How to choose a restumping contractor in Shepparton.
Restumping is structural work on the part of your home you can least afford to get wrong. VBA registration, a building permit, an engineer’s footing design, insurance and the legal deposit cap are not optional extras, they are how you tell a real restumper from a risk. Here is what to check before you sign.
VBA registration comes first.
In Victoria, any domestic building work over $10,000 must be carried out by a builder registered with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). A full restump almost always exceeds that threshold once stumps, footings, re-levelling and permit are added up. Registration is not a formality, it is your evidence that the contractor is qualified, insured and accountable.
How to verify it in 30 seconds.
Go to vba.vic.gov.au, find the “find a practitioner” search, and look the builder up by name or registration number. You will see their category, class, expiry and any conditions or suspensions. Ask any restumper for their registration number and check it before you go further. Reluctance to provide it ends the conversation.
Permit, computations and the AS 2870 footing.
Restumping is building work, so it requires a building permit from a registered building surveyor and an engineer’s footing design to AS 2870, the Australian Standard for residential slabs and footings on reactive soils. On Greater Shepparton’s reactive clay the footing design is the whole game: stumps founded too shallow simply ride the seasonal swell and shrink, and the floor moves again within a few seasons.
A reputable restumper lodges the permit, supplies the engineer’s computations, and books the mandatory footing and completion inspections. Anyone offering to restump “without the council paperwork” to save you money is handing you a liability at sale and a likely insurance problem. The permit cost is real and worth it, and we itemise it on every quote.
Insurance, deposits and a proper written quote.
Domestic building insurance.
Domestic building insurance (DBI) is mandatory in Victoria for registered building work over $16,000. It protects you if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent before finishing. Ask for the certificate before the first payment beyond the deposit.
The legal deposit cap.
Under the Domestic Building Contracts Act, deposits are capped at 5% for contracts over $20,000 and 10% for contracts between $10,000 and $20,000. A restumper asking for 20% to 50% upfront is non-compliant and often undercapitalised.
What the quote must spell out.
A professional restumping quote states the number of stumps, the material (concrete or galvanised steel, see our stump replacement page), the footing depth and design, whether permit and engineering are included, the re-levelling, how the house will be supported during the work, and a timeline. A one-line price is an invitation to scope creep.
When to walk away.
- No VBA registration number. They are not legally authorised to do the work. This ends it.
- “No permit needed.” Restumping always needs a permit. Skipping it is your liability, not theirs.
- No engineer’s footing design. On reactive clay, footings without computations are guesswork.
- New timber stumps quoted. They will rot again in the same Goulburn Valley clay. Concrete or steel only.
- Stumps founded shallow to come in cheap. The floor will move again. You pay twice.
- A deposit over the legal cap. Non-compliant, and a warning sign about their finances.
- Cash only, no tax invoice. No paper trail, no DBI, no comeback.
The questions to put to every Shepparton restumper.
- What is your VBA registration number? Verify it at vba.vic.gov.au before proceeding.
- Will you arrange the building permit and which surveyor will you use?
- Does the quote include the engineer’s footing computations to AS 2870?
- What footing depth are you designing for my soil class? A local restumper answers this without hesitation.
- Concrete or galvanised steel, and why for my home?
- How will the house be supported while the stumps are out?
- What does the warranty cover and for how long?
Common questions about choosing a restumper.
Does a restumper in Victoria need to be registered?
Yes. Restumping over $10,000 must be done by a VBA-registered builder, and most full restumps exceed that. Verify registration at vba.vic.gov.au in about 30 seconds. Reluctance to give you the number is a reason to avoid.
Does restumping need a building permit in Greater Shepparton?
Yes. It needs a building permit from a registered surveyor and an engineer’s footing design to AS 2870 before stumps are replaced. A reputable restumper arranges the permit and inspections; one suggesting you skip it is exposing you to liability and an insurance problem.
What should a restumping quote include?
The number of stumps, the material, the footing design and depth to AS 2870, whether permit and engineering are included, the re-levelling, how the subfloor is supported, and a timeline. A one-line price invites scope creep and disputes.
What deposit can a restumper ask for?
Under the Domestic Building Contracts Act, 5% for contracts over $20,000 and 10% for those between $10,000 and $20,000. Asking for 20% to 50% upfront is non-compliant and often a sign of an undercapitalised operator.
Talk to a registered Shepparton restumper.
Fixed-price written quote, permit and engineering included, footings designed for your soil class. Everything above, as standard.