Greenwich · Greater London
Bowing wall repairs in Greenwich
Sighting along a wall at your Greenwich home and seeing a curve can be unsettling. Send us photos with a level held against it, and we will explain what is likely holding it, or not, and what the repair involves.
Guide price from£1,250per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10, SE18
- Population
- about 290,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What is the ground like in Greater London?
Greenwich is one of the 32 London boroughs, with around 290,000 residents in districts such as SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10, SE18. Nearby places we cover include Lewisham (4 miles), Newham (4 miles) and Bexley (4 miles).
Much of Greater London sits on clay that shrinks in dry summers and swells in wet winters. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Housing stock in Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Bowing wall repairs prices in Greenwich
For Greenwich we use London 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral restraint for a typical gable | £1,250 – £3,750 | per wall |
| Remedial restraint ties installed | £30 – £75 | per tie |
| Partial rebuild of a badly distorted sectionest. | £3,750 – £10,000 | per section |
How we usually approach bowing wall repairs
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
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 happens during bowing wall repairs, step by step?
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.
What to look for before calling about bowing wall repairs
- Gaps opening between floorboards and the skirting on an outside wall
- Horizontal cracking at first-floor or ceiling level
- Internal plaster cracks where a wall meets the ceiling
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.
Questions about bowing wall repairs in Greenwich
How much should I budget for bowing wall repairs in Greenwich?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Greenwich start from about £1,250 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 Greenwich?
We do. Greenwich and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Lewisham and Newham. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
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.
Is a bowing wall dangerous?
A bowing wall is not always dangerous, but it should never be ignored. Many have been slightly out of line for decades. A bow that is growing, crushing bricks or appeared after building work is more serious, and an engineer should look at it promptly. Your engineer will confirm.
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.
Related work in Greenwich
- Retaining wall repairs
- Brick arch repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Chimney stack repairs
Bowing wall repairs near Greenwich
If an engineer has already drawn a restraint design for your Greenwich home, we will price the scheme exactly as specified, tie by tie.