Merton · Greater London
Boundary and garden wall repairs in Merton
If a wall along your Merton pavement or drive has started to lean, it is worth dealing with before a winter storm finds it. Most walls can be repointed and stiffened with piers, with only the worst sections taken down and rebuilt.
Guide price from£375per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CR4, SM4, SW19, SW20
- Population
- about 220,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
Why does the ground in Greater London matter for boundary and garden wall repairs?
We cover the whole of Merton, including postcode districts CR4, SM4, SW19, SW20; about 220,000 people live in the borough. Nearby, we also cover Wandsworth (3 miles), Sutton (3 miles) and Kingston upon Thames (4 miles).
Greater London is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Across Greater London, most homes are Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
How much will boundary and garden wall repairs cost in Merton?
Prices in Merton are worked out on London 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. | £375 – £1,500 | per wall |
| Rebuilding a leaning sectionest. | £190 – £440 | per m² of wall face |
| New brick piersest. | £310 – £750 | per pier |
Which repair method suits a home in Merton?
Rebuilding a leaning section
The leaning or badly cracked section is taken down, sound bricks cleaned for reuse, and the wall rebuilt on a new footing at a suitable depth. A damp-proof course and a proper coping are added, and the new work is jointed to the sound wall either side.
Best for: Sections that lean, rock or have cracked right through
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
What happens when we carry out boundary and garden wall repairs in Merton?
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.
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.
Repair and rebuild
Sections are taken down, footings dug, and the wall rebuilt or repointed with a damp-proof course and coping. Reclaimed or matched bricks keep the wall consistent, and spoil and old materials are removed at the end.
Signs you may need boundary and garden wall repairs
- Wall leaning towards the pavement, drive or neighbour’s garden
- Wall rocking or moving slightly when pushed at the top
- Coping stones or brick-on-edge tops loose, cracked or missing
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.
Boundary and garden wall repairs in Merton: questions and answers
How much should I budget for boundary and garden wall repairs in Merton?
Guide prices for boundary and garden wall repairs in Merton start from about £375 per wall, including VAT, on London 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 Merton?
Yes, Merton is covered, along with postcode districts CR4, SM4, SW19, SW20. We also cover nearby Wandsworth and Sutton.
Why do houses in Greater London crack?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Does the Party Wall Act apply to garden walls?
It can, in England and Wales. A boundary wall that stands astride the line of junction, used by both owners, can be a party fence wall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and some work to it needs notice. A wall wholly on one side is not covered in the same way. Scotland and Northern Ireland have no Party Wall Act.
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 Merton
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Crack stitching
- Floor joist repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
- Underpinning
Boundary and garden wall repairs near Merton
Get a free initial assessment of a cracked or leaning garden wall in Merton from your photos or a call, before the next spell of bad weather.