Hello, my name is Iggy and I live in Perth, Australia. Last month, I was out in my garden enjoying the sunshine when I noticed that there was something strange on my roof. I climbed up onto the roof of my home and discovered some damage. While I was up on the roof, I took a long look down at my garden. Seeing it from such a strange angle made me realise how overgrown it looked. The next day I called in some contractors to fix the problems. While they worked, they taught me plenty of cool tips and tricks.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so they say. This adage rings true as far as house restumping is concerned. The truth is that if you own a home that is resting on aged stumps, it's time you have them assessed at the very least.
What are stumps?
Stumps are basically thick, robust, vertical wooden timbers (nowadays they are available in steel or concrete forms) that are embedded into the ground and on which a home is constructed.
Why are houses constructed on stumps?
This is a traditional house design that was done for a number of reasons. With free flow of air beneath the home, the home is bound to be cool and comfortable. Additionally, constructing a house on stumps is a good defence against pest infestation and snakes. The extra space between the house and the ground offers increased protection from floodwater.
Home restumping: what does it entail?
Restumping, also referred to as reblocking, is a labour-intensive process, whereby timber stumps providing support to the house are dug up and replaced by robust concrete stumps when they degrade because of age, soil erosion and wear. Restumping is also done when a home needs to be elevated from its existing level to a higher elevation to avoid floodwater. It makes perfect sense in an economic point of view to restump a house instead of having it demolished and rebuilt, as it is less costly.
What are the telltale signs that your home needs restumping?
Faulty stumps often cause the home to slump out of level. When this happens, the following occur:
Sloping floors: Uneven floors are a clear indication that rot is affecting your home's foundation stumps. If you feel as if you are walking uphill or downhill inside your home, then chances are that your floors may be uneven and your house needs restumping.
Signs of stump damage or rot: A faulty stump will exhibit visible signs of decay. These include cracks and crevices at the very least. The presence of wetness around the foundation stumps is a major cause of damage or decay. Moist wood often attracts termites, which consider wood as a source of food. As a result, the termites will feed on the wooden stumps to a complete shell.
Cracks in plasterwork: You may notice cracks in your ceilings, walls or brickwork.
Doors and windows won't close: Your doors and windows may start producing squeaking sounds, and you may have trouble trying to close them.
Contact a qualified restumping professional to perform a professional inspection and ascertain whether you need house restumping.
Share9 February 2015
