Underpinning Melbourne
Underpinning reinforces existing footings where a qualified assessment shows they need support. We connect Melbourne homeowners with registered building practitioners for an inspection and free on-site quote.
We connect you with BPC-registered building practitioners
Request a free on-site quote
We'll be in touch in less than 24 hours
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.
What underpinning is
Underpinning supports or strengthens foundations. Restumping replaces stumps beneath a raised floor, while re-levelling addresses floor levels. These are different jobs, so a builder or engineer should diagnose the cause before quoting.
Methods can include mass concrete or bored piers, screw piles or resin injection. The method depends on the assessed structure and ground conditions.
Signs to investigate
Stair-step brick cracks, sticking doors and uneven floors are clues, not a diagnosis. Changes in a wall or footing warrant a professional assessment.
A geotechnical report confirms soil conditions for a particular property. A suburb alone cannot establish soil class or the right repair. CSIRO foundation guidance
How the work is planned
A registered practitioner inspects the property, and an engineer can specify a foundation solution where needed. Ask for a written scope showing the proposed method, footing details, permit and engineering.
Underpinning is structural work. Arrange the building permit before work starts. Victorian council guidance
What affects the quote
Stump count, subfloor clearance and access affect the amount of work.
Footing depth and soil conditions, damaged bearers or joists, and the amount of re-levelling can change the scope.
Allow for any required plaster and door adjustments, permits and engineering in a written quote.
Choosing the right next step
If cracking, movement or floor changes are ongoing, ask when to involve a structural engineer. The inspection should establish whether underpinning, restumping or another repair is appropriate.
Compare written quotes by the proposed method, scope, permits and engineering rather than a headline price alone.
Published underpinning guide ranges
| Work | Published guide range |
|---|---|
| Mass concrete or bored piers | From around $1,500 per pier |
| Screw piles | Around $900 to $3,000 per pile |
| Resin injection underpinning | From around $2,500 per job |
| Permit and engineering | Allow around $1,500 to $3,000 |
Published Melbourne price guides, October 2026. Your builder's written quote is the price to rely on.
A registered building practitioner assesses the structure before providing a written, itemised quote.
Compare stump count, footing details, access, re-levelling, permits and engineering.
Ask each builder to explain what is included and what would trigger a variation.