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Archive for category: House Raising Brisbane – Professional Services

Tips in finding the right contractor for house raising and restumping from articles by Black & White home lifting service in Brisbane, Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Re-levelling Floors

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A house can get into a lot of problems if the floor gets uneven. Aside from the aesthetic issue, a house with unlevelled flooring also faces danger from unstable structures. Unlevelled flooring is usually caused by damaged or defective stumps. Some parts of the floor might sink and floor tiles might misalign because of the unevenness of the floor. Unlevelled floors might also cause some problems with the doors or windows not fitting correctly because of the unlevelled flooring. A good way of solving uneven flooring due to defective stumps is through a restumping job  that will restore the floor to its original condition. This service can be obtained from a fully licensed house raising and restumping company.

Stumps Get Damaged Over Time

Unlevelled floors result from defective stumps. Old style stumps are typically the victim of termite infestation. After a few decades, old houses with wooden stumps rot or get damaged as they get exposed to the natural elements. Some portions of the flooring subside, resulting in the floors being uneven. This situation needs to be corrected because it will only get worse as termites and natural degradation eat up the wooden stumps.

Restumping Process and Stump Materials

Uneven flooring can be corrected with the help of a restumping company. To correct the problem, the house will be raised using hydraulic jacks. The amount of work that will be done will depend on the severity of the problem. If the problem is not too severe, it may only require replacement of one or two stumps. If the problem is severe or if other stumps need to be upgraded to avoid future problems, the entire house will need restumping. It requires replacement of the stumps with better stump materials. The restumping service may use wood treated with CCA (copper chrome arsenate) or concrete stumps, which will last longer than timber stumps. These materials are resistant to damaging insects, particularly termites, so they are expected to provide better support for the flooring.

Professionals Recommended

While some may suggest that the re-levelling can be done by the homeowner, it is still recommended that a professional and licensed builder be contracted for this type of work. A professional restumping service is sure to have the needed technical equipment to safely and properly raise the house for restumping. A licensed restumping business also has valuable experience to handle different problems with stump damage. It would be good to hire a professional service with proper insurance coverage so there is little worry in case some mishap happens during the restumping and re-levelling work.

Things to Consider When Raising Your Home

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Some houses just need to be raised. The house could be located in a flood-prone area and house raising is a viable solution to keep it safe during the storm season. House raising is also a good way to get more space in the house or to repair old and damaged stumps.

If your house needs to be raised from its current position, it would take you a significant amount of money before that task is done. It is therefore wise to plan well before you engage in the project. Here are just some of the things you have to consider when raising your house.

Type of Stumps

Old, damaged stumps need to be replaced to properly restore the house to its former glory. There are various types of stumps that you can use to replace the old timber stumps in your house. Timber stumps do not last that long, especially if they get damaged by water or termites.

When replacing stumps you should consider using the more long-lasting material. Steel columns are the recommended material to replace stumps, especially for raising houses, because of their durability and low maintenance.

Steel columns may be hot dipped galvanised to make them more resistant to corrosion. Galvanised steel columns would cost you much more, but it would be worth it because the columns would last longer and require very low maintenance.

You also have to consider the height of the steel column. It would be good to make good use of the extra space you are gaining on the ground floor when your house is raised. The height of the steel columns would depend on the use you are envisioning. Higher steel columns would need braces for support to make the columns sturdier.

Hiring the Right Contractor

Getting the right contractor is very important if you are raising your house to a higher level. Look for a reliable and well-experienced raising and restumping company to do the house raising job. The company must have advanced equipment, including hydraulic jacks to safely raise the house to the desired level.

While it is good to check the pricing, the quality of the work should be the prime consideration when hiring a contractor for the house raising. This job requires a lot of experience and expertise, and if something goes wrong, you could end up paying so much more, as you would have to hire a better company to rectify the mistakes. Make sure that your contractor has the necessary expertise in the field and will use the right materials and equipment for safe and proper house raising.

house inspection

When Does Your House Need Restumping?

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Many houses in Australia still have foundations made of timber stumps, whether cut from tree trunks or milled timber. Timber stumps are capable of withstanding rot and termite damage. However, even the most superior timber stumps will eventually succumb to rot, termite infestation or soil movement. This is when your house needs to be restumped .

What is Restumping?

Restumping, or re-blocking, entails getting rid of rotted old stumps and replacing them with new stumps. The process involves jacking up the area where the stump that needs to be replaced is located, and either packing out the existing stumps to compensate for settling or removing or replacing the stumps altogether.

Defective stumps are replaced with rot-resistant timber such as Victorian Red Gum or the more expensive concrete or galvanised steel stumps. Both options have their pros and cons. However, concrete or galvanised stumps are more popular these days because they do not have the weaknesses that most wood has. They do not rot, and are resistant to termites and warping. In addition, galvanised steel or concrete stumps can be firmly secured to the bearers, unlike wood.

Signs That Your House Needs Restumping

There are several indications that will tell you that your house may need immediate restumping. Creaking floors may be a sign that your floors are no longer level or that some stump has settled. Uneven, bowed or soft floors are an indication that stumps have settled or rotted and that the stumps have been dislodged from the bearers.

