Restumping is the process of replacing your damaged stumps with new stumps that support a house. Over time, these stumps can rot, become weak, or settle unevenly into the ground, which can cause serious problems for your home.
In this article, we will discuss what restumping is, when it is needed, and the different types of restumping methods.
What is Reblocking?
Reblocking means the same thing as restumping, where damaged house stumps are replaced with new ones. We commonly use steel stumps in Sydney and refer to them as ‘piers’.
How do I know when to Restump?
Not sure when you should restump your home? Here are some telltale signs:
Cracks in your walls or floors
If you find cracks in your walls, it’s pretty sure that they are not aligned or displaced. If left unchecked, this may result in significant structural harm to your home.
Doors and windows that are difficult to open or close
If you see your door or window frames no longer lining up where they’re supposed to, it’s a sign that your home stumps are beginning to fail and need restumping or relevelling. These gaps will give access to insects and draughts.
Floors no longer level or feel bouncy
Have you ever noticed that your floors aren’t level? Do the floorboards bounce when you walk down the corridor? If these are the signs, it clearly indicates that your subfloor is no longer stable and your stumps cannot support the subfloor.
If you experience all these signs, then it is high time you get your house restumped by a professional. Although it might look easy, DIY restumping can be dangerous for you and your house without relevant experience and knowledge.
At this point, you might want to know how much does it cost to restumps a house. You can check our detailed article here.
Types of building foundations and footings
The different types of foundations and footings are –
Slab on Ground
Concrete blocks must be placed directly into dug holes in the ground.
Suspended Floors
The flooring is suspended above the ground using stumps or piers.
Strip footings
To support the structure, long concrete slabs are placed underneath the house’s wall.
Pad footings
Similar to strip footings, the only difference is, it is used to support isolated piers orf columns.
Stumps
These are mainly concrete (sometimes steel) posts placed under the bearer and used to support the footing.
Piles
Piles are long and thin vertical structures made of wood, concrete, or metal that are driven into the ground.
Piers
These are mainly concrete columns that hold up the beams of a house.
Why do house stumps fail?
A house stump may collapse for several reasons, including old age, rot, termite damage, moisture damage, flooding, and insect infestation, but will depend on the materials the stump is made from.
Why do timber stumps fail?
A timber stump may collapse for several reasons, including age, rot, termites, moisture damage, flooding, insects, and soil displacement.
Why do concrete stumps fail?
The main reason concrete stumps fail is when the steel of the stump is exposed to air and moisture. Then the steel can corrode causing the stump to split.
Why do steel stumps fail?
If not galvanized properly, rust can damage the steel’s strength and become too weak to support.
House stumps play an important role in the foundation of a house. However, over time, they can rot, become weak, or settle unevenly into the ground, which can cause serious damage to your home. If you experience any of these signs, it’s time to get your house restumped by a professional. In this article, we have discussed what restumping is and when it is needed. We also looked at the different types of footings and foundations used in houses and why they fail.