Are you planning renovations to your home? If your home has a stump subfloor, and you will be carrying out any work that is likely to increase the weight of the home structure or add any strain to the building, it is often advisable to consider restumping before any other building or renovation work is completed.
What is restumping?
Perhaps, you have never given much thought to your stump subfloor. As the stumps are not visible, it's easy to forget that they are there and focus on the more visible elements of the property. However, the stumps play a vital role in supporting your home, and if the stumps begin to fail, it is important to arrange for restumping before the results are catastrophic. A restumping company will examine the stumps under your property and reset them or replace them with new stumps. It is possible to arrange for a partial restumping, and while this may initially appear like a good way of reducing the cost and the disruption involved, it can be risky. While a stump may look in good condition, the part buried in the ground may be rotting or damaged. If the damaged stump were to fail later, the restumping company would have to return and disrupt your home again to replace the stump.
Does your home need restumping?
If you aren't sure whether your home needs restumping, there are several signs for which to look, that can help you decide whether or not you need to speak to a restumping company. Restumping can be needed because stumps have rotted, become damaged, or have moved underground because of movement in the soil. Signs that your home might need restumping include cracked brickwork, bowed floors because a gap has formed between the floor and the stump, or doors or windows that no longer function as intended. If left untreated, likely, the entire structure of your home will eventually fail, so arranging for restumping cannot be put off too long. If you need to check the condition of the stumps under your floor, don't restrict your inspection to what is immediately visible. See whether moisture has been absorbed into the stump. Dig down next to the stump to see whether the wood gives way.
Always call a restumping company
It is rarely a good idea to attempt to restump the property yourself. Not only is restumping hard, difficult work, but it is also a vital structural element of your property. A qualified restumping company will have the skills and equipment to jack up your home and quickly replace the damaged stumps with minimal disruption.
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