Structural
Structural Work
Foundation reinforcement, retaining walls, erosion control and site stabilization.
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03 · Site work
Excavation
Foundation digs, trenching, grading and drainage cut below New Hampshire frost.
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04 · Foundations
Foundation Repair & Replacement
Cracked, bowing, settling or crumbling foundations repaired or fully replaced.
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05 · Foundations
Helical Piles
Deep foundation support 10 to 25 feet down, torque monitored on every pile.
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06 · Structural
Shoring
Temporary support that keeps buildings stable during lifting and excavation.
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07 · Site work
Phase 1 Site Services
Lift, excavate and build the new foundation in one sequence with one crew.
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08 · Lifting
Flood Mitigation
Homes elevated above flood level on foundations built to withstand water.
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09 · Site work
Demolition
Houses, garages and outbuildings taken down, hauled off and rough graded.
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10 · Outdoor
Hardscaping
Patios, walkways and retaining walls built on a properly drained base.
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11 · Outdoor
Decks & Stairs
Custom decks and exterior stairs built to code for New England weather.
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Not sure?
Talk to our team
Tell us what is going on and we will recommend the right fix after a free site visit.
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Why it matters
Your home is only as strong as what's under it.
01
Every structure starts in the ground
Before a foundation is poured or a home is lifted, the ground has to be dug, graded and drained correctly. Mistakes made in the dirt show up years later as cracks, water and settling.
02
New Hampshire ground is hard on foundations
Frost reaches 48 to 60 inches here, and ledge, clay and high groundwater are common. Work that ignores local conditions does not survive many New England winters.
03
Handoffs between contractors cost you twice
When the excavator, the mover and the foundation crew are three different companies, schedules slip and nobody owns the result. We do all three ourselves.
Our specialties
Three specialties. One crew.
House lifting, structural work and excavation under one roof, sequenced by the same team so your project moves from the first dig to the final grade without a handoff.
01 · House lifting
Raise your home without tearing it down
We separate the house from its foundation and raise it evenly on unified hydraulic jacking systems, steel beams and cribbing. With the home safely supported, the old foundation can be replaced, the home can be elevated above the Base Flood Elevation, or a full basement can be dug underneath.
✓ Foundation replacement under existing homes
✓ Flood elevation for coastal and lakefront homes
✓ New basements and living space below
✓ Older and historic homes preserved
02 · Structural services
Stabilize what's failing before it spreads
Settling foundations, failing retaining walls and drainage problems threaten the structure above them. We find the cause, then excavate, reinforce, waterproof and rebuild so the repair lasts.
✓ Foundation repair and reinforcement
✓ Retaining wall construction and repair
✓ Shoring and temporary support
✓ Erosion control and site stabilization
03 · Excavation
Dig it right the first time
Foundation digs, utility trenching and final grading cut to engineered depths below New Hampshire frost. Permits, Dig Safe, erosion control and layout are handled before any machine moves.
✓ Full basements, crawl spaces and slabs
✓ Water, sewer and septic trenching
✓ Backfill graded away from the home
✓ Demolition and lot clearing
04 · Foundations & piles
New foundations built to hold
Once a home is lifted or the site is dug, we build what carries it: full foundation replacement, or helical piles driven 10 to 25 feet into load bearing soil with torque monitored on every pile.
✓ Full foundation replacement
✓ Helical piles for additions, decks and waterfront
✓ Phase 1: lift, excavate and build in one sequence
✓ Year round installation
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.
The proof
Three generations of heavy work.
Our reputation was built one structure at a time by the same family, the same crew and the same standards since 1974.
1974
Founded in Strafford, New Hampshire
3
Generations of the Payne family
0
Subcontractors on your job
Our promise
Hard workers. Family owned.
Kenneth Payne started moving buildings in the late 1950s. His son Brian founded Payne Construction in 1974 and works today alongside his sons Sean and Patrick. You deal directly with the family that runs the job.
✓ Our crew and our own equipment on every job
✓ Leadership in the New England Association of Structural Movers
✓ Licensed, fully insured and a US Customs Bonded Carrier
FAQ
Questions homeowners ask us
Can I stay in my house while it is being lifted?
No. It is not safe to stay in the home during a lift, and utilities like electricity, water and gas must be disconnected while the house is raised and supported.
How long does house lifting take?
Generally anywhere from one week to several weeks. Every house is different, so we visit your home first and walk you through what your project involves before work begins.
Does FEMA help pay to elevate a home?
It can. Homes with an active National Flood Insurance Program policy that are substantially damaged may qualify for up to $30,000 in Increased Cost of Compliance coverage toward elevation. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds may also be available after federal disasters.
What are the signs my foundation needs structural repair?
Common signs include cracks in foundation walls, bowing or leaning basement walls, doors and windows that stick, uneven floors and water in the basement or crawl space. These issues do not fix themselves, so the earlier you have it looked at the better.
Why do retaining walls fail in New Hampshire?
The most common causes are poor drainage behind the wall, footings that are not deep enough for New Hampshire frost, and walls undersized for the load they hold. When we build or repair a wall, drainage and footing depth are never compromised.
How deep do foundations need to be in New Hampshire?
Frost in New Hampshire typically reaches 48 to 60 inches, so footings must be set below that depth to avoid frost heave. Helical piles go deeper, usually 10 to 25 feet, into load bearing soil.
Do you handle permits and Dig Safe for excavation?
Yes. We secure the required local permits and contact 811 Dig Safe so underground gas, electric, water and communication lines are marked before our equipment arrives, every time.
Do you use subcontractors?
No. Payne Construction is family owned, licensed and fully insured, and our own crew performs the lifting, structural and excavation work with our own equipment from start to finish.
Let's talk
Ready to start your Shapleigh project the right way?
Tell us about your home or site in Shapleigh. We will schedule 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.