Plenty of older Brisbane homes still sit on their original timber stumps. When those stumps rot, settle or are attacked by termites, galvanised steel posts are a common replacement, both for a straight restump and when a house is being raised to build in underneath. Steel does not rot and is not eaten by termites, and with the right coating it stands up well to our climate.
Size comes from the design
The post size, wall thickness, footing and bracing for your house are set by the engineer or the design your builder is working to, and your certifier will check the work against it. Loads, post height, spacing and site conditions all feed into that decision, so there is no single right size for every house.
The square hollow sections we see most often on residential jobs include:
- 75 x 75 x 4 SHS, often in pre-galvanised finish, a common choice for general restumping.
- 89 x 89 x 5 SHS, used on many restumps and renovations.
- 100 x 100 x 4 SHS, used for columns and heavier loads.
Treat these as a guide to what is commonly specified, not a recommendation for your house. Always order to the size on your approved plans.
Finish and length
Posts that sit close to the ground or out in the weather need a coating to match. Pre-galvanised steel suits many under-house positions, while hot-dip galvanising gives a heavier coating for more exposed spots. Length depends on the finished floor height, the footing detail and any stirrups or brackets, so measure from the drawings rather than from the old stumps.
What to have ready when you order
- The engineer’s post schedule or the approved plan callouts.
- The number of posts and the length of each, including any cap plates or brackets.
- The finish required.
- Your site address and any access limits for delivery.
Steel posts from Ace Posts and Beams
We supply steel posts pre-cut or made to your lengths from our Eagle Farm yard, for builders, restumpers and owner-builders across the Brisbane metro area. See our steel posts in Brisbane page for the sizes we stock, or send us your post schedule for a quote.