Partial vs Full Restumping: Which Does Your House Need?

If only a few house stumps have failed and the remaining supports are sound, partial restumping may be enough. If deterioration is widespread, full restumping is often the more practical long-term option.

The decision depends on the condition of the whole subfloor, not just the stumps that are visibly damaged. At Global Reblocking, we inspect the accessible supports beneath your Melbourne home, assess areas of movement and discuss whether targeted replacement or a complete restump is appropriate.

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Partial vs Full Restumping at a Glance

Consideration Partial restumping Full restumping
What is replaced? Selected failed or deteriorated stumps All stumps within the agreed house-restumping scope
Usually considered when Damage is isolated and the remaining supports are suitable to retain Deterioration is widespread or the existing stump system needs renewal
Existing stumps Some original stumps remain in service The stumps covered by the full-restumping scope are replaced
Cost Usually lower overall, but not always cheaper per stump Usually a larger upfront project
Key question Will the retained stumps continue to perform adequately? Is comprehensive replacement warranted by the building’s condition?

Neither option is automatically better for every house. The right scope should address the cause and extent of the problem rather than simply the most obvious uneven floor.

When Is Partial Restumping the Right Choice?

Partial restumping means replacing only the stumps that need attention while keeping the remaining supports in place. The affected section is supported as required, damaged stumps are replaced and relevant floor levels are checked and adjusted as part of the agreed work.

It can make sense when deterioration is genuinely localised, for example:

  • One damp corner: A leaking downpipe, poor drainage or past moisture exposure has affected a small group of timber stumps, while others remain sound.
  • A limited area of movement: A particular section has settled and inspection confirms the problem is confined to a small number of supports.
  • A house already supported by sound concrete stumps: Only a few supports need replacement or correction, rather than the whole system.
  • An older addition or separate section: Stumps beneath one part of a property require work while the rest of the structure has suitable support.

Partial replacement only makes sense if the stumps being retained can continue to support the house. If the cause is ongoing moisture or drainage, that issue also needs attention; changing a few stumps without addressing the source of deterioration may not resolve the underlying problem.

When Does Full Restumping Make More Sense?

Full restumping means replacing the existing stumps throughout the agreed area of the house. It is worth considering when a local repair would leave a large number of ageing or deteriorating supports in service.

Factors that favour full restumping include:

  • Original timber or red gum stumps are deteriorating across the house. If failures are appearing in several areas, replacing only the worst ones may lead to further repairs later.
  • Multiple rooms show movement. Uneven floors across different sections may indicate a broader support problem rather than one isolated failure.
  • Stumps look sound above ground but are damaged below it. Timber deterioration near or below ground level is not always visible during a quick look under the floor.
  • Many existing supports are approaching the end of their useful life. A comprehensive replacement may be more sensible than repeated visits to replace failing stumps in stages.
  • A substantial renovation is planned. It is worth assessing the stump system before installing new floors, tiles, cabinetry or wall finishes that could be affected by later levelling work.

A useful rule of thumb: if roughly half the stumps are failing or showing substantial deterioration, full restumping deserves serious consideration. This is not a fixed engineering threshold: stump condition, location, building loads and the suitability of the remaining supports determine the recommendation.

Preparing to sell a property is also a good reason to investigate known foundation concerns, but it does not automatically mean every stump needs replacing.

How We Assess Whether to Replace Some Stumps or All of Them

Our starting point is the condition of your existing house stumps and the floor structure they support. During an on-site inspection, we assess the accessible areas of the subfloor and look for signs that the problem is isolated or widespread.

We consider:

  • Stump condition: visible rot, splitting, damage, movement and deterioration close to ground level.
  • Signs below the surface: where accessible and appropriate, timber can be checked for softness or deterioration that is not apparent from the exposed section alone.
  • Floor levels and movement: whether the unevenness is restricted to one area or appears across the house.
  • Moisture and drainage: damp areas, leaks or ground conditions that may have contributed to failure.
  • Bearers and joists: whether other subfloor members also require assessment or repair.
  • Access limitations: whether any areas cannot be properly inspected until work begins.

A timber stump can appear serviceable above the ground while deteriorating at or below ground level. That’s one reason we look beyond the stumps that are easiest to see. If some areas cannot be assessed confidently, we’ll explain that limitation rather than assume they are sound.

Our quote should make clear which stumps are proposed for replacement, what remains and whether any additional levelling or structural repairs are included.

Can New Concrete Stumps Be Used Alongside Existing Timber Stumps?

Yes, a partial restumping project may leave sound existing timber stumps in place while new concrete stumps are installed in the affected areas. Whether that arrangement is appropriate depends on the condition of the retained supports and the required structural design.

The important consideration is that old and new supports may not behave in the same way over time. An older timber stump may continue to deteriorate or settle after a nearby section has been replaced. That can affect floor levels and create the need for further work.

We consider the remaining supports and the required levelling when assessing whether partial replacement is a practical solution.

Is Partial Restumping Cheaper Than Full Restumping?

Partial restumping generally costs less in total because fewer stumps are replaced. However, it can cost more per stump when access is difficult or when a small job still requires temporary supports, excavation and site preparation.

A full restump has a higher upfront cost in most cases because it involves more replacement work. But where the remaining timber stumps are already deteriorating, repeated partial repairs can become more expensive over time.

The final cost also depends on house construction, subfloor clearance, footing requirements, floor levelling and any bearer or joist repairs.

For indicative Melbourne prices and a breakdown of what affects a quote, see our restumping costs guide.

What Does Global Reblocking's 15-Year Guarantee Cover?

Global Reblocking provides a 15-year guarantee on its restumping services, subject to the applicable written terms.

For a partial restumping job, we’ll explain the scope of the work and the guarantee terms before the project begins. Stumps that are left in place are existing components, not newly replaced stumps, and should not be assumed to have the same coverage as work we carry out.

If you’re comparing partial and full restumping, we’ll help you understand not only what is being replaced now but also what support remains beneath your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no fixed number. If deterioration is isolated and the other supports are sound, partial restumping may be suitable. If failures are widespread—particularly if around half the stumps are affected—it is sensible to assess full replacement. The distribution and condition of the remaining stumps matter more than a simple percentage.

It can be, provided the damage is localised and the stumps left in place are suitable to retain. Where most original timber stumps are ageing or deteriorating, a partial job may only postpone further replacement. The decision should follow an inspection of the whole accessible subfloor.

Partial restumping is still structural building work. A building permit is generally required for reblocking or restumping in Victoria, and the work must be carried out by an appropriately registered building practitioner. The requirements for your project should be confirmed with the appointed building surveyor.

Replacing the failed stumps can correct movement in the affected section, but it cannot guarantee that the rest of an older subfloor will never move. Stumps that remain in place can change over time, especially if drainage, soil conditions or deterioration continue to affect them. We’ll explain any relevant levelling limitations when quoting the job.

Not Sure Whether Your Home Needs Partial or Full Restumping?

You don’t need to decide how many stumps to replace before contacting us. We’ll assess the accessible subfloor, discuss the condition of the existing supports and recommend a scope of work based on what your house needs.

Global Reblocking provides free initial inspections and quotes for reblocking in Melbourne. We’re registered building practitioners and HIA members, and our restumping services come with a 15-year guarantee subject to the written terms.

For a wider explanation of stump materials and the replacement process, read our full guide to reblocking and restumping.

GET A FREE ON-SITE QUOTE

Prefer to call? 03 9308 5863