Restumping a House: Steps, Time and Cost Ranges
Restumping a house means replacing its old or worn stumps with new ones so the floor sits level.
Restumping a house is a job for registered building practitioners, and the price depends on the house. This page gives the steps, the time, and cost ranges from contractors' own sites.
Steps when a house is restumped
An inspection comes first. A specialist checks the subfloor and the existing stumps, then quotes the stump count, material and any extra work.
A building permit comes next. The contractor applies for it through the building surveyor before work starts.
Jacking follows the permit. The house is jacked up and supported, and the old stumps are removed.
New stumps are then positioned and adjusted for stability and load.
Relevelling is part of the work. Adjustments are made so the house sits level.
Making good of plaster, doors and floor finishes is not described in the sources. Ask the restumper to state it in the quote.
How long the work takes
Time on site depends on the method and the house. Driven steel stumps without concrete are quoted at 1–3 days, and traditional concrete at 1–2 weeks or more.
Traditional concrete must cure for 7–28 days before the house is lowered. One contractor says a house may take one to two months to resettle afterward.
Staying in the house during the work
Most people can keep living at home during restumping. The house is raised slowly.
Occasionally a contractor may advise moving out. If clearance under the floor is under 400 mm, floorboards may need to come up for access.
What restumping costs in ranges
Quotes for restumping vary widely between contractor sites. These are 2026 figures, and the restumper's own quote is what counts.
One site gives $12,000–$35,000 for a full job and $280–$550 per stump. It puts permit and engineering at $1,500–$3,000.
Another gives $15,000–$30,000+ typical and $200–$350 per stump. A third gives $500–$1,000+ per stump and $20,000–$50,000 for a full job.
Partial jobs cost less. Two sites give $3,000–$7,000 and $3,000–$8,000. No government or independent cost data was found.
What moves the price in Melbourne homes
Subfloor access, stump count and soil are the factors several sources name. Many Melbourne areas have reactive clay soils, and leaking drains or large nearby trees can affect ground movement.
Stump material matters too. Concrete, galvanized steel and timber are the three options. Concrete and steel are the usual choices today because they resist termites and rot.
Restumping before a renovation or remodel is described as the first step, since restumping afterward may damage new work. Restumping is also called reblocking, though one contractor treats them as different jobs.
Permit rules and how to get a quote
Restumping an existing building needs a building permit, and a registered building surveyor issues it. Owner-builders cannot do this subfloor work.
The quote form passes your details to one local restumper. The visit covers the stump count, material and extra work, and the quote is for Melbourne homes.
Use the quote form to have your house looked at.
Questions people ask
Do you need a permit to restump a house?
Yes, restumping an existing building needs a building permit. A registered building surveyor issues it, and the contractor applies before work starts. Doing building work without a required permit is an offense under the Building Act 1993 (Vic).
Can you live in the house while it is restumped?
Most people can stay at home. The house is raised slowly. Occasionally a contractor may advise moving out.
How long does restumping take?
It ranges from a few days to a couple of weeks. Driven steel stumps are quoted at 1–3 days. Traditional concrete takes 1–2 weeks or more because it must cure.
How much does restumping cost per stump?
Contractor sites give 2026 figures from $200 to $1,000+ per stump. The range is wide because scope and access differ. The restumper's own quote is what counts.
Before you ask for a price
Get a quote and a licensed restumper comes back to you with a price
The figure comes from a registered building practitioner who has looked at the job, not a calculator.
Stumps, relevelling and making good each get their own line, so you can see where the money goes.
Leave a time that suits and the restumper calls you then to talk the job and the price through.
Getting the price costs nothing and you owe nothing for it.
Our restumping services in Melbourne
The price depends on the job. Pick the one closest to yours.