Ferndown · Dorset
Bowing wall repairs in Ferndown
A slight lean is common on houses of a certain age in Ferndown, and many have stood that way for generations. A growing bow, crushing bricks or a gap opening at the skirting is different, and is worth checking promptly.
Guide price from£1,050per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH22
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
Why does the ground in Dorset matter for bowing wall repairs?
We cover Ferndown and its postcode districts BH22, part of Dorset, with a population of roughly 18,000. Neighbouring towns we cover: Wimborne Minster (4 miles), Bournemouth (6 miles) and Christchurch (7 miles).
Dorset has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. 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.
Signs you may need bowing wall repairs
- A visible belly in the wall when you sight along it
- Horizontal cracking at first-floor or ceiling level
- Internal plaster cracks where a wall meets the ceiling
How much will bowing wall repairs cost in Ferndown?
Guide prices below are for homes in Ferndown, on South West rates and including VAT. A survey or good photos let us turn them into a fixed written price.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral restraint for a typical gable | £1,050 – £3,100 | per wall |
| Remedial restraint ties installed | £25 – £60 | per tie |
| Partial rebuild of a badly distorted sectionest. | £3,100 – £8,250 | per section |
Which repair method suits a home in Ferndown?
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
Partial rebuild
A section that has bowed beyond safe limits, or where bricks have crushed, is propped, taken down and rebuilt plumb with restraint built in. It is the most disruptive option, so it is kept to the area that genuinely needs it.
Best for: Badly distorted sections that cannot be tied back
What happens when we carry out bowing wall repairs in Ferndown?
Assess the bow
We look at where the wall bows, how far it is out of plumb and how the floors and roof meet it. Photographs from your phone held flat against the wall often show the shape clearly before anyone visits.
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.
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.
Bowing wall repairs in Ferndown: questions and answers
How much should I budget for bowing wall repairs in Ferndown?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Ferndown start from about £1,050 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 Ferndown?
We do. Ferndown and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Wimborne Minster and Bournemouth. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
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.
Can a bowing wall be pushed back straight?
Usually not. Masonry rarely returns to plumb without cracking, so the normal aim is to stop further movement and leave the wall where it is. If the bow is too great to accept, that section is rebuilt rather than forced back.
What is lateral restraint?
Lateral restraint is the connection that stops a wall moving sideways, provided by tying it to the floors and roof. Older houses often have little or none, especially where joists run parallel to the wall. Remedial ties and straps add that connection after the event.
Related work in Ferndown
Bowing wall repairs near Ferndown
If a wall in Ferndown began bowing after building work next door, dated photos help us suggest who should look at it first.