Restumping in Melbourne

Restumping, also called reblocking, is work on the stumps that hold up a home’s floor. In Victoria it must be done by a registered builder, whatever its value, and it generally needs a building permit; your building surveyor confirms. Dwellix, a registered domestic builder (CDB-U 102264), coordinates and delivers restumping across Melbourne with suitably qualified contractors, and external engineers where required.

Key facts

Registered builder: restumping and reblocking need one, whatever the value of the work. (Consumer Affairs Victoria)

Owner-builders: can’t do subfloor work such as restumping. (Building and Plumbing Commission)

Building permit: generally needed; the City of Monash treats restumping as a structural alteration that needs one. (Building and Plumbing Commission; City of Monash)

Floor levels: re-levelled floors are outside tolerance if, within 24 months of completion, they differ by more than 15 mm in a room or 8 mm in any 2 m length. (BPC Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026)

Checked 8 October 2026.

What does restumping involve?

The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) describes restumping and reblocking as subfloor work that levels and supports an existing home so it has solid foundations. Its registration class for the work covers:

replacing existing stumps or piers;
replacing defective subfloor members and flooring;
lifting with equipment such as hydraulic jacks, and establishing levels;
working to the engineer’s design and the building permit conditions.

For what the BPC says about cracks, sticking doors and foundation movement, see structural rectification and floor levelling.

Source: Building and Plumbing Commission, “What is domestic building work?”. Checked 8 October 2026.

Do I need a building permit for restumping in Melbourne?

Generally, yes, and your building surveyor confirms. The building permit exemptions in the Building Regulations 2018 don’t cover underpinning or replacing footings. The City of Monash, for example, says restumping changes part of a building’s support structure, so it treats the work as a structural alteration that needs a building permit, and you need a soil report to apply.

If your project needs a building permit, we handle the permit process for you. You formally appoint the building surveyor, and we can recommend one and manage everything with them. Where structural design is needed, we coordinate a suitably qualified external engineer. Engineering scope, costs and responsibilities are confirmed for each project. See our building permits guide.

Sources: Building and Plumbing Commission; Building Regulations 2018; City of Monash. Checked 8 October 2026.

Who can restump a house in Victoria?

A registered builder. Consumer Affairs Victoria says BPC registration is needed for reblocking and restumping regardless of value, and the BPC says owner-builders can’t do subfloor work. Before you sign, check the builder’s registration, status and any conditions on the BPC’s public register. Dwellix Pty Ltd’s registration is CDB-U 102264.

Registration also matters for insurance. Home Warranty, the BPC’s statutory insurance for eligible work over $20,000 under contracts signed from 1 July 2026, doesn’t cover work by unregistered builders. It is subject to eligibility, limits and exclusions.

Sources: Consumer Affairs Victoria; Building and Plumbing Commission. Checked 8 October 2026.

What standard should restumped floors meet?

The BPC’s Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026 has a section on restumping, for contracts entered into, or work started, on or after 1 August 2026:

Floor levels: re-levelled floors are outside tolerance if, within 24 months of completion, they differ in level by more than 15 mm in any room or area, or by more than 8 mm in any 2 m length.
Damage: damage caused by restumping is outside tolerance when it goes beyond the parameters agreed for the job, and the guide says those parameters should be agreed before work starts.
Stumps: a stump up to 1 m high is outside tolerance if it’s more than 10 mm out of vertical.

The guide is advisory: the law and your contract take precedence.

Source: Building and Plumbing Commission, Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026. Checked 8 October 2026.

Do heritage or flood overlays affect restumping?

They can, so check before you plan the work. In a Heritage Overlay, works, repairs or maintenance that change a building’s appearance or use different materials generally need a planning permit, and any planning permit must be issued before the building permit. The City of Yarra, for example, says a property in its Heritage Overlay needs a permit for most works.

In metropolitan Melbourne, flooding is controlled through the Special Building Overlay, the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay and the Floodway Overlay. If your home is in one of them, ask your council whether your restumping needs a planning permit.

Sources: Victoria Planning Provisions, clause 43.01; Building Act 1993; City of Yarra; Melbourne Water. Checked 8 October 2026.

What affects the scope of restumping?

the size of the home and how many stumps need replacing;
access under the floor;
the condition of the existing structure, including any previous movement;
existing plumbing and electrical services;
the building permit and any structural design your building surveyor requires;
heritage or other council approvals;
related work, such as new floors: see property refurbishments.

We quote after a site inspection and a detailed scope, so the price reflects your home.

Signs owners ask us about

Owners ask us about floors that feel uneven and doors that have started to stick. These signs don’t tell you on their own what’s happening under the floor, so we don’t diagnose them from a description. What helps:

note where you see each sign and when you first noticed it;
take photos, including of any gaps or cracks you can see;
arrange a subfloor inspection before you plan other work, such as new floors or replastering.

How a Dwellix renovation runs

Initial enquiry and consultation.
Site inspection and assessment. For restumping, this includes the subfloor where it can be safely accessed, plus the signs you’ve noticed.
Detailed scope preparation.
Quotation and client approval.
Contracts, approvals and permits where required. We handle the permit process for you. You formally appoint the building surveyor, and we can recommend one and manage everything with them. We coordinate any engineering design required.
Trade scheduling and procurement.
Construction and project supervision.
Relevant inspections and quality checks.
Practical completion and handover. You receive the compliance certificates for any plumbing and electrical work, the certificate of final inspection where the work has a building permit, and the manufacturer warranties and manuals for what we install.

Restumping in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong

Local rules differ. Ballarat’s council lists restumping among works that need a building permit, and Bendigo’s council doesn’t issue building permits. See restumping in Ballarat, restumping in Bendigo and our Geelong page. Geelong’s permit, flood and heritage rules for restumping are on restumping in Geelong.

Sources: City of Ballarat; City of Greater Bendigo. Checked 8 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to restump my house in Victoria?

Generally, yes, and your building surveyor confirms. The building permit exemptions don’t cover underpinning or replacing footings, and the City of Monash, for example, treats restumping as a structural alteration that needs a building permit. The work must also be done by a registered builder, whatever its value.

Can I restump my own house?

Not as an owner-builder. The BPC says owner-builders can’t do subfloor work such as restumping, and Consumer Affairs Victoria says restumping and reblocking need a builder registered with the BPC, whatever the value of the work. Check a builder’s registration on the BPC’s public register before you sign.

How much does restumping cost in Melbourne?

We don’t publish a set price. The scope depends on the size of the home, how many stumps need replacing, access under the floor, the condition of the existing structure, the permit and any structural design required, and related work. We quote after a site inspection and a detailed scope, so the price reflects your home.

How do I know if my house needs restumping?

Have the subfloor inspected. Uneven floors and sticking doors are things owners ask about, but they don’t tell you on their own what’s happening under the floor. Note what you’ve seen and when, then arrange an inspection before you plan other work.

Enquire about restumping

Enquire and tell us what you’ve noticed. Send us your address and we’ll confirm whether we can take on your project. Prefer email? Write to sales@dwellix.com.au.

General information only, checked 8 October 2026. Rules change; confirm requirements for your property with your building surveyor or council.