Christchurch · Dorset
Boundary and garden wall repairs in Christchurch
Whether it is a low front wall clipped by a car or a long garden wall cracking every few metres, boundary wall repairs in Christchurch are priced only once the cause is known. Photos of the whole run usually show us where to start.
Guide price from£310per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH6, BH7, BH23
- Population
- about 31,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
Is Dorset prone to ground movement?
Postcode districts BH6, BH7, BH23 cover Christchurch, a Dorset town of about 31,000 people. Nearby, we also cover Bournemouth (4 miles), New Milton (5 miles) and Ferndown (7 miles).
Parts of Dorset have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Dorset: stone and brick villages, Victorian villas in Bournemouth, and inter-war and post-war semis.
Guide prices for boundary and garden wall repairs in Christchurch
Prices in Christchurch are worked out on South West rates. They include VAT and are a starting point: access, the extent of the damage and whether an engineer or building control is involved all move the figure.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Repointing and minor repairsest. | £310 – £1,250 | per wall |
| Rebuilding a leaning sectionest. | £155 – £360 | per m² of wall face |
| New brick piersest. | £260 – £620 | per pier |
Methods for boundary and garden wall repairs
Repointing and minor repairs
Weak mortar is raked out and the wall repointed in a mortar that suits the bricks, and damaged bricks are replaced with matching ones. Loose copings are rebedded or replaced with a design that throws water clear of both faces. This is often enough for an upright wall.
Best for: Upright walls with weathered joints, loose copings or spalled bricks
Dealing with roots and soil loading
Soil banked against the wall is dug back. Where roots are the cause, the wall can be rebuilt with a lintel bridging the root zone, or realigned to give the tree room. Decisions about the tree are made with its owner and, where needed, a tree specialist.
Best for: Walls lifted by roots or pushed over by banked soil
From first photo to finished repair
Site assessment
On site we check the lean with a level, look at the footing where it can be seen, note the bricks and mortar, and check for trees, soil loading and gate loads. If the wall turns out to be retaining soil, we treat it as a retaining wall.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote that separates repointing, rebuilt sections, new piers and copings, so you or your neighbour can see each part. It becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.
Neighbour and notices
Where the wall is shared or on the line of junction in England and Wales, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may require notice before work starts. We can explain what is likely to be needed, and work is agreed with neighbours first.
Symptoms that point to boundary and garden wall repairs
- Coping stones or brick-on-edge tops loose, cracked or missing
- Vertical cracks at regular intervals along a long run of wall
- A tree close to the wall, with the base lifted or cracked
Rules for boundary and garden wall repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for boundary and garden wall repairs in Christchurch?
Guide prices for boundary and garden wall repairs in Christchurch start from about £310 per wall, including VAT, on South West rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Can you survey a property in Christchurch?
Yes. We take enquiries from across Christchurch, including BH6, BH7, BH23, and from nearby places such as Bournemouth and New Milton. Send photos for a free initial view and we will tell you what happens next.
Why do houses in Dorset crack?
Dorset mixes chalk downs, Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays in the vales, and the sands and gravels of the Poole basin. Clay vales can shrink and swell, and parts of the coast are known for landslip. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Is a leaning garden wall dangerous?
It can be, particularly a tall wall, a front wall by a pavement or one that moves when pushed. A slight lean that has not changed for years may be stable, but a wall leaning more each year should be kept clear and repaired before a storm finds it.
Does home insurance cover a fallen garden wall?
Sometimes, but many policies exclude garden walls or cover them only for certain events, such as vehicle impact or storm. Frost, wear and tree root damage are usually excluded. If a vehicle caused the damage, the driver’s insurer may pay. Check your policy and tell your insurer before permanent repairs start.
Related work in Christchurch
- Lintel replacement
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
Boundary and garden wall repairs near Christchurch
For a guide price on boundary and garden wall repairs in Christchurch, use the quote tool or send photos showing the lean, cracks and coping.