House Levelling & Relevelling Melbourne

Jack-and-pack floor relevelling and structural support assessment for Melbourne homes

Uneven, sloping or sagging timber floors? Your home may need house relevelling—but that does not always mean every stump needs replacing.

Global Reblocking provides house levelling and relevelling services across Melbourne. We inspect the existing stumps, bearers and joists to determine whether a jack-and-pack adjustment is suitable or whether restumping or other foundation repairs are required.

Registered Building Practitioner  |  HIA Member  |  15-Year Guarantee*

*Guarantee subject to the terms applicable to the agreed work.

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What Is House Levelling?

House levelling, also called house relevelling, is the adjustment of a home’s existing floor support system to correct uneven or sloping floors. In some Melbourne houses, the stumps or brick piers are still suitable to support the building, but movement or gaps have left sections of the timber floor out of level.

Where the existing supports remain structurally sound and the cause of movement has been assessed, the floor may be lifted carefully and suitable structural packing installed at selected support points. This is commonly called jack and pack or lift and pack.

House relevelling is not the same as applying a self-levelling compound over floorboards or concrete. It addresses the support and alignment of the building from below, rather than simply making the finished floor surface look flatter.

Not every uneven floor can be corrected by packing existing supports. If timber stumps are deteriorated, concrete stumps have failed or other foundations are moving, a different structural repair may be needed.

Signs Your House May Need Relevelling

Changes in floor levels often appear gradually. You might notice a problem in one room before it becomes obvious elsewhere. Common signs worth checking include:

  • Sloping floors: Furniture appears to lean or a section of the floor feels lower than nearby rooms.
  • Doors that stick: Internal doors start rubbing against frames or no longer close as they once did.
  • Gaps at skirting boards: A gap develops between the skirting and the floor as the structure moves.
  • Cracks in plaster: New or recurring cracks appear near doors, windows or wall junctions.
  • Movement underfoot: Some parts of the timber floor bounce or feel loose, which may also point to bearer or joist problems.
  • Uneven thresholds: Floor levels differ noticeably across adjoining rooms or extensions.

These symptoms are not a diagnosis. Cracks, bouncing floors and sticking doors can also be caused by subfloor deterioration, damaged stumps, drainage issues or movement in footings. We inspect the accessible subfloor before recommending relevelling.

When Is Jack-and-Pack Relevelling Suitable?

Jack and pack can be appropriate when the house is supported by sound concrete stumps or brick piers, but some floor areas have settled or become uneven. Instead of replacing supports that remain suitable, the affected sections may be lifted and packed to the required level.

Where the existing supports are in good condition

If the supporting stumps and footings are stable and adequately support the loads, localised adjustments may correct gaps between the bearers and supports. The condition of timber bearers, joists and their connections also matters.

Where movement is limited to a particular area

A room or section of the house may need adjustment even though the rest of the floor is relatively level. We assess how the affected area connects to the surrounding structure and whether a localised adjustment is appropriate.

Where the cause of movement has been addressed

If a leaking pipe, downpipe or drainage problem is contributing to movement, it needs to be identified and dealt with. Relevelling without addressing an ongoing cause may lead to further movement later.

Jack and pack is not a substitute for failed foundations. Where supports have deteriorated, sunk significantly or cannot reliably carry the building loads, we’ll discuss the structural work required instead.

House Relevelling vs Restumping vs Underpinning

These services can all respond to uneven floors or structural movement, but they solve different problems. The repair should follow an assessment of the foundation and subfloor—not the symptom alone.

Service When it may be appropriate What the work addresses
House relevelling / jack and pack Existing supports may be sound, but parts of the floor are out of level Assess and adjust the existing supported floor structure; pack suitable support points where appropriate
Restumping / reblocking Timber or other house stumps have deteriorated or failed Replace affected stumps; level the house as required by the job
Underpinning Existing footings or foundations require strengthening or stabilisation Investigate the foundation movement and design appropriate footing support
Subfloor repairs Bearers, joists or connections are rotten, damaged or inadequate Repair or replace affected structural members; levelling may be part of the work

Where stumps are deteriorating, read about house reblocking and restumping in Melbourne and partial versus full restumping. For movement affecting existing footings, see our underpinning services. We also assess broader foundation repair concerns.

Our House Levelling Process

Every property is different, but the sequence below explains how we approach an assessment and the levelling work that may follow.

1. Inspect the subfloor and existing supports

We examine accessible stumps, piers, bearers and joists, and discuss where you have noticed movement. We also look for signs of moisture, damaged materials and access restrictions. If specialist engineering or further investigation is needed, that will be identified before a repair scope is finalised.

2. Assess floor levels and decide what can be corrected

The amount and pattern of floor movement help determine whether selected areas can be relevelled and what parts of the building may be affected. The aim is an appropriate structural correction—not a promise that every old floor will become perfectly flat.

