House Restumping Melbourne: When to Restump & Your Best Options

Melbourne is home to thousands of older weatherboard and brick-veneer houses built on timber or concrete stumps. Over decades, these stumps deteriorate — timber rots, concrete cracks, and the reactive clay soils across much of Melbourne accelerate the damage. If your home is showing signs of foundation movement, restumping may be the solution. Here's everything you need to know.

Signs Your Home Needs Restumping

Look for these common warning signs that your home's stumps may be failing:

• Bouncy or springy floors — If floors flex noticeably when walked on, stumps may have settled or deteriorated, leaving bearers unsupported.
• Doors and windows sticking — When the foundation moves unevenly, door frames twist and windows bind in their tracks.
• Visible gaps — Gaps appearing between walls and ceilings, walls and floors, or around door frames indicate differential settlement.
• Cracks in walls — Diagonal cracks in plaster or brickwork, especially around windows and door openings, often trace back to foundation movement.
• Uneven floors — A marble rolling to one corner of the room, or visible slopes, suggest stumps at different heights.
• Damp or musty smell under the house — Poor drainage under the house accelerates stump decay and can indicate timber stump rot.

If you notice several of these signs, it's worth getting an under-house inspection from a qualified professional.

What is Restumping?

Restumping (also called reblocking) is the process of replacing the old, damaged stumps that support your house with new ones. The house is temporarily jacked up, old stumps are removed, new stumps are installed, and the house is levelled before being lowered onto the new foundations.

A full restump replaces all stumps under the house. A partial restump replaces only the affected stumps, which can be suitable if damage is localised to one section.

Traditional vs Concrete-Free Restumping

Traditionally, restumping meant replacing old stumps with new concrete stumps — poured in situ or precast. This approach works, but it comes with significant drawbacks:

RapidStump from BMSA Footing Solutions is purpose-built for restumping. Each steel stump is mechanically driven into position under the house, the house is jacked, levelled, and lowered onto the new stumps — all in the same visit. No concrete, no curing, no coming back a week later.

The Restumping Process

1. Inspection — A qualified assessor inspects the underside of your home, identifies failed stumps, and determines whether a full or partial restump is needed.
2. Quote & engineering — You receive a detailed quote with the number of stumps, footing type, and any engineering requirements.
3. Jacking — Hydraulic jacks lift the house off the existing stumps. This is done progressively and carefully to avoid structural damage.
4. Old stump removal — Failed stumps are removed. Timber stumps are pulled or cut; concrete stumps may be broken out.
5. New stump installation — New stumps (concrete-free or concrete) are installed at each position to the engineered specifications.
6. Levelling — The house is carefully levelled using the jacks, ensuring all bearers sit correctly on the new stumps.
7. Lowering & securing — The house is lowered onto the new stumps and bearers are secured to the stump heads.

How Much Does Restumping Cost in Melbourne?

Restumping costs vary depending on several factors, but here are general ranges for Melbourne:

• Per stump — Expect to pay between $500 and $1,000+ per stump depending on the system used, access difficulty, and soil conditions.
• Typical home (40–60 stumps) — A full restump for an average Melbourne weatherboard might cost between $20,000 and $50,000.
• Partial restump (10–20 stumps) — A partial job might range from $5,000 to $15,000.

Factors that affect cost include:

• Number of stumps to replace
• Accessibility under the house (low clearance = harder, more expensive)
• Soil conditions and classification
• Whether plumbing or services need to be temporarily moved
• Engineering requirements

Concrete-free restumping with RapidStump often delivers a lower total cost because of reduced labour time and no concrete-related expenses.

Do You Need a Permit for Restumping in Victoria?

In Victoria, restumping is considered structural building work and generally requires a building permit. You'll need to engage a registered building surveyor (either council or private) to issue the permit and inspect the completed work.

Key permit requirements:

• A building permit must be obtained before work begins.
• Footing design may need to be certified by a structural engineer, especially if soil conditions are challenging.
• A soil test may be required if one hasn't been done for the property.
• The building surveyor will inspect the completed work before issuing a certificate of final inspection.

For more details, see our Victorian building footing regulations guide.

Choosing a Restumping Contractor

When selecting a restumping contractor in Melbourne, look for:

• Registered builder — They must hold a current Victorian building registration.
• Insurance — Adequate public liability and builders warranty insurance.
• Written quote — A detailed quote specifying the number of stumps, footing type, engineering, and any exclusions.
• References — Ask for recent project references in your area.
• Product knowledge — A good contractor should be able to explain the differences between footing systems and recommend the best option for your home.