Slough · Berkshire
Bowing wall repairs in Slough
In Slough, as in most UK towns, bowing walls turn up mainly in older solid-walled terraces, where the floors were never properly tied to the front or side walls. Most can be held where they are with remedial restraint, without rebuilding.
Guide price from£1,100per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SL1, SL2, SL3
- Population
- about 160,000
- Area
- Berkshire
- Pricing region
- South East
What should you know about the ground under Slough?
Slough is in Berkshire and takes in postcode districts SL1, SL2, SL3. About 160,000 people live there. Nearby places we cover include Maidenhead (5 miles), Gerrards Cross (6 miles) and Egham (6 miles).
Berkshire 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. Typical buildings in Berkshire: Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Reading and Windsor, 1930s semis, and large post-war new-town estates around Bracknell.
Is it time for bowing wall repairs? Common signs
- Window frames pulling away from the brickwork at the sides
- Gutters or the roof edge no longer lining up with the wall
- Gaps opening between floorboards and the skirting on an outside wall
What should you budget for bowing wall repairs in Slough?
The ranges below reflect typical South East costs for bowing wall repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral restraint for a typical gable | £1,100 – £3,350 | per wall |
| Remedial restraint ties installed | £30 – £65 | per tie |
| Partial rebuild of a badly distorted sectionest. | £3,350 – £8,950 | per section |
Repair options we may recommend
Lateral restraint straps
Galvanised or stainless straps are fixed across three or more joists or rafters, turned down against the inside face of the wall and fixed into the masonry. They work well at ceiling and roof level, where the fixings stay hidden.
Best for: Gables and walls bowing near ceiling or roof level
Restraint ties into the floor
Stainless restraint ties are drilled through the wall and fixed into the floor joists or into blocking between them. Where joists run parallel, noggins are fitted across several joists so the tie has something solid to hold. A neat plate or a buried fixing is left on the outside face.
Best for: Walls bowing at floor level where joists run alongside
What to expect when we carry out bowing wall repairs
Open up inside
Floorboards or a ceiling strip are lifted along the affected wall to expose the joists. We fit noggins where joists run alongside, and plan furniture moves with you, since this is the most disruptive part of the job.
Fit the ties and straps
Ties are drilled through and fixed, or straps fitted and secured, at the spacing specified. Any rebuild is carried out at this stage, with temporary propping in place until the new brickwork has gained strength.
Close up and make good
Boards are relaid, plaster and outside fixings made good, and cracked joints repointed. You receive a record of the restraint positions, which helps if you sell or if an engineer needs to check the wall again later.
Rules for bowing wall repairs in England
In England, underpinning and other work that alters or strengthens a wall or foundation is building work under the Building Regulations (Part A, structure), so building control approves and inspects it. Like-for-like repairs often are not, and we tell you which applies before a price is agreed. Work to a party wall, or excavation close to a neighbour’s foundations, can also need a notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Your bowing wall repairs questions
How much will bowing wall repairs cost in Slough?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Slough start from about £1,100 per wall, including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Slough?
Yes, Slough is covered, along with postcode districts SL1, SL2, SL3. We also cover nearby Maidenhead and Gerrards Cross.
Is the ground in Berkshire prone to subsidence?
East Berkshire is largely London Clay with Thames terrace gravels along the river, while the west rises onto chalk downland. Houses on the clay near Slough, Windsor and Bracknell are the ones most exposed to shrink-swell movement. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Does a bowing wall need an engineer?
Often it does, especially if the bow is large, growing or linked to removed internal walls or chimney breasts. Small, long-standing bows can sometimes be restrained to a standard detail. Where the repair needs an engineer’s design or sign-off, we can arrange an independent chartered structural engineer.
How do I know if my wall is bowing?
Hold a long spirit level or a taut string against the wall and look for a gap in the middle. From inside, gaps between floorboards and skirting on an outside wall are a common clue. Photos showing the gap help us judge it before a visit.
Other structural repairs in Slough
- Extension pulling away repairs
- Roof structure repairs
- Underpinning
- Lintel replacement
- Gable end wall repairs
Bowing wall repairs near Slough
If a wall in Slough began bowing after building work next door, dated photos help us suggest who should look at it first.