3. Plan the support and lifting work

Where jack and pack is suitable, the relevant floor sections are supported and adjusted in a controlled manner. Existing conditions and the risk of movement to finishes, doors, windows and services are considered.

4. Relevel and pack suitable support points

The affected structure is adjusted, and suitable structural packing or other specified support work is carried out where required. If inspection reveals supports that cannot be retained, the scope may need to change to include repairs or stump replacement.

5. Check the finished levels and explain the result

We review the adjusted floor levels and the agreed scope of work. You will be advised about any known limitations, retained existing supports and the documents or inspections relevant to your project.

Can House Levelling Fix Every Uneven Floor?

No. Relevelling can correct certain problems with the support and alignment of a timber floor, but it cannot resolve every cause of movement. The underlying structure must be suitable for the proposed adjustment.

A bowed or damaged joist, rotting bearer or failing stump may need repair or replacement. Movement in masonry footings may require a separate foundation assessment. In other cases, some variation is part of the age and construction of the home, and fully correcting it may be impractical or create unacceptable disturbance to existing finishes.

For that reason, we discuss what is achievable before work starts. Correcting floor levels may open or close existing plaster cracks or affect tiles, skirting boards, door frames and thresholds. Cosmetic making-good should not be assumed to be included unless it is stated in the quote.

How Much Does House Levelling Cost in Melbourne?

The cost of house relevelling depends on the area requiring adjustment, the condition of the existing supports and how easily the subfloor can be accessed. A localised jack-and-pack job is not priced the same way as replacing every stump beneath a house.

Factors that affect a quote include:

  • How many areas need to be lifted or adjusted.
  • Whether the existing stumps, footings, bearers and joists can be retained.
  • Available clearance beneath the floor and whether access work is needed.
  • The amount of floor movement and possible effects on finishes.
  • Whether repairs, documentation or building approvals are required.

We provide a free initial on-site inspection and quote so the scope is based on the condition of your house. If the inspection shows that stump replacement is required, you can also read our Melbourne restumping cost guide for information about that separate type of work.

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Do You Need a Permit for House Relevelling in Victoria?

House relevelling can involve structural alterations. Whether a building permit or supporting engineering is required depends on the exact work proposed. This should be confirmed with the relevant building surveyor before work begins; a simple description such as “jack and pack” does not establish a blanket exemption.

If the work includes restumping or reblocking, Victorian rules require an appropriately registered building practitioner regardless of the project value. Where a building permit is required, the owner appoints the building surveyor in accordance with the applicable rules, and the builder can assist with the authorised permit process.

For eligible Victorian domestic building contracts signed from 1 July 2026, Home Warranty generally applies to eligible work valued at more than $20,000, subject to conditions and exclusions. We will discuss relevant documentation and responsibilities as part of your quote.

Why Choose Global Reblocking for House Relevelling?

When your floors have moved out of level, the first step is understanding why. Replacing sound stumps unnecessarily can add cost, while packing supports that are already deteriorating may leave the real problem unresolved.

At Global Reblocking, we assess the condition of the accessible subfloor and discuss whether house relevelling, stump replacement or another foundation repair is appropriate.

  • Free initial inspections and quotes for Melbourne homeowners.
  • Registered Building Practitioner with experience in reblocking and structural subfloor work.
  • HIA member and a 15-year guarantee, subject to the terms that apply to the agreed work.
  • Clearer scope: understand which supports are being adjusted, replaced or retained.

You can also see examples of our actual work in the Global Reblocking project gallery.

House Levelling FAQs

No. House relevelling adjusts floor levels where existing supports can remain in place. Restumping replaces failed or deteriorated stumps. Levelling may also form part of a restumping project, but it is not necessarily a separate stump replacement job.

Jack and pack is a method used to adjust floor levels by carefully lifting an affected part of the structure and placing suitable structural packing at support points where appropriate. It should only be considered after assessing the condition and capacity of the existing supports.

Sometimes. If the stumps, footings and subfloor structure are suitable to retain, the floor may be relevelled without a full restump. If supports are cracked, rotting, sinking or otherwise inadequate, replacement or another structural repair may be necessary.

The achievable result depends on the house’s age, construction, existing movement and condition of the surrounding structure. We assess the floor and explain the proposed correction and limitations before work begins rather than promising a perfectly flat result in every room.

That depends on subfloor access, the lifting and support work required and how much the building may be disturbed. We will discuss access, services and whether parts of the house need to be vacated or kept clear before work starts.

No. Levelling compounds are used to correct the surface of a floor or prepare it for a covering. Structural house levelling addresses the support system beneath a timber floor. If the support is moving, covering the surface alone does not address that movement.

Book a Free House Levelling Inspection

If the floors in your Melbourne home are sloping or doors have started sticking, we can inspect the accessible subfloor and help establish the appropriate next step. Tell us your suburb, what has changed and whether you know the type or condition of your existing stumps.

Call 03 9308 5863 or request a free on-site quote.

GET A FREE ON-SITE QUOTECALL 03 9308 5863