House restumping, or reblocking, includes resetting (or supplanting) the stumps on a house that uses a stump system under the floor. This is ordinarily important when the house stumps have settled as an after-effect of soil development or when wooden stumps have decayed due to dampness in the dirt. It is wise to remodel a more seasoned home that will experience real remodels because of the strain on its structure. Restumping any house is a big undertaking; if it needs to be handled correctly, it could be hazardous for you and your home.
Does my house need restumping?
Signs that your house may need restumping include:
1. Continually cracking interior walls.
2. uneven, bowed, or ‘soft’ floors
3. exterior cracking on brickwork
4. Doors and windows need to be fixed.
All houses are different and are built on the ground, with soil conditions varying. For that reason, every home will display deterioration in different ways. If failed house stumping is left untreated, the result is the same: partial or total structure collapse.
A house can be partially restumped if only certain areas need it, but there is always the risk that a few rotten stumps that were thought to be in good condition may collapse later on, requiring you to restump again. While wooden stumps may look fine, they may rot under the ground. It’s a big job to return to replace one or two stumps! You can check the condition of a wooden stump by digging down around 10 cm next to the stump and scratching at the base. If the wood gives quickly, it is a good indicator of damage and will likely need to be replaced before it crumbles and drops, no longer supporting the floor above it. It would help if you also looked out for high water marks where moisture has been absorbed deep into the wood. If more than 20-30% of the stumps are damaged, it’s almost certainly best to get them all replaced.
How is a house restumping done?
The first step is to assess which stumps need to be replaced or reset. This is usually done using a level to determine how even your floors are and by checking the stumps themselves for movement and deterioration. The house is then gradually and slightly jacked up where the stump needs to be replaced, and existing stumps are either packed out to compensate for settling or removed and replaced altogether. Depending on how much movement has occurred, adjustments to restumping the house may cause doorframes to warp, cracks in the plasterwork, tile damage, and similar issues.
Wood stumps, steel beams installation, and concrete stumps:
These days, when houses are restumped, they usually have galvanised steel or concrete stumps. These are not susceptible to many of wood’s weaknesses – they don’t rot, are immune to termites, and won’t warp over time. Steel stumps with steel beams installation are also adjustable on-site, which is an excellent advantage for installation and can save you a great deal of time and effort. While it can be pretty expensive, having it done professionally and to the highest standard is worth paying. House restumping is a complex and dirty job, and having it done correctly is crucial to the structural integrity of your home.
What if your house needs restumping?
Are there cracks in your plaster walls? Is your floor uneven? Do your doors and windows stick? Does your glassware clink merrily on the shelf every time someone walks past? Your house may need some stump love, so it’s time to call in the experts. Unless your property is built on a concrete slab, most houses need restumping at some stage. Depending on various factors, older homes are built on timber stumps, which can last anywhere from 15 to 80 years. If you’re planning major renovations, be sure your existing stumps are up to it – if there’s any doubt, include house restumping as part of the job. You’ll save money and headaches in the future, so do consider our team at Deanos Restumping, which has expertise in house restumping.