Cracks in the walls may be a sign that one portion of your home is sinking. Doors and windows that jam may be a sign that the structure around them is uneven.

Choosing a Restumping Expert

Restumping a house is quite complex. To ensure a perfect restumping, call an expert to do the job. Black & White House Raising guarantees that the structural integrity of your house will be restored when the job is completed. The company’s services range from a single stump replacement to an entire house restumping. Black & White House Raising uses good stump replacements like timber treated with copper chrome arsenate (CCA) or concrete stumps for longer life.

Get quotes from a few contractors. Make sure the quotes include the type of stump to be used, the number of stumps to be replaced and other pertinent information. In addition, make sure all quotes contain the same items. Bear in mind that the lowest quote may not be the best. It may contain a lesser number of stumps to be replaced or sub-standard stumping material. Be careful in choosing a stumping contractor to avoid extensive and costly mistakes. For more information on house restumping, visit https://bwhouseraising.com.au/.

Timber House Stumps – Potential Dangers and What to Check For

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When buying a house it is often the issues that you cannot see that will be the ones that could cause you the most trouble, so it is always important to look into things to ensure that you are getting what you want. The foundations of a house are one of the most important parts of a house because they underpin the structural integrity of buildings. The stumps are attached to both the house and the foundations, so if there is an issue with them it can mean the house is no longer safe to inhabit.

Cracks in Plaster, Concrete or Brickwork

A tell-tale sign that there is an issue with the structural integrity of the house or foundations can be cracks in the plaster, concrete or brickwork of the dwelling. Houses will shift slightly over time, but if you start to notice advanced cracking in the plaster walls, concrete or brickwork it may point to an issue with the foundations somewhere or with the stumps.

Uneven Floors/Jamming Doors and Windows

Other tell-tale signs of damaged stumps  can include uneven floors, or windows and doors that jam. If the stumps have rotted evenly the floor may appear solid, but this does not always indicate that there is not a problem as they may not have reached failure point yet. If the floor is badly sloping away from a brick fireplace this is a good sign that there is an issue that needs to be dealt with immediately.

Water Pooling Near Foundations

If you start to notice water pooling near the foundations or if you notice that there is a depression in the ground near the house, this could be a sign that there is something going on underground. A hole near the foundations needs to be filled to ensure that water does not get in and cause any more damage under the surface.

Checking Stumps

One way to check the condition of the timber stumps  (if you can gain access to the area) is to scrape away up to 100mm of the soil to check for the state of the stumps under the ground. It is best to check all of them as only checking one or two will not tell you everything you need to know. The worst stumps are the ones that have the most water marks or show serious deterioration, but this is not always evident unless you know what you are looking for.

Professional Services

Because your home is your castle, it pays to employ the services of an experienced restumping team such as Black & White House Raising and Restumping to ensure that you are not missing something and you are able to have peace of mind about the roof over your head. Having a professional such as someone from Black & White House Raising and Restumping check the foundations for you will tell you whether you need to do a full restumping or if you can get away with only replacing some of the stumps .

Processes of Restumping

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Restumping, or re-blocking, entails replacing the stumps on a house that have settled due to soil movement, or that have rotted after being exposed to the natural elements for so long. Common indications that a house needs restumping is when you notice:

  • cracks in plaster work and brickwork;
  • floors are uneven;
  • decayed foundations underneath the house;
  • doors and windows are creaking or are not closing properly.

The age of the house is another good sign. Houses constructed many decades ago are in need of reblocking or  restumping soon. It is not wise to wait too long to restump your house because the decayed foundations of your house could suddenly collapse. Restumping is recommended for older houses that will be undergoing major restoration. The new stumps will lessen the strain of the ongoing construction work on the structure of the house.

Stages Involved in Restumping

There are a few steps involved in restumping your house:

  • Checking which stumps require replacing or resetting. Normally, this step involves the use of a level to determine the evenness of the floors and by visually inspecting the stumps for movement and decay.
  • Carefully and slightly lifting the house where the stumps that need to be replaced are located.
  • Digging holes where the new stumps will be set.
  • Attaching the galvanised steel or concrete stumps and setting them in concrete. Galvanised and concrete stumps are stronger and more durable than wood, do not decay, and are resistant to termites.
  • Cleaning the debris and waste from the restumping job.

Why Call a Professional to Restump your House?

Restumping should be done properly in order to maintain the structural integrity of the house. In addition, restumping is a hard and dirty undertaking. The average homeowner also does not have the necessary machine and equipment to carry out a restumping job. For example, the house is lifted using a hydraulic jack before the new stumps can be attached and set in concrete.

A professional restumping company can help you with your restumping requirements, whether involving a single stump replacement or a restumping of the whole house. An engineer will draft the structural plans, which will be used to determine the value of the restumping project. Restumping your house can be rather costly, but hiring a professional  who will do the job properly and to the highest standard will make the cost worth it.

A restumping project is a major undertaking. A restumping that is handled incorrectly could pose a risk to your house and the people you love.