Andover · Hampshire
Bowing wall repairs in Andover
Sighting along a wall at your Andover 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£1,100per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- SP10
- Population
- about 42,000
- Area
- Hampshire
- Pricing region
- South East
Why does the ground in Hampshire matter for bowing wall repairs?
With roughly 42,000 people, Andover spans postcode districts SP10 in Hampshire. If you are just outside Andover, we also cover Winchester (13 miles), Newbury (15 miles) and Romsey (15 miles).
Much of Hampshire 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 Hampshire: Victorian terraces in Portsmouth and Southampton, 1930s semis, and large post-war and new-build estates.
Symptoms that point to bowing wall repairs
- Gaps opening between floorboards and the skirting on an outside wall
- Window frames pulling away from the brickwork at the sides
- Gutters or the roof edge no longer lining up with the wall
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Andover
Prices in Andover are worked out on South East 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Methods for 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
From first photo to finished repair
Decide restrain or rebuild
If the wall is badly out of plumb, has bricks crushing or follows removed internal walls, we recommend an engineer, and can arrange one. Their view sets whether restraint is enough or a section needs rebuilding.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for bowing wall repairs in Andover?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Andover 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.
Can you survey a property in Andover?
We do. Andover and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Winchester and Newbury. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Why do houses in Hampshire crack?
Central Hampshire is chalk, while the south around Portsmouth, Southampton and the New Forest fringe and the north-east around Farnborough sit on London Clay, Reading Beds and other clays and sands. The clay areas see seasonal movement near trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
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 Andover
- Concrete repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Wall tie replacement
- Subsidence repairs
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
Bowing wall repairs near Andover
Once the restraint scheme and floor layout at your Andover property are settled, our guide figure becomes a fixed price in writing.