Timber vs Concrete vs Steel Stumps: Which Should You Choose?

Your restumper will ask what material you want. Most homeowners have no idea what the difference is, so they go with whatever the restumper recommends. That usually works out fine, but it helps to understand what you are paying for and why one option might suit your house better than another.

Here is the honest breakdown of all three options.

Quick Comparison Table

Timber Stumps

Cost: $180 to $250 per stump installed

Timber is the original stump material. Every old weatherboard in Australia was built on timber stumps, usually red gum or ironbark hardwood. Modern timber stumps use either treated pine (H5-rated for in-ground contact) or hardwood like spotted gum.

Pros

• Cheapest option, sometimes significantly so
• Easy to install in tight subfloors (lighter than concrete)
• Hardwood stumps can last 30 to 40 years in the right conditions
• Still widely available and familiar to all restumpers

Cons

• Treated pine only lasts 20 to 25 years before rot sets in
• Vulnerable to termites, even when treated (the treatment breaks down over time)
• Cannot be re-levelled. If the house moves, you replace the stump again
• Poor choice for wet subfloor areas or high water table sites

When Timber Makes Sense

Timber still gets used in parts of Queensland where the soil is stable, the subfloor is dry, and the homeowner wants to keep costs down. It is also sometimes used for partial restumping jobs where the homeowner plans to sell the house within 5 to 10 years and does not want to spend top dollar.

Look, the honest answer is that timber is on the way out. Most restumpers in Victoria and NSW will not even offer it anymore. If your restumper suggests timber as the only option, get a second opinion.

Concrete Stumps

Cost: $250 to $350 per stump installed

Concrete is the standard choice across most of Victoria and increasingly the default in NSW and Queensland. Pre-cast concrete stumps are manufactured to specific sizes and reinforced with steel. They sit on a poured concrete footing pad.

Pros

• Lasts 50+ years with zero maintenance
• Termite-proof and rot-proof
• Strong enough for double-storey homes and heavy loads
• Mid-range price, good value for the lifespan
• Well understood by every restumper in the country

Cons

• Heavy. Each stump weighs 30kg to 60kg depending on size, making them harder to manoeuvre in tight subfloors
• Cannot be adjusted after installation. If the soil moves, the stump stays where it is
• On reactive clay soils, the soil can shrink away from the footing, causing the stump to tilt over time
• Requires adequate subfloor clearance for installation (harder in very low subfloors)

When Concrete Makes Sense

Concrete is the right choice for most houses in most locations. If your soil is reasonably stable (sandy, loam, or mildly reactive clay), concrete stumps will outlast the house itself. They are the default recommendation from most restumpers in VIC and NSW for good reason.

For a typical 3-bedroom house with 30 stumps, a full concrete restumping job runs $12,000 to $18,000. That is a 50-year fix. Hard to argue with the value. Check our full pricing guide for state-by-state breakdowns.

Steel Adjustable Stumps

Cost: $350 to $500 per stump installed

Steel adjustable stumps are galvanised steel posts with a threaded mechanism that allows the height to be adjusted after installation. They sit on a concrete footing pad, same as concrete stumps, but the stump itself can be wound up or down by turning the adjustment nut.

Pros

• Can be re-levelled later without replacing the stump (a $50 to $100 adjustment vs a $350+ replacement)
• Galvanised coating resists corrosion for 50+ years
• Light weight, easy to install in tight subfloors
• Termite-proof and rot-proof
• Best choice for reactive clay soils that move seasonally

Cons

• Most expensive option per stump
• The adjustment mechanism can seize up over decades if not maintained
• Galvanising can deteriorate in highly acidic soils (rare but worth noting)
• Some older designs had thinner steel that corroded faster. Stick with brands that use 4mm+ wall thickness

When Steel Makes Sense

If you live in Melbourne's western suburbs (Werribee, Point Cook, Altona, Hoppers Crossing) or northern suburbs (Craigieburn, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park), your house probably sits on highly reactive Basalt clay. This soil moves with the seasons, swelling when it rains and cracking when it dries out.

On this type of soil, concrete stumps can work fine for decades. But steel adjustable stumps give you insurance. If the soil moves and your floors go out of level, a restumper can come back and re-level the steel stumps in half a day for $800 to $1,500 instead of replacing the lot.

Which to Choose by Location and Soil Type

Can You Mix Stump Types?

Yes. It is common to use steel adjustable stumps in the sections of the house that sit on the worst soil or have the most movement, and concrete stumps in the stable sections. This keeps the total cost down while protecting the areas that need it most.

Your restumper can advise which stumps to upgrade and which to keep as concrete. A mixed approach on a 30-stump house might save you $2,000 to $3,000 compared to going full steel adjustable.

What About Your Old Stumps?

If your house currently has timber stumps that are 50 to 80 years old, do not replace them with more timber. That is throwing money away. Go concrete at minimum, steel adjustable if your soil warrants it.

If your house has concrete stumps that are cracking or tilting, the stumps themselves are probably fine - the problem is usually the footing underneath. Sometimes a restumper can re-pour the footing and re-set the existing concrete stump for less than the cost of full replacement.

Not sure what type of stumps your house has? Check our guide on signs your house needs restumping, or use the free calculator to get a rough cost estimate for your situation.

FAQ

How do I know what soil type I have?

Your local council can tell you the soil classification for your area. In Victoria, most of the western and northern suburbs are Class H (highly reactive) or Class E (extremely reactive). A geotechnical report costs $400 to $800 but is rarely needed for restumping - your restumper will know the soil type from experience.

Do steel adjustable stumps rust?

Quality steel adjustable stumps are hot-dip galvanised, which means the zinc coating protects the steel from corrosion for 50+ years in normal soil conditions. In highly acidic soil (pH under 5), the galvanising can deteriorate faster. Your restumper should test soil pH if there is any concern.

Is it worth paying extra for steel on stable soil?

Probably not. If your soil is stable and your house is not going to move, the adjustability feature of steel stumps is wasted. Concrete stumps on stable soil will last just as long and cost $100 less per stump. On a 30-stump house, that is $3,000 saved.