01
Foundation replacement and repair
We lift the whole house about four feet, build a new foundation under it, and set it back down. Repairs too.
Tama, Iowa foundation and concrete contractor. We lift the house, pour a new foundation, and set it back down.
Van Hamme Construction replaces foundations, builds ICF concrete homes, and pours new foundations and flatwork across Tama County.
1991in business since
A+BBB rating
5.0on Google, 2 reviews [CONFIRM WITH OWNER]
4 fthow high we lift a house
Who we are
What does Van Hamme Construction do?
Van Hamme Construction, Inc. is a concrete contractor based at 1018 Oakland Drive in Tama, Iowa. The company formally opened its doors in 1991, and its crews bring four decades of concrete work to every job. We do three kinds of work under one roof: we replace foundations under existing houses by lifting the whole house about four feet, we build complete insulated concrete form (ICF) homes, and we sell ICF block and rent our panel jack bracing to contractors and do-it-yourselfers. We also build new poured and ICF foundations and pour driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage floors and shop floors. Most of our work is in Tama, Toledo and the rest of Tama County. Call 641-484-3880 to talk it through.
“Tim, Steve & their crew did a great job tearing out the old bad garage floor & they put in a new garage floor. We would recommend them for cement work.”
What we do
Four kinds of concrete work, one crew
02
ICF concrete homes, blocks and bracing
Complete concrete homes: ICF walls, footings, floors, drainage and stucco. We also sell ICF block and rent panel jack bracing.
03
New foundations and basements
Footings, poured or ICF walls, floors and the drainage system for new homes and buildings.
04
Driveways, patios and shop floors
Driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage floors and shop floors around Tama and Toledo.
Foundation replacement
How does a foundation replacement work?
For a full foundation replacement we lift your whole house about four feet off the ground. Here is the sequence, in our own job photos.
Frame 01
Lift
We raise the whole house about four feet on steel beams and wood cribbing. It stays in one piece the entire time.
Frame 02
Remove
With the house up in the air, the old failing foundation comes out and the ground is prepared for new footings.
Frame 03
Build new
We form and pour a new foundation underneath: conventional poured walls or insulated concrete forms (ICF).
Frame 04
Set down
The house is lowered onto the new foundation and tied in. You keep the house you have, on a foundation built to last.
Insulated concrete forms
Why build with ICF?
An ICF wall is foam forms filled with concrete. It holds a steady temperature, blocks outside noise, and stands up to Iowa wind. These are the numbers we give our own customers.
R-40Wall insulationvs R-13 for a stick built wall
300 mphWind ratingwalls can withstand winds up to 300 mph
50 to 80%Heating and coolingaverage savings vs stick built
3 to 5%Build costmore than a stick built home, paid back in energy savings
From the job site
Recent work, in our own photos
Straight answers
Questions we get asked
How do you replace a foundation under an existing house?
We lift the whole house about four feet off the ground on steel beams and wood cribbing, take out the old foundation, build a new one underneath, and set the house back down on it.
Do you build whole ICF homes, or just foundations?
Both. We build the exterior walls for complete concrete homes, plus the footings, floors, drainage system and stucco finishes, and we build new ICF and poured foundations.
Can I buy ICF blocks or rent bracing from you?
Yes. Van Hamme Construction is a builder and distributor of insulated concrete forms. Blocks are for sale to contractors and do-it-yourselfers, and our panel jack bracing system is available to rent.
What R-value do ICF walls have?
Our insulated concrete forms perform at R-40, compared with R-13 for a typical stick built wall. No additional wall insulation is needed.
Do you pour driveways, patios and shop floors?
Yes. Driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage floors and shop floors are part of our everyday work around Tama and Toledo.
Updated September 2026
Tama County, Iowa
Where do you work?
From our shop in Tama we work across Tama County, including Toledo, Montour, Garwin, Gladbrook, Traer, Dysart, Chelsea, Elberon, Vining, Clutier, Lincoln, and in nearby Marshalltown, Belle Plaine, Grinnell. [CONFIRM WITH OWNER] See the service area
Talk to the crew that does the work.
Tell us what is going on with your foundation, your build or your concrete, and we will tell you what it needs.