House Restumping in Melbourne
Replacing the failed stumps under your home and bringing the floors back to level — fully permitted, fixed-price, and guaranteed.
If the floors in your Melbourne home have started to slope, bounce or pull away from the walls, the stumps holding your house up have likely reached the end of their life. Restumping replaces those failing stumps and re-levels the floor structure so your home is solid, safe and square again.
What is restumping?
Most older Melbourne homes — weatherboards, Californian bungalows and Edwardian houses — sit on rows of stumps rather than a concrete slab. Over decades, original timber stumps rot, split or sink into reactive clay soil, and the floor above them drops with them. Restumping is the process of jacking the house, removing the old stumps, and setting new ones onto fresh footings at a consistent, level datum.
It’s the same job many Melburnians call reblocking — the two words mean exactly the same thing.
Timber vs concrete stumps
We restump with either treated timber or steel-reinforced concrete stumps, depending on your home, budget and soil:
- Concrete stumps — the most common choice today. Engineered, long-lasting and resistant to rot and termites. Ideal for damp sites and homes you plan to keep.
- Galvanised steel / adjustable stumps — used where future fine-levelling or extra load capacity is needed.
- Treated timber stumps — sometimes used for heritage matching or restricted-access jobs.
At your free inspection we’ll recommend the right approach and explain why — in plain English, not jargon.
Signs your home needs restumping
- Floors that slope, sag or feel bouncy underfoot
- Doors and windows that stick or won’t close properly
- Cracks in plaster walls, cornices or above doorframes
- Gaps opening between walls, skirting boards and the floor
- Visible rot, movement or crumbling in the stumps under the house
- External brickwork or render cracking in a stair-step pattern
Noticed one or more of these? It’s worth a look. Read our guide on the signs you need restumping, or just book a free on-site inspection and we’ll get under the house and tell you exactly what’s going on.
Our restumping process
Restumping is regulated building work in Victoria, so it has to be permitted and signed off. We manage all of it:
Free On-Site Inspection
We come to you, get under the house, and assess every stump — timber rot, concrete cancer, movement and clearance. No obligation, no pressure.
Fixed Written Quote
You get a clear, itemised quote with the number of stumps, materials and timeline. No vague hourly rates and no surprises on invoice day.
Permits & Engineering
Restumping is regulated building work. We handle the building permit and any engineering computations so the job is fully compliant.
The Restump
Our crew jacks the house evenly, removes the old stumps and sets new ones to a level datum — typically 1–2 weeks depending on house size.
Final Inspection & Sign-Off
A registered building surveyor inspects and signs off the completed work, and you get the certificate of final inspection for your records.
Your restumping questions answered
How much does restumping cost in Melbourne?
Most full restumps in Melbourne fall between roughly $12,000 and $35,000, depending on the number of stumps, access under the house, and whether timber or concrete stumps are used. A small partial restump can start from a few thousand dollars. The only accurate figure is a fixed written quote after an on-site inspection.
Is restumping the same as reblocking?
Yes. “Restumping” and “reblocking” are two names for the same job — replacing the stumps (or blocks) that support the floor of your home. Older Melburnians often call it reblocking; the building industry usually calls it restumping. The work is identical.
How long does restumping take?
A typical weatherboard home takes one to two weeks on site once permits are in place. Larger homes or jobs with difficult access can take longer. We give you a firm timeline with your quote.
Do I need a permit to restump my house?
Yes — restumping is regulated building work in Victoria and requires a building permit and final inspection by a registered building surveyor. We arrange the permit, engineering and sign-off for you as part of the job.
Can I stay in the house during restumping?
In most cases, yes. The house is jacked gradually and you can usually remain living in it, though you may notice some movement and the occasional sticking door. We’ll let you know if your specific job needs you to be out.
How do I know if my house needs restumping?
Common signs are sloping or bouncy floors, doors and windows that stick, cracks in plaster or cornices, and gaps opening up between walls, skirting and floors. If you notice any of these, book a free inspection and we’ll get under the house to check the stumps.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation on-site inspection across greater Melbourne. We assess the stumps, measure the floor levels and give you a clear fixed-price quote in writing.
What areas of Melbourne do you cover?
We restump homes right across greater Melbourne — from the inner-city period suburbs to the outer growth corridors and bayside. If you’re in metropolitan Melbourne, we can quote your job.
Get a free house restumping quote
Book a free on-site inspection across greater Melbourne. We’ll assess your stumps, measure your floor levels and give you a clear fixed price in writing.