Stump removal versus grinding
The first question is what the spot will be used for. If it is going back to lawn, garden or mulch, stump grinding is usually enough and much cheaper. If anything structural is going over it, removal is the safer choice. That includes:
- a concrete slab for a shed, patio or granny flat
- a swimming pool shell
- a driveway or crossover
- footings for an extension or a retaining wall
- a new fence line where the posts land on the old root plate
Roots left in the ground rot over time. Under lawn that just means a slight dip that you top up. Under a slab it can mean voids, settlement and cracking. Builders and engineers often specify full removal for that reason, so check your plans before choosing.
How stumps come out
Machine extraction is the most common method. An excavator or a loader with a ripper digs around the stump, cuts the main roots, then levers the stump out. Smaller machines fit through a standard side gate; bigger ones need a wider entry or access from the street.
Winching can work on smaller stumps in tight spots where a machine cannot reach.
Hand digging is slow and only practical for small stumps, but it is sometimes the only option in a courtyard or beside a house where a machine would do damage.
Once the stump is out, the hole is filled. For a garden, clean fill or sand is fine. For anything structural, the fill should be compacted in layers, and your builder may have their own requirements.
Midland ground makes a difference
Soil type changes the job a lot around here. On the alluvial flats of Guildford, Woodbridge and parts of Midland the soil is heavier loam and clay that grips roots tightly and goes sticky in winter, which slows machines and makes the hole messier. Near the scarp in Swan View, Bellevue and Helena Valley, roots wrap around laterite gravel and rock, so digging is slow and sometimes grinding is the only realistic option. In the sandier north around Ellenbrook, stumps come out more easily, but the sand around them caves in, so the hole ends up wider than you expect.
Before anyone digs
Underground services should be located before any excavation. Before You Dig Australia is the free referral service. Older properties in Midland, Midvale and Guildford can have water, gas, sewer and power lines in places that are not obvious from the surface. Make sure the quote says who is responsible for locating services and what happens if one is found.
If the stump belongs to a tree that has not come down yet, ask for tree removal and stump removal on the same quote. One visit with one set of machines is usually cheaper than two. The cost guide has 2026 planning ranges for both.
What to expect on the day
Machines are noisy and the job can churn up the area around the stump, so move pot plants, outdoor furniture and anything fragile beforehand. Let your neighbours know if a machine will be parked on the street. At the end, walk the area with the crew, check the hole is filled to the level you agreed, and confirm all the root material and spoil has gone, if that was part of the price.