Reblocking & Restumping on the Bellarine Peninsula

Coastal homes, coastal problems

• Sandy soils drain quickly but can erode or shift around shallow footings, particularly near dunes or where stormwater is poorly managed.
• Salt air accelerates corrosion of older steel fixings, brackets and unprotected steel stumps close to the water.
• Damp subfloors in low-lying areas around Leopold, the Swan Bay side of Queenscliff and parts of St Leonards encourage rot in stumps and bearers.
• Holiday homes often go years without anyone looking underneath, so problems are more advanced by the time they're found.

Choosing stumps near the coast

Reinforced concrete stumps are the usual choice near the sea because they aren't affected by salt corrosion the way unprotected steel can be. Where adjustable steel stumps suit a site, a heavy galvanised finish is essential. Footing design accounts for sandy or variable ground.

Beach shacks and renovations

Many older Bellarine homes are being renovated or extended rather than knocked down. If you're planning a renovation, reblocking before the new kitchen, bathroom and floors go in makes sense — putting new finishes on an out-of-level floor just means doing them twice.

Queenscliff and heritage

Parts of Queenscliff sit under heritage controls. Restumping usually doesn't change a home's appearance, but raising a house or changing its front may need planning approval, and we'll flag it before work starts.