Abry Brothers has spent more than 180 years lifting, leveling, and relocating buildings across Greater New Orleans. The company has evolved from a first-generation house-moving craft into a modern foundation and shoring specialist.
This article examines how a family-run firm has persisted through changing codes and insurance landscapes. The company continues to preserve historic structures, support private homes, and tackle large commercial projects in a city shaped by water, soil variability, and architectural heritage.
Legacy and Craft in a City of Water and History
Founded in the early 19th century, Abry Brothers is now led by Greg Abry with his sons Patrick and Thomas. The company embodies a long tradition of practical engineering applied to diverse neighborhood contexts.
About 80% of projects are private homes, with the rest involving commercial or public structures, many with historic significance. The firm’s work ranges from single-day repairs around $1,500 to six-figure shoring and jacking operations for larger facilities.
New Orleans’ soils and architectural styles have driven steady evolution in technique. Early piers and sills require different methods than mid-20th-century slab homes.
This has prompted Abry Brothers to scale up jacking systems and piling depths that can reach 80 feet.
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Techniques Evolving to New Orleans’ Diverse Soils
The firm adapts to the city’s varied ground conditions using a mix of hydraulic jacks and precast concrete piling. This helps achieve precise verticality and stable load transfer.
In older neighborhoods, the focus is on repairing and replacing structural elements like piers and sills. In slab-built areas, the company uses larger jacking and piling systems to lift entire slabs with minimal disruption.
Notable projects show the company’s range, from historic preservation to modern interventions. Abry Brothers has supported facilities such as Warren Easton Charter High School, Central Grocery, and the Dew Drop Inn.
They often work at sites that require sensitive preservation, even when a building isn’t a formal landmark.
- Single-day repairs around $1,500 for immediate stabilization or lifting needs
- Private-home restorations comprising the majority of the portfolio
- Commercial shoring and large-scale lifting capable of supporting heavy floor slabs
- Historic-preservation interventions that respect original fabric and context
- In-house family leadership guiding continuity and craftsmanship
Economic and Policy Pressures Reshaping the Business
Business pressures have intensified in recent years. Homeowners’ insurance often excludes foundation-related work, placing a larger share of risk on homeowners themselves.
The Abry family has also seen a steep rise in their own insurance costs—about 300% over five years. This creates a financial challenge for ongoing operations.
Federal grant disruptions have further constrained revenue, tying up about $2.5 million in contracts. Changes to flood-insurance calculations under Risk Rating 2.0 have sometimes made home elevation financially unattractive.
Resilience, Family Leadership, and Future Prospects
The Abrys are committed to keeping the business in the family. Their long-term outlook depends on the economic health of New Orleans, as local prosperity influences demand for house repairs and preservation work.
Notable Projects and Preservation Work
Beyond routine residential stabilization, Abry Brothers takes on projects requiring structural precision and historical sensitivity. Their portfolio includes both local landmarks and everyday homes, preserving a sense of place while ensuring safety and resilience.
- Warren Easton Charter High School
- Central Grocery
- Dew Drop Inn
Looking Ahead: A City and a Family Bond
The enduring question for Abry Brothers is how a city’s continued growth and revival will shape demand for repair and preservation.
As New Orleans faces shifting flood policies and changing insurance landscapes, the company’s approach—rooted in craft, locality, and family stewardship—serves as a model for sustainable practice in historic urban centers.
Here is the source article for this story: Abry Brothers has been keeping it on the level for 7 generations, shoring up a sinking city
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