There are many signs that your house needs to be restumped, like uneven floors and broken walls. A stump is a piece of wood, steel, or concrete that is put under your home that can help keep your foundation strong. However, it needs to be done quickly by a professional if your stumps are broken, cracked, or rotting, as it may make your whole foundation fall.
Materials needed to restump a house:
Selecting the perfect material for homes stumps makes them last longer and reduces the duration for you to renew them. There are three basic types of stumps: wood, steel, and concrete. Here is a little information about it so that you can make the correct choice about restumping. Let’s have a look.
- Restumping With Timber Stumps: One of the primary advantages of timber stumps is that they can be a more affordable option. Additionally, treated wood can be more successful in sticky situations than concrete stumps. The drawbacks of timber stumps include their relatively short life span of approximately 20 years. This is because they are a natural substance that degrades with time, just like all-natural materials.
- Restumping with Steel stumps: If you want the best support for your foundation above any kinds of soil, you should use steel stumps. They are the costliest option but also the most versatile out of all. Because steel stumps can rust, this is the main thing to be worried about. Choose steel that has been galvanized instead of one that are rusty. It’s better to use galvanized steel stumps than any other kind of stump.
- Restumping with Concrete stumps: You can do a lot of reblocking, restumping, and underpinning projects with cement. It is easy to keep concrete stumps clean. They are strong, secure, and don’t need a lot of maintenance. However, concrete stumps have a lot of negatives when the soil is wet. Water makes the metal components of concrete stumps rust and erode, which speeds up the decay process. We also know that vibrations in the floor cause cracks in concrete, or as we call it, “concrete cancer,” because it breaks down. Some people say that the life of reinforced concrete is 50 to 100 years.
Who requires Restumping?
As soon as your stumped wood is damaged or showing signs of wearing out, you have to make sure that it is replaced before more damage happens, which could let water inside your home. Restumping as soon as you spot signs of damage is an effective way to protect both yourself and your home.
In the beginning, if you notice these problems and act quickly, your homes can be safe from more problems like:
- Cracks in the side walls of a building that are about the length of the ground or roof.
- It becomes difficult to close or open a doorway or window.
- Substantial sinking/heaviness felt beneath the feet (particularly after rainfall).
- Particular rooms that are subject to moisture.
Finally, always keep in mind that all houses eventually require restumping. This could be for a number of different causes. This is a complex job, and you should only hire expert contractors. They can provide sound advice and assist you in protecting what is likely your most valuable asset, your home.
Conclusion:
It doesn’t matter what kind of stump material you use, if you reside in your house for a long time, chances are you’ll require to have it restumped. Restumping costs money but it’s a lot less expensive procedure than rebuilding your homes if your foundation falls apart. Whether or not you can see symptoms of foundation damage, having a restumping expert look at your home can save you money and keep your home safe.