Strip Footings in Victoria: Cost, Depth and Steel Alternatives

A strip footing (trench footing) is a continuous reinforced concrete beam under a load-bearing wall — not an isolated pad under a post. In Victoria it is designed to AS 2870 from a soil test. Typical residential strips run about 300–600 mm wide and 400–1000 mm deep; 2026 indicative installed cost is roughly $180–$320 per linear metre. Easy Footings Pty Ltd (ABN 44 689 644 175) does not pour strip footings; we install engineer-certified RapidStump, StumpRite and SurePile when a trench would mean excavation, curing delays or weather risk. Phone 0419 994 555.

What a Strip Footing Is

A strip footing is poured reinforced concrete that runs continuously under a wall line. Load arrives as a line, not a point: brick veneer, load-bearing timber stud walls, and strip-and-slab construction all use this shape. Builders also call it a trench footing. For national types see our concrete footings in Australia guide. This page is the dedicated Victorian strip lander for “strip footing / strip footings / concrete strip footing” — not a duplicate of the pad-vs-strip comparison.

Strip vs Pad vs Pier

• Strip footing — continuous beam under a load-bearing wall.
• Pad footing — isolated square under a post or column. Full comparison: pad vs strip footings in Victoria.
• Pier — deeper bored concrete column below the seasonal active zone.

House walls usually want strips. Sheds, carports and decks usually want pads or piers. Stumped floors and many extension / restump jobs can move to engineer-certified steel instead.

Typical Victorian Sizes & Depth

2026 indicative sizes already published on our pad-vs-strip and concrete-footings pages (not a substitute for engineer drawings): residential strip width commonly 300–600 mm; depth commonly 400–1000 mm, increasing on Class H and E clay.

AS 2870 Clay (Melbourne West/North)

AS 2870-2011 classifies sites A, S, M, H1, H2, E or P from a soil test. Much of Melbourne’s west and north sits on Class M to H2 clay. Shallow strips in the seasonal active zone crack plaster, step brickwork or bind doors. Deeper founding, bored piers, or piled / driven steel below the active zone are the usual responses. For additions see house extension footings in Victoria.

2026 Cost Band

Residential strip: roughly $180–$320 per linear metre (same band on pad vs strip and concrete footings). Pads for contrast: $150–$400 per pad. Restump if mentioned: roughly $500–$1,000+ per stump — Melbourne restumping guide. Easy Footings does not pour strips.

Building Permit Path (High Level)

Most new house, extension and restump footings need a building permit from a registered building surveyor. Expect AS 2870 classification, engineer design and a footing inspection. Surveyor decides Class 10 exemptions. Easy Footings does not issue permits. See building footing regulations in Victoria. Not legal advice.

When Steel Replaces a Strip

A concrete strip remains right for many masonry walls on stable ground with truck access. Steel fits weather/program, side-gate access, reactive clay, slope, restumping and stumped extensions. Call 0419 994 555 or use the contact form.

RapidStump vs StumpRite vs SurePile

• RapidStump — driven steel, footing and stump in one.
• StumpRite — adjustable (up to 120 mm). See adjustable stumps in Victoria.
• SurePile — helical screw piles for higher loads, H clay, slope, modular and containers.

Strip Footing FAQs