Restumping vs Underpinning
Restumping replaces failing stumps beneath a raised floor. Underpinning supports or strengthens existing foundations. A builder or engineer should diagnose the cause before deciding which your house needs.
- BPC-registered building practitioners
- Free on-site inspection and written quote
- Permits and engineering explained upfront
Signs and possible causes
| Photo | What you notice | What it might suggest |
|---|---|---|
 | Sloping floors | Stumps may be sinking or settling unevenly. |
 | Bouncy or springy floors | Stumps may have lost contact with the bearers. |
 | Doors and windows sticking | Frames can twist as the floor moves. |
 | Gaps at skirting boards | The floor may be dropping away from the walls. |
 | Cracks in plaster or cornices | A sign of uneven movement below. |
 | Stair-step cracks in brickwork | Can point to footing movement, which may need underpinning. |
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How it works
Fill out the quick form
As much or as little detail as you like. Photos of cracks or floors help.
We text you
We say hi and ask a few quick questions.
A registered builder inspects your home
They check the subfloor, the stumps and measure floor levels.
Get a written, itemised quote
Stump count, materials, permits and engineering, all spelled out.
Review the contract
Happy with it? Sign the contract. Victorian rules set deposit limits and a cooling-off period.
Permit, then the works
The builder supports the house, replaces the stumps and re-levels the floor.
Final inspection and sign-off
Your building surveyor issues a Certificate of Final Inspection.
Different jobs, different repairs
In Victoria, restumping is also called reblocking. Underpinning works on footings or foundations rather than simply replacing stumps.
House re-levelling may be part of structural repair, but correcting a floor level does not itself establish why movement occurred.
Symptoms are clues, not a diagnosis
Bouncy floor: possible subfloor or stump issue. Sloping floor: possible stump, bearer or footing movement.
Sticking doors or gaps at skirting: possible movement or floor level change. Stair-step brick cracks: possible wall or foundation movement.
A property's soil classification needs a geotechnical report; it cannot be determined from its suburb. CSIRO foundation guidance
AS 2870 classifies soil reactivity as A, S, M, H1, H2, E and P. A geotechnical report confirms conditions for the specific property. Packing a gap caused by seasonal clay movement can worsen doming when the soil swells again. CSIRO foundation guidance
When to call a structural engineer
Ask about an engineer when wall cracking is progressing, movement is hard to explain, or a foundation solution needs design.
Ask the builder and engineer to explain which observations support the proposed repair and whether further investigation is needed.
Permits and next steps
Structural restumping, reblocking and underpinning need a building permit before work starts. Victorian council guidance
We connect you with a registered building practitioner for an inspection and written quote. The practitioner who contracts with you carries out the work.