Restumping & Underpinning Lorne

Hillside specialists — 30 years of anchoring Otway homes to ground that stays put. Steep blocks, wet winters and tall stumps. We stabilise what the slope is trying to move.

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Underpinning Lorne You Can Truly Recommend

Concrete stumps supporting a house subfloor after reblocking – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

On steep Otway blocks, we find the stable ground, then put your house back on it.

Do you own an older home, or are you experiencing structural issues in Lorne? Building here means building on a hill — cut-and-fill benches, tall stumps stepping down the slope, and more rainfall than almost anywhere else on the Victorian coast. That combination puts constant load on footings and retaining structures.

That’s where Total Reblocking comes in. Steep sites are where experience shows, and we have more than 30 years of it: finding stable ground, sequencing the lift properly, and taking the soil load off your house with engineered underpinning and retaining. The method is written into your quote before a single pier goes in.

A house on a slope will not settle down by itself. Speak with us now if you have noticed cracks, movement or a leaning retaining wall.

Concrete stumps supporting a house subfloor after reblocking – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne
Hydraulic jack holding the floor while old timber stumps are replaced – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

Understanding Your Lorne Property

Hydraulic jack holding the floor while old timber stumps are replaced – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

Lorne’s structures sit on benched sites between the Otways and the sea, many on tall stumps or poles that carry high loads over considerable heights. When a house here starts to lean, drop at one corner or open cracks along the same wall each winter, the ground is usually moving — and only work at footing level will stop it.

Total Reblocking and Underpinning has diagnosed and corrected these specific local issues for over 30 years, including on difficult sloping sites with limited access.

Book your free foundation inspection — or call 0466 555 777.

Why structural issues happen in Lorne

Slope

Gravity works on every hillside block. Soil, fill and footings all tend downhill over time, and the house goes with them if the footings aren’t founded deep enough.

High rainfall and run-off

Water moving through and across a slope saturates soil, reduces its bearing capacity and scours around footings and pier bases.

Cut-and-fill benches

Half a house on undisturbed ground and half on fill settles at two different rates, twisting the structure and cracking walls.

Tall stumps and pole frames

Long stumps carry high loads; decay at the base or movement at the footing shows up quickly as sloping floors.

Retaining walls under strain

Failing or undersized retaining walls transfer soil load straight into the building.

Overgrown vegetation

Big trees on and above a block take moisture from the soil and add root pressure near footings.

Restumping Lorne

Rows of new concrete stumps in an excavated subfloor – restumping in Lorne

Restumping in Lorne is a discipline in itself. Hillside homes here often sit on tall stumps and stepped subfloors that carry high loads over real height, so a failing stump doesn’t fail quietly.

We replace them with concrete or galvanised steel founded properly for a sloping site, and stage the lift so the structure comes back true without racking. Access is assessed before you get a price, so the quote you receive is the price you pay.

Signs your stumps have had their day:

  • A floor falling noticeably toward the downhill side
  • Decks or stairs pulling away from the house
  • Movement, rot or damp visible in a high subfloor

On a slope, stump failure accelerates. The earlier you assess it, the smaller the job stays.

Book a free Lorne foundation inspection or call 0466 555 777 for a fixed restumping quote.

Rows of new concrete stumps in an excavated subfloor – restumping in Lorne
Weatherboard house raised on new stumps during reblocking – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

Common Structural Issues Lorne Homeowners Experience

Weatherboard house raised on new stumps during reblocking – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

Are you experiencing any of the following issues with your property? Let us know.

  • Floors sloping noticeably toward the downhill side
  • Cracks that reopen every winter along the same wall
  • Decks and stairs pulling away from the house
  • Doors and windows binding on one side of the house only
  • A retaining wall leaning, bulging or cracking
  • Damp, rot or movement visible in a high subfloor

Our Credibility

Get Your Fast, Free Quote Today!

Are you looking for a trusted underpinning or reblocking expert near you? Just fill out our quick form or call us, and we’ll be right there to assist you.

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Underpinning excavation beneath a brick wall footing – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne

Services We Offer

Underpinning excavation beneath a brick wall footing – underpinning and reblocking in Lorne
  • Underpinning — strengthening and deepening footings down to stable ground.
  • Reblocking — replacing failed timber stumps with concrete or galvanised steel.
  • Restumping — full or partial, with the floor re-levelled as we go.
  • Subfloor rebuilds — replacing damaged bearers, joists and bracing.
  • Foundation repairs — cracked, settling or undermined footings and slab edges.
  • House re-levelling — correcting floors that slope, bounce or have dropped at one end.
  • Wall crack repairs — lasting repairs once the movement has stopped.
  • Retaining walls — new and rebuilt retaining walls to take soil load off the house.
  • Window and door corrections — re-squaring racked frames.
  • Structural restoration — full restoration of footings, subfloors and framing.

