What Is House Restumping And Do You Need It?
A significant number of homes in Australia have wooden stumps as their foundation. These stumps either can be sourced from tree trunks or could be from milled timber. Although wood is sturdy, it is not immune to succumbing to wear and tear over time. This is why you will find homes that have their foundations made from wooden stumps may eventually need restumping.
So what does house restumping constitute of?
House restumping is the process of eliminating the damaged wooden stumps and replacing them with newer, sturdier stumps. This process is also referred to as house reblocking. The house contractors will be tasked with removing the all the stumps in the foundation and then replacing them with those made from materials such as concrete, galvanized steel or Victoria red gum, which is a species of timber that is rot-resistant. In some instances, if the stumps are in good condition but have settled further into the ground, the contractors may opt to extract them. This is followed by repacking their site with concrete, then replacing the original stumps back. This works to elevate them to their previous position.
What are the signs that your home may require restumping?
One mistake homeowners make is not proactively looking for the signs that would indicate their house needs restumping. Some homeowners chalk off the symptoms to a home settling or simple disregard them as signs that their house is old. The truth of the matter though is that ignoring the signs could lead to extensive property damage in the event that the foundation collapses. Some of the signs that you should be looking out for include:
- Floors that are uneven: The floors of your home should never be uneven because during construction the contractors will use precise measurements to ensure that it is balanced. If you notice that some of the floors of your home have started sloping, the most common reason for this would be sinking house stumps. One way of testing this out would be to roll a marble on the affected floor and watch whether it keeps inclining to one specific direction.
- Walls that are cracking: Cracks in the plasterwork of your walls is another sign that indicates there your home's foundation has become compromised. These cracks in the walls can be accompanied by other symptoms such as doors that do not shut properly and windows that keep jamming. This indicates the frames of your doors and windows have shifted due to the compromised foundation. It would be best to enlist the services of house contractors who can establish how extensive the damage to your foundation is.