The foundation of a building is the main base of support that carries the weight of the entire building. A faulty foundation is a potential threat to the stability of a building and to the safety of those who occupy the building. 

Wooden stumps are perhaps the most commonly used material on residential foundations. This article provides information on when you need to get wooden foundation stumps repaired or replaced in order to secure the stability of your foundation.

Before You Move Into A Pre-Owned House

Not everyone gets to live in a house they have built from scratch. For many people, buying a pre-owned house is the more viable route to homeownership. If the foundation on a pre-owned house has never been restumped before, it is highly likely that you will have to undertake this restoration activity soon after you move into the house.

It is better for you to have the foundation restumped before you move into the house because it eliminates the need for you to make alternative arrangements for accommodation if the restumping exercise is to be done once you have moved into the house.

After A Major Flood

One of the main causes of damage to wooden foundation stumps is excess water. In the event of floods, for example, a lot of the rainwater gets absorbed into the foundation because floodwaters tend to sit idle for elongated periods of time.

Once the flooding has subsided, it is a good idea to have the foundation's stumps inspected by a restumping professional in order to assess the extent of damage that the stumps might have suffered as a result of the floods. Doing this soon after the floods will help to prevent severe damage to the wooden stumps, which might make it necessary to have the entire foundation restumped as opposed to restumping only a small damaged section of the foundation.

When Your Floors Bow

An uneven floor can be just as difficult to walk on as it is to clean. One of the most visible signs that your foundation stumps need to be checked out is bowing or 'shrinking' on parts of your floor. When wooden foundation stumps get damaged, they are unable to support the weight of the building as they previously used to, thereby causing the floor to give in.

As soon as you notice bowing floors around your indoor living spaces, you should contact a restumping contractor.