Bridgend · Mid Glamorgan
Bay window subsidence repairs in Bridgend
Bay windows are a feature of many older streets in Bridgend, and so is the crack where a bay meets the front wall. Often it reflects a shallower bay footing reacting to the ground, rather than a problem with the whole house.
Guide price from£550per bay inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF31, CF35
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Mid Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is Mid Glamorgan prone to ground movement?
Bridgend is in Mid Glamorgan and takes in postcode districts CF31, CF35. About 50,000 people live there. If you are just outside Bridgend, we also cover Porthcawl (6 miles), Llantwit Major (8 miles) and Maesteg (8 miles).
Parts of Mid Glamorgan have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Historic coal workings are recorded beneath parts of Mid Glamorgan, and a coal mining search is worth checking where movement is unexplained. Typical buildings in Mid Glamorgan: Long stone and brick terraces on valley sides, Victorian houses in Bridgend and post-war estates.
Is it time for bay window subsidence repairs? Common signs
- A step or slope in the bay floor towards the window
- Gaps opening around the internal bay window board
- Bay roof or lead flashing pulling away from the main wall
What should you budget for bay window subsidence repairs in Bridgend?
For Bridgend we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Bay junction crack repair and tie-inest. | £550 – £1,650 | per bay |
| Traditional underpinning of a bay | £2,750 – £6,450 | per bay |
| Mini-piled bay underpinning | £4,600 – £11,000 | per bay |
Repair options we may recommend
Traditional underpinning of the bay
The bay footing is excavated in short sections and new mass concrete is placed down to firmer ground below the zone affected by roots and seasons. Because a bay is a short length of wall, the work is compact, but it needs building control approval.
Best for: Active bay movement on firm ground at moderate depth
Junction crack repair and tie-in
Where movement has stopped, the open joint between bay and house is raked out, stainless ties or helical bars are fixed across it, and the joint is repointed to match. Internal plaster along the crack is cut back and renewed before redecoration.
Best for: Old, stable cracks where the bay is no longer moving
What to expect when we carry out bay window subsidence repairs
Photos and first view
Send photos of the outside junction, the inside corners and the window, with a scale. We give a free initial assessment and tell you whether the crack looks old and stable or whether an engineer should inspect first.
Carry out the work
Ties are fitted across the junction, or the bay is underpinned in sequence with building control inspecting the dig. The bay window and flashings are checked and eased or resealed where the movement has disturbed them.
Make good inside
Plaster around the bay and along the junction is renewed, the window board is refixed and the room is ready for decoration. Building control paperwork, where it applies, is passed to you for your records.
Rules for bay window subsidence repairs in Wales
In Wales, the Welsh version of the Building Regulations applies. Underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control approval and inspection; like-for-like repairs often do not. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to work on party walls and excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations.
Your bay window subsidence repairs questions
How much will bay window subsidence repairs cost in Bridgend?
Guide prices for bay window subsidence repairs in Bridgend start from about £550 per bay, including VAT, on Wales rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Bridgend?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Bridgend, including CF31, CF35, and from nearby places such as Porthcawl and Llantwit Major. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Is the ground in Mid Glamorgan prone to subsidence?
Mid Glamorgan lies on the South Wales coalfield, with dense historic workings, spoil tips and steep valley sides. Landslip, retaining walls and mining legacy are all live issues in the valleys. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can a bay be underpinned without underpinning the house?
Yes, underpinning only the bay is common because it is usually the part on shallower footings. The engineer designs the junction so the strengthened bay and the existing house can move slightly without cracking, sometimes with a movement joint or ties.
Is a crack between my bay and the house serious?
It is often not serious, especially if it is old, fine and unchanged for years. A crack that is widening, tapering or matched by sticking windows and a sloping bay floor needs looking at. An engineer’s inspection, sometimes with monitoring, will confirm whether the bay is still moving.
Other structural repairs in Bridgend
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Underpinning
- Brick arch repairs
- Lintel replacement
Bay window subsidence repairs near Bridgend
If your insurer is handling a bay claim at your Bridgend property, share the schedule and we will price the repair to it in writing.