How We Stabilise a Lorne Home on a Steep Site

1. Free on-site inspection

Levels across the floor, the subfloor checked and the retaining assessed.

2. Fixed written quote

With the engineered method spelled out.

3. Permits and engineering

Arranged by us — steep and sensitive sites often need documentation.

4. The works

Our own crews, updates throughout, and a level, stable house at the end.

Why Choose Us

There are so many reasons for home or business owners to choose our expertise in reblocking, underpinning and fixing structural or foundation issues of Melbourne properties, and here are a few of them:

24/7 Hotline

Our dedicated hotline is always open, ensuring you have access to an expert support team whenever you need it. This provides a sense of security and peace of mind, knowing that help is just a call away in times of urgent need.

Professional Team

Our team comprises highly skilled professionals and experts. We invest in their training so they stay up-to-date on the latest techniques, methods, and technologies in underpinning and reblocking.

Reliability

With us, reliability is not just a promise, it’s a guarantee. We stand by our word, ensuring all projects are completed on time and to the highest standards. This fosters trust and dependability, making you feel confident and at ease.

End-To-End Job Updates

We keep you informed every step of the way, from the initial assessment to the completion of the project, ensuring transparency and keeping you in the loop with consistent updates.

30 Years Experience

With thirty years of experience, our depth of knowledge and practical expertise is unparalleled. This extensive experience assures you that we can tackle any challenge and provide effective and enduring solutions, making you feel confident in our abilities.

Qualified Floor Technicians

We are qualified floor technicians who specialise in assessing and addressing any issues with precision and care, guaranteeing the structural integrity and safety of your home’s flooring.

Recent Underpinning & Reblocking Projects

View some of our recent successful projects, Total Reblocking and Underpinning are dedicated to excellence.

Testimonials

Check the real-life insights and feedback from our satisfied customers, showcasing the impact of our work on their homes and businesses.

M
Marty Jonas
5 Stars

“We supply concrete stumps and other materials to Total Reblocking. They are always a pleasure to deal with. Keep up the great work team!”
A
ashlee abell
5 Stars

“Johnny & his team are super lovely, very knowledgeable & professional. I highly recommend them for any restumping or underpinning jobs.”
T
Trish Bull
5 Stars

“Outstanding quality and service from Johnny and the team Professional and gave the best advice and price. We are just about to book them for a second property Highly Recommend! 10 stars”
C
Colin Possamai
5 Stars

“Restumped our house… the old stumps were badly deteriorated and replaced with concrete stumps. The job was done within 2 weeks, and started within 1 month from when permit was approved. All our furniture now is straight.”
J
Jone Miroski
5 Stars

“Carlos & Johnny did an extremely good job for our underpinning on our property. Johnny was professional and easy to talk to & answered all of our questions. The works completed were to a high standard. Thank you guys!”
J
Janet McSparron
5 Stars

“Very happy with the reblocking of our house with very little damage to the plaster, all doors now close! The inspector was also very happy with the work and commented on how professional the job was. Thanks guys, for a great job at a very reasonable price.”
S
Sarah Lerm
5 Stars

“Highly recommend!! Could not be happier with the team. I had to organise from Geelong for my elderly parents in Melbourne, not only were helpful in getting job complete in a hurry, but highly professional best price. I felt very comfortable that my parents were in good hands and my dad is very happy with the final job! 5 stars from this satisfied customer :)”
Foundation Issues are Stressful. ☹

Total Reblocking & Underpinning offer complimentary foundation assessments that can help ease your fears and worries. It will help you understand the processes we follow to rectify your home foundation issues, so they last for decades to come.

Get your free foundation checkup today

FAQs — Underpinning Lorne

These are the questions Lorne owners ask about underpinning, reblocking, restumping and retaining on sloping blocks — answered so you know what is urgent and what can wait.

Yes. Sloping sites are routine for us — stepped subfloors, tall stumps, limited access and retaining all come with the territory on the Otway coast. Access is assessed before you get a price.

They’re different problems with different fixes, and it takes an on-site assessment with levels to tell them apart. The crack pattern, the direction of floor fall and what the retaining is doing usually make it clear.

Often, yes. A failing wall lets soil load move toward or away from the building. We assess the wall and the footings together rather than fixing one and leaving the other.

It does. Saturated soil loses bearing strength and moves more easily downhill. Getting footings onto stable ground and managing where water goes is most of the solution.

Longer than on flat ground — access and depth drive it. Small to medium jobs commonly run one to two weeks, and we give you a realistic timeline with the quote.

Often yes, and steep or overlay-affected sites may need engineering documentation too. We arrange permits and engineering as part of the job.

Usually. Most of the work happens beneath the floor or outside. We’ll flag it in advance if any stage needs the house vacated.

On a slope, movement tends to accelerate rather than settle. Cracks widen, floors fall further, and targeted piering becomes major structural work — these are the signs to act on.