Yeovil · Somerset
Bowing wall repairs in Yeovil
When a wall at a Yeovil property starts to belly outward, the important question is whether it is still moving. We look at the shape, the floors and the roof, then recommend restraint, an engineer’s view or both.
Guide price from£1,050per wall inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BA20, BA21
- Population
- about 50,000
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
What is the ground like in Somerset?
With roughly 50,000 people, Yeovil spans postcode districts BA20, BA21 in Somerset. Nearby, we also cover Dorchester (18 miles), Bridgwater (21 miles) and Taunton (21 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Across Somerset, most homes are Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Yeovil
Guide prices below are for homes in Yeovil, 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 |
Methods for bowing wall repairs
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
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Symptoms that point to bowing wall repairs
- Gutters or the roof edge no longer lining up with the wall
- Horizontal cracking at first-floor or ceiling level
- A visible belly in the wall when you sight along it
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
What is the price of bowing wall repairs in Yeovil?
Guide prices for bowing wall repairs in Yeovil 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.
Do you carry out bowing wall repairs in Yeovil?
We do. Yeovil and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Dorchester and Bridgwater. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Yeovil cause cracking?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
Will I need to move out during bowing wall repairs?
Usually not. Restraint work means lifting some floorboards or a strip of ceiling along one wall, so a room or two is disrupted for a few days. A partial rebuild of an external wall can be more involved, and we will talk it through with you first.
More repairs we carry out in Yeovil
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Chimney stack repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Roof structure repairs
Bowing wall repairs near Yeovil
Our guide-price tool covers restraint work in Yeovil; add a few photos and we can say whether ties alone are likely to be enough.