Two words, one job

If you have collected a few quotes for work under your house, you may have noticed some say reblocking and some say restumping. It is natural to wonder if they are different jobs, or if one is bigger than the other.

In Victoria, they mean the same thing. Both describe removing the old stumps that a timber floor sits on, putting in new stumps on new footings, and setting the floor back to level.

Where the words come from

Restumping is the word most Victorians grew up with, because houses here sit on stumps. Reblocking is common in other states, where the supports under a house are often called blocks. Over time, both words have become common in Melbourne, and many businesses use them interchangeably.

We lead with reblocking because it is the word many people search for and see on quotes. But if you say restumping, we know exactly what you mean.

What is actually done

Whatever it is called, the job follows the same broad steps:

Inspection. Level readings are taken inside, and the stumps, bearers and joists are checked underneath.
Permit. A building surveyor issues a building permit and sets the footing requirements.
Support. Temporary props and jacks carry the floor while each old stump is pulled.
New footings. Fresh holes go down as deep as the permit says, and concrete goes in to form each footing.
Inspection of footings. The holes are checked before concrete is placed.
New stumps. Concrete or adjustable steel stumps are installed.
Lowering and packing. The floor is let down onto its new supports and packed until the readings are flat.
Repairs. Any rotten bearers, joists or packing are fixed.

Full and partial

A full reblock replaces every stump under the house. A partial reblock replaces only some of them, usually in one area where the stumps have failed. Both can be called reblocking or restumping.

Related jobs that are different

Some jobs are often mentioned in the same breath but are not the same thing:

Re-levelling lifts and re-packs a floor on its existing stumps, without replacing them.
Subfloor repairs fix bearers and joists rather than stumps.
Underpinning strengthens the footings under brick walls or concrete slabs, where there are no stumps to replace.

If a quote uses one of these terms, it is worth asking exactly what is included.

Reading a quote

When you compare quotes, the word on the top matters less than what is listed underneath. Look for:

How many stumps will be replaced, or whether it is the whole house.
What type of stumps will be used.
Footing details, including who sets the depth.
Whether the permit and inspections are included.
What happens if rotten framing is found.
What happens if rock is hit while digging, which is common in the west.

A little history under the floor

Older Melbourne houses were usually stood on split or sawn hardwood, often red gum, because it was plentiful and tough. Later houses moved to treated timber and, from the middle of last century onward, to precast concrete. Today almost every new stump is either reinforced concrete or galvanised steel. So when you hear an old-timer talk about restumping and a younger estimator write reblocking on the quote, they are describing the same swap from tired timber to something that will outlast it.

Questions worth asking at the inspection

Whichever word your tradie uses, a few questions help you understand the job:

Is the whole house going, or only a section? And why that choice?
Which stumps can you not reach? Low corners and tight spots are common in older homes.
What did you see in the bearers? New stumps under rotten framing do not fix a soft floor.
How will the floor be checked at the end? Ask whether final level readings are taken.
What should I do about drainage? Water near the house shortens the life of any stump.

In short

Reblocking and restumping are the same job. What matters is that the work is done properly, with the right footings, the right permit and an honest assessment of what your house needs.

Reblocking vs Restumping: Same Job, Different Words