The construction of a house would always involve creating a foundation. It holds the entire structure by holding the building’s weight to the ground. It has several parts, each with its own purpose. These include the stem wall, slab, footing, pier, and stump. The footing, in particular, is essential to the foundation as it’s the primary support for the construction.

When constructing the footing, you typically have several options, steel and concrete being the two most popular. Naturally, you’d want to choose the best option for your home.

With that in mind, this guide will go over the factors you must consider when choosing a type of stump, between steel or concrete stumps.

1. Price

Between the two, concrete is generally the more affordable material. Steel stumps are typically five times the price of their concrete counterparts. A 500mm concrete stump may cost USD$10 per meter, while a steel stump with the same dimension costs around USD$50.

Its affordability is one of the pros of concrete stumps and is arguably why homeowners choose them over steel stumps.

But if you’re looking for a much cheaper option, timber stumps might be of interest as they’re the cheapest type on the market. Its cost is often half the price of concrete stumps, though the exact cost depends on its thickness and length. Interestingly, unlike steel stumps, concrete stumps may come in different types.

2. Variety

Steel stumps are basically a stump made wholly of steel. Concrete stumps are reinforced with a steel rod. That’s because concrete alone cannot easily withstand the tensile stress caused by vibrations and other forces. The reinforced steel rod helps by shouldering or absorbing a portion, typically the majority, of the tensile stress.

The standard concrete stump has a steel rod protruding from its top, but that’s not the only variety. There are several others, and it differs according to how the reinforcement is added.

Certain varieties of concrete stumps may have a galvanized steel rod rather than a regular steel rod, while other types may have a steel L bracket on one side of the stump. Its variety is yet another reason why concrete stump is the preferred option as opposed to steel stumps.

3. Longevity

No matter what kind of stump you use, there will always be a time when you must replace it, usually when there are visible signs of damage. You replace timber stumps when they’re rotting, steel stumps when it’s rusty, and concrete stumps when there are cracks. Each material will often last for a certain period before those signs of damage become noticeable.

Concrete stumps last at least 20 years, while steel stumps typically last for over 30 years. In short, steel stumps are generally better in terms of longevity, even more so if they’re galvanized.

Galvanized steel takes a long time to rust than regular steel, so it often lasts longer. For that reason, galvanized steel stumps are a better option in terms of longevity, and steel stumps are better than concrete stumps.

4. Maintenance

Steel stumps will almost always last longer than concrete stumps when they are both subjected to the same pressure or force. However, steel is prone to rust, which is caused by exposure to air and moisture. These two elements are everywhere, so steel stumps will rust no matter the environment.

Meanwhile, cracks form in concrete stumps when it’s subjected to foundation movement. Compared to air and moisture, these elements are not as common.

For that reason, you’ll often find people talking about concrete stumps lasting forever. However, that’s not entirely true in some cases. It’s possible if the house is located in a rather stable location.

Since it’s advisable to check for signs of damage when doing maintenance, you’ll most likely have to check steel stumps more frequently than you would concrete stumps.

5. Ease Of Installation

Concrete stumps are most definitely a lot heavier than steel stumps, despite being slightly less durable. A 500mm concrete stump may weigh over 10kgs, while a steel stump with the same dimensions won’t weigh over 2kgs.

This is one of the advantages of steel stumps. They’re much easier to handle, so their installation typically goes quicker than concrete stumps.

Parting Words

Both steel stumps and concrete stumps have their respective pros and cons. It’s only a matter of what factor you want to prioritize, whether you want to focus on getting the cheapest option or you want to make the most durable foundation.

Either way, they each offer different things, and there’s no one-size-fits-all option. But if you do want to choose the best option, you must first figure out what your specific needs and preferences are for home construction.