Wellington House Repiling
Concrete & Tōtara Pile Replacement Wellington
Cracked, shallow or unconnected piles replaced properly, with mechanical connections fitted.
Licensed Building Practitioner. No-obligation assessments. Wellington and wider region.
Get a no-obligation quoteConcrete & Tōtara Pile Replacement
Old concrete piles and original Tōtara piles, they don't last forever.
Wellington's older homes sit on foundation piles that were state-of-the-art decades ago. The original Tōtara timber piles used in the city's earliest houses, and the concrete piles that followed from the 1930s through the 1980s, are now showing their age.
Old concrete piles crack, were often installed too shallow to reach solid ground, and typically lack the mechanical connections that secure them to the subfloor framing. Original Tōtara piles, though once remarkably durable, have reached the end of their serviceable life in most Wellington properties.
Wellington House Repiling specialises in replacing these failing foundations, installing replacement piles to the correct depth with proper mechanical connections and securings.
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Why old piles fail
Why concrete and Tōtara piles need replacing
These are the most common failure modes we find when inspecting Wellington foundations.
Cracked concrete piles
Concrete piles installed in older Wellington homes often crack over time due to ground movement, seismic activity, and the natural aging of the concrete mix. Cracked piles lose their load-bearing capacity and need replacing.
Shallow installation
Many older concrete piles were installed without reaching solid bearing ground. Over time, the house settles, floors slope, and the foundations become unreliable. Replacement piles are installed to the correct depth.
Missing mechanical connections
Older concrete piles often lack the mechanical connections and securings that attach piles to the subfloor framing. Without these, the house is vulnerable to lateral earthquake movement even if the pile itself looks sound.
Original Tōtara piles
Wellington's oldest homes were built on Tōtara timber piles, a native hardwood once considered highly durable. These piles have now reached the end of their serviceable life in most properties and require replacement.
Moisture and age deterioration
Both concrete and Tōtara piles deteriorate in Wellington's wet conditions over decades. What held up a house in 1940 or 1960 may no longer be providing safe, stable support today.
Flagged in builder's reports
Pre-purchase building reports frequently identify cracked, shallow, or unconnected concrete piles and failing Tōtara piles. Replacement is often required before sale or to protect the property's value and insurability.
Not sure about your piles? Book a no-obligation assessment and we'll take a look.
Our work
Pile replacement projects in Wellington
Photos from real pile replacement jobs across the Wellington region.
How it works
Our pile replacement process
From assessment to sign-off, you're kept in the loop at every step.
No-obligation assessment
Stephen inspects your foundations from underneath, assessing the condition of existing concrete or Tōtara piles, checking depth, looking for cracks, and identifying missing mechanical connections.
Assessment & quote
You receive a plain-English breakdown of what we found and a clear quote covering the scope of replacement work. No surprises, no obligation.
Old pile removal
Existing failed piles are carefully removed or broken out. We assess each pile individually and remove only what genuinely needs replacing.
Replacement pile installation
New piles are installed to the correct depth for your site conditions, in compliance with NZS3604. Mechanical connections and securings are fitted to attach piles properly to the subfloor framing.
Releveling (where needed)
Where the house has settled due to shallow or failed piles, we lift and relevel the structure after new piles are in, restoring your floors to level.
Sign-off & documentation
Stephen signs off completed work as LBP and provides documentation for your records, insurance, and any future property sale.
Why choose us
Wellington's pile replacement specialists
Replacement done right, with proper connections, to the right depth, by someone who does this every day.
Owner on every job
Stephen Pihama is personally on the tools for every pile replacement. You're getting the specialist, not a crew sent in his place.
Licensed Building Practitioner
All pile replacement work is carried out under LBP licence to NZS3604 standard. Compliant, documented, and insurable.
Wellington specialists
We know the ground conditions, depths, and access challenges across Wellington's steep sections, clay soils, and varied terrain.
Mechanical connections included
We don't just replace the pile. We ensure proper mechanical connections and securings are fitted to the subfloor framing, which older installations typically lack.
