House levelling, also called relevelling, brings a sagging timber floor back to level. The restumper who quotes it works out whether the stumps need packing or replacing.

What house levelling is

House levelling corrects a floor that has gone out of level because the ground under it has moved. We lift the house with hydraulic jacks, shim or replace the supports, then set the floor level again.

Many Melbourne suburbs have reactive clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Leaking drains, poor stormwater and large nearby trees can also move the ground.

Most inner Melbourne homes built before 1980, including most in Brunswick, are timber-framed and sit on stumps.

Signs a floor is out of level

Several signs inside the house point to a floor that has dropped. Common ones are uneven or bouncy floors, gaps between the skirting boards and the floor, doors or windows that bind, cracks in internal walls and brickwork, and a visible slope through rooms.

Outside, stumps that lean, crack or have deteriorated are a clear warning.

Packing or restumping: which suits

Packing suits sound concrete stumps. If they have no cracks, no leaning and no concrete cancer, a "jack and pack" may be enough to reset the levels.

Restumping suits stumps that have rotted, sunk or been damaged by termites. We jack the house up, replace the stumps with new concrete or steel ones, then relevel the floor.

Restumping and reblocking are used for much the same job, though some restumpers say reblocking can mean replacing only the worst stumps. Underpinning is different. It strengthens the footings under a slab, rather than replacing the stumps of a raised house.

How a restumper measures and levels a house

A restumper checks the stumps, the subfloor and the foundation first. Floor heights are then measured with a laser level or a pressurised water level.

Jacks then prop up the house so the stumps can be raised or replaced. Doors and windows are levelled and the work is inspected.

What house levelling costs

Relevelling with no stump replacement usually runs about $2,000 to $5,000 (2026 figures). A full restump of a standard house usually runs about $4,000 to $35,000 (2026 figures), depending on who quotes.

The number of stumps and how easy the access is move the price most. A building permit alone is about $200 to $800, and permit plus engineering together about $1,500 to $3,000 (2026 figures). The quote from the restumper who inspects your house is what counts.

Permits and who does the work

Restumping is regulated building work in Victoria. It must be done by a registered building practitioner, and a building permit is needed in most cases.

The surveyor inspects the finished work and issues a certificate of final inspection. Ask the restumper who quotes whether your job needs a permit.

Questions people ask

What is house levelling?

House levelling is the work of bringing an uneven floor back to level. We jack the house up, pack or replace the stumps, then set the floor level again. It is also called relevelling.

How do I know if my floor is out of level?

Doors that bind, gaps at the skirting boards and cracks in walls are the common signs. Bouncy floors and a visible slope also count. These happen because the stumps under the house have moved or failed.

Is packing cheaper than restumping?

Yes, usually. Relevelling with no stump replacement runs about $2,000 to $5,000 (2026 figures), while a full restump costs more. Packing only works when the stumps are sound, so the restumper has to inspect them first.

Can I stay in the house during levelling?

Usually yes. People can generally live in the house during restumping work. The restumper who quotes should confirm whether any rooms must be emptied.

House Levelling