Show All Answers

1. What questions should I ask the contractor?

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but to give you an idea of how much needs to be considered with the home elevation:

• How is our pool protected and left operational during the lift? Who is responsible for the mess made in the pool?
• How will the catwalk and egress routes impact my backyard since the pool is so close to the backdoor?
• Will my A/C units be elevated with the grant? How and what options do we have?
• Do you use steel to reinforce the slab? If not, what method do you use to reinforce the slab?
• Will you work with the customer in determining the placement of piers under the house? If not, who makes the decision?
• Do you recommend poured or cinder block columns? Why? Are you capable of doing either one?
• Will you do a pre-inspection of my property? Do you film it? Can I get a copy of the video after you make it?
• How does the ADA lift get installed on the house? Do we get a say on where it is installed?
• Does the contractor pay for the concrete floor in the crawl space and under what conditions?
• Is there a professional design consultant on staff to assist us with long-term plans?
• What are the costs per foot to elevate my home higher than the minimum height required?
• Do the installed CMU blocks in the wall prevent water from leaking into my crawl space? If not, will you work with me to ensure they are?
• Anything to do with your pool equipment and the upkeep of your pool. How is it protected and left operational during the lift. Who is responsible for the mess made in the pool?
• How will the catwalk and egress routes impact my backyard since the pool is so close to the backdoor
• Will my A/C units be elevated with the grant? How and what options do I have?
• Can I stay in my home after the initial push? Can the air stay on the entire time? Can I request that the 1^st push be delayed until a temp electrical pole is installed?
• Do you use steel to reinforce my slab? If not, what method do you use to reinforce the slab?
• Do you listen to the customer before placing peirs under the house? If not, who makes the call?
• Do you recommend poured or cinder block columns? Why? Are you capable of doing either one?
• Will you do a pre-inspection of my property? Do you film it? Can I get a copy of the video after you make it?
• How does the ADA lift get installed on the house? Do I get a say on where it is installed?
• Who covers the part of the slab left exposed after the home is elevated?
• How many homes have you done in NB?
• Is there a professional design consultant on staff to assist me with long-term plans?
• How is it determined if I get a slab poured under my house?
• What are the costs per foot to elevate my home higher than the minimum height required?
• Do the installed CMU blocks prevent water from leaking into my crawlspace? IF not, will you work with me to ensure they are?
• Certificate of Liability and what does it cover?
• Does liability insurance cover damaged pool equipment including pipes?
• Can our pool company repair the pipes or does yours?
• We have high voltage lines buried in conduit for exterior lighting. Will you be able to preserve them? Will liability insurance cover damage?
• Will driveway be repaired?
• How many high lifts over 20 feet have you done?
• How many lifts are you working on at one time in Galveston-Houston area?
• How many lifts in NB will you accept in one grant period?
• Will you have a full-time project manager in NB? What is his/her experience in elevation? How long has he/she worked for your company?
• How many crews will you have in NB?
• How many breakaway walls homes have you done? Any in NB?
• How much rebar is used to support the breakaway walls? Are they in the concrete blocks? Vents in breakaway walls?
• How far apart are the columns in the breakaway walls?
• Which engineering firm do you contract?
• Any licensed architects on staff on used as consultants?
• Any certified designer to assist with selection of materials/color?
• Are the steel beam supports galvanized or painted with rust-proof paint?
• Will you use poured concrete (from a pump truck) columns or use concrete blocks filled with concrete? How do you fill the concrete blocks with cement? How much rebar used within concrete blocks?
• Since our previous 2nd floor balcony becomes the 3rd floor, will you add a 2nd floor balcony?
• Will the A/C equipment be elevated on a platform continuous with the NEW 2nd floor balcony?
• Pool equipment is elevated on a wood platform. If the platform/deck is damaged beyond support will you build another?
• Is there still funding for enclosing walls on 3 sides?
• Preservation of certain landscape items? I have 3 favorite fruit trees to save.
• I have 4 external water spigots now. Will I be able to get the same number?
• Will electrical conduits and water pipes run on the inside walls and not on the exterior walls?
• Can we pay for MORE sprayed on insulation foam at the same time you apply?

2. How do I know if I am eligible?

Please email OEM@nassaubay.com to check your eligibility.

3. How long does the home elevation process take?

The process of physically elevating the home takes approximately 3-4 months. However, from the time the grant is applied for by the City of Nassau Bay, it takes approximately 2-3 years before your home will be elevated. The delay is due to Federal and State administrative processing before the money is sent to Nassau Bay. 

4. How much will FEMA pay for my home elevation?

The FEMA FMA grant is designed to cover 75%, 90%, or 100% of the elevation costs. The percentage is based off the classification of your home as an NFIP Repetitive Loss (RL) (75%), FEMA RL (90%, or FEMA Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) (100%). Please email OEM@nassaubay.com to check your classification.

5. What does the FMA Grant cover?

Generally, the FMA grant is designed to cover the lift of the home to the base flood elevation (plus 2 additional feet per Nassau Bay’s requirements), extension of the electric & plumbing lines, disconnecting & reconnecting the pool equipment (if applicable), insulating the bottom of the slab (below livable areas - not the garage), minimum code compliant stairs for ingress and egress, elevation of HVAC equipment, CMU block for three sides of the home, and temporary living for approx. 120 days. On some occasions, an outside lift may be an eligible expense. 

Upgrades of the CMU block (bottom skirting) is not a grant eligible expense, nor is stucco or brick work.

6. Can the home be lifted higher than the BFE?

Some homeowners want to elevated the slab higher than the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) so that the bottom of their home can be used as a garage. This is allowed in most cases, but the additional expense is the homeowners.

7. Can the grant transfer if I want to sell the home?

Yes, the grant is transferable. The grant is with the home and not the homeowner.