Honest scoping
We replace only what genuinely needs replacing. If some piles are still sound, we'll tell you, no upselling to a full repile you don't need.
No-obligation assessments
We come to your property, crawl under the house, assess every pile, and give you an honest picture. No obligation.
NZS3604 Regulated
All pile replacement work carried out under LBP licence to New Zealand Building Code standard.
What our clients say
Reviews from Wellington homeowners
Kaycee Haze
"Professional and informative"
We had our house repiled by Stephen and his team whom were from the beginning very professional and informative throughout the entire process. We were very impressed by the tidiness of our property and the respect they had as this is our family home. Highly recommend!
Anna Castelle
"Highly recommend"
Stephen was very professional, hard working and super helpful. He made the whole process feel smooth, so reliable, quick to reply, and always there when he said he would be. We have nothing but good things to say.
Ronise Paul
"Did a great job"
Stephen and his team did a great job. Was prompt, professional and left the site tidy. Has made me feel secure in my property and I know what he has done will last for years. Can highly recommend!
FAQ
Concrete & Tōtara pile replacement, common questions
Do older Wellington homes have concrete piles?
Yes. Many Wellington homes built from the 1930s through to the 1980s were built on concrete piles. These were the standard foundation method of the era, replacing the original Tōtara timber piles used in the earliest Wellington houses. While concrete was considered durable at the time, many of these piles were installed shallow, without proper mechanical connections, or have since cracked from ground movement and age.
What are Tōtara piles and why do they need replacing?
Tōtara is a native New Zealand hardwood that was widely used as house piles in Wellington's oldest homes, typically built before the 1930s. Tōtara was chosen for its natural durability, but even the most resilient timber has a lifespan. Most original Tōtara piles in Wellington have now reached or exceeded that lifespan and can no longer reliably support the structure above them. Replacement is required.
Why do old concrete piles fail?
Old concrete piles in Wellington homes fail for several common reasons: they may have been installed shallow and never reached solid bearing ground, causing gradual settlement; the concrete itself cracks over time from ground movement and seismic activity; or they were installed without mechanical connections to the subfloor framing, leaving the house vulnerable to lateral earthquake forces. Any of these issues, individually or together, require pile replacement.
What are mechanical connections and why do they matter?
Mechanical connections are the hardware and fixings that attach foundation piles to the subfloor framing (bearers and joists) above them. In older Wellington homes, piles often simply sat under the framing without being mechanically secured. This means that while the pile might support vertical load, it provides no resistance to the lateral forces generated by an earthquake, which can cause the house to slide or shift off its foundations. Installing proper mechanical connections is a key part of any pile replacement job.
Do you replace concrete piles with concrete or timber?
That depends on your specific site conditions, ground depth, and access. We assess each property individually and recommend the most suitable replacement pile type. What matters most is that the replacement pile reaches solid bearing ground, is correctly installed, and is properly connected to the subfloor framing with mechanical connections and securings.
Do I need to replace all the piles or just the failing ones?
Not necessarily. We assess every pile during the inspection and replace only those that are cracked, shallow, missing connections, or otherwise failing. If some piles are still in sound condition, we leave them and address only what genuinely needs replacing.
Does pile replacement require building consent?
Like-for-like pile replacement is often exempt from building consent when carried out by a Licensed Building Practitioner. For more significant structural work, consent may be required. We'll advise you clearly on consent requirements before any work begins.
How much does concrete or Tōtara pile replacement cost in Wellington?
Cost depends on the number of piles being replaced, the depth required to reach solid ground, access conditions under the house, and whether releveling is needed. We provide no-obligation quotes after a thorough underfloor assessment, so contact us to arrange a visit.
Do you service Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Kapiti?
Yes. We cover the full Wellington region including Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Get in touch to confirm coverage for your specific location.
Related services
Think your concrete or Tōtara piles need replacing?
We offer no-obligation assessments across Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Stephen will inspect your foundations honestly and give you a clear quote for whatever replacement work is actually needed.
Get a no-obligation quote