Straight answers to the questions homeowners ask most about restumping costs, permits, and what the process actually looks like.
Most Melbourne restumping jobs land between $10,000 and $25,000 for a standard 3-bedroom house. Concrete stumps run about $250 to $350 per stump installed. Steel adjustable stumps cost more, typically $350 to $500 each.
A medium-sized home usually needs 25 to 40 stumps, so you can do the maths from there. Inner suburbs like Richmond and Northcote tend to cost a bit more because of tighter site access. Get three quotes minimum, and make sure each one includes the permit, relevelling, and clean-up.
For a full breakdown by state, try our free restumping calculator or read our guide on what drives restumping prices.
The biggest factors are how many stumps your house has, what type you choose (concrete vs steel adjustable), and how easy it is to get under the house. Tight subfloor access adds labour time and cost.
Soil type matters too. Reactive clay soils in areas like Melbourne's west need deeper footings. If your house has extensions or split levels, that adds complexity. Asbestos sheeting under the house will also bump the price up because of removal requirements.
Look, the honest answer is that every house is different. A quote that seems cheap probably skips something. Check our blog for tips on comparing restumping quotes properly.
A small weatherboard cottage (under 100sqm) usually has 15 to 20 stumps. A standard 3-bedroom house sits on 25 to 40 stumps. Larger homes (200sqm plus) can have 50 to 80 stumps depending on the floor plan and how many load-bearing walls there are.
Your restumper will do a crawl-under inspection and give you an exact count before quoting. If they quote without going under the house, that is a red flag. Walk away.
In Victoria, yes. Restumping is classified as structural work, so you need a building permit from a registered building surveyor before any work starts. Your restumping contractor can usually organise this for you, or recommend a surveyor they work with.
The permit typically costs $400 to $800 depending on the scope. Other states have similar requirements, so always check with your local council. Doing the work without a permit can cause serious headaches when you go to sell.
Read more about restumping permits and regulations on our blog.
Most of the time, yes. The crew works under the house, not inside it. You will hear jackhammers, and things might shake a bit, but it is generally safe to stay. Some restumpers do the job in sections, so only part of the house is jacked up at any time.
That said, if you have young kids or work from home, the noise can be full-on for 3 to 7 days. Worth having a backup plan for those days. Your restumper should give you a clear timeline before starting.
They are the same thing. Restumping and reblocking both mean replacing the old stumps (or blocks) that hold your house up. Some tradies say restumping, others say reblocking. In Melbourne, you will hear both terms used interchangeably.
The process is identical: jack the house up, pull out the old stumps, pour new footings, install new stumps, and relevel the house. Do not let anyone charge you extra for "reblocking" as if it is a different service. For more on the process, check our restumping guide.
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