House re-levelling

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If your stumps are still sound but the house has moved, re-levelling may be enough. The contractor surveys the floor levels, jacks the low points back up and packs or adjusts the stumps, without replacing them all.

Why houses go out of level

Stumps settle unevenly. On clay soils, the ground also swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Builders classify sites by how reactive the soil is, from A (most sand and rock sites) through S, M, H and E (increasingly reactive clay) to P (problem sites). Some councils note that adjustable stump heads, designed by an engineer, can help manage seasonal movement on steel stumps (North Burnett Regional Council information sheet (opens in a new tab)).

Re-level or restump?

Re-levelling only makes sense if the stumps aren't decayed. If they're rotten or termite-damaged, re-levelling just delays a restump. A stump inspection answers this.

What it might cost

A Queensland quote-comparison site's 2026 estimate for re-levelling existing sound stumps is $2,500 – $8,000 (The Quote Yard (opens in a new tab)). This is an estimate, not a quote. Cost factors: how far out of level the house is, the number of stumps adjusted, access, and whether internal repairs (such as cornices or doors) follow.

Approvals

Gympie Regional Council treats repairing and underpinning as building work needing approval for a house (council (opens in a new tab)). Ask your contractor whether your re-levelling job needs a permit, and get the answer in writing.

Questions to ask

1. Are my stumps sound enough to re-level? How did you check?
2. Will you give me before-and-after floor levels?
3. Can you warn me about likely cracking to plaster or tiles as the house moves back?
4. What's your QBCC licence number?