Leicester · Leicestershire
Bowing wall repairs in Leicester
A slight lean is common on houses of a certain age in Leicester, 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£980per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- Leicestershire
- Pricing region
- East Midlands
How do local ground conditions affect bowing wall repairs in Leicester?
We cover Leicester and its postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5, part of Leicestershire, with a population of roughly 370,000. If you are just outside Leicester, we also cover Wigston (4 miles), Mountsorrel (5 miles) and Earl Shilton (9 miles).
Parts of Leicestershire have clay that can shrink near trees in dry spells. Parts of Leicestershire lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Leicestershire: Victorian terraces in Leicester and Loughborough, inter-war semis and large post-war estates.
What happens when we carry out bowing wall repairs in Leicester?
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.
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
- Gaps opening between floorboards and the skirting on an outside wall
How much will bowing wall repairs cost in Leicester?
Guide prices below are for homes in Leicester, on East Midlands 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 | £980 – £2,950 | per wall |
| Remedial restraint ties installed | £25 – £60 | per tie |
| Partial rebuild of a badly distorted sectionest. | £2,950 – £7,850 | per section |
Which repair method suits a home in Leicester?
Stitching a delaminating wall
Where the layers of a solid wall have separated, long stainless ties are drilled in from the face and bonded into the inner layer to bind the wall together again. This is often combined with restraint ties, so the wall is both reconnected through its thickness and tied back to the structure.
Best for: Solid walls where the outer layer has pulled away
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
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 Leicester: questions and answers
How much should I budget for bowing wall repairs in Leicester?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Leicester start from about £980 per wall, including VAT, on East Midlands 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 Leicester?
Yes, Leicester is covered, along with postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5. We also cover nearby Wigston and Mountsorrel.
Why do houses in Leicestershire crack?
Leicestershire has Mercia Mudstone, Lias clay and glacial till across much of the county, with the Coalville and Swadlincote coalfield in the north-west. Clay soils near large trees can move with the seasons. 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.
Do restraint ties show on the outside?
Some do and some do not. Certain ties leave a small round or square plate on the outside face, while others are fully recessed and pointed over. Straps fitted from inside leave no outside trace at all. We agree the finish with you before work starts.
Related work in Leicester
Bowing wall repairs near Leicester
Once the restraint scheme and floor layout at your Leicester property are settled, our guide figure becomes a fixed price in writing.