Ferndown · Dorset
Concrete repairs in Ferndown
Spalling concrete on a Ferndown balcony, canopy or lintel almost always starts with the steel inside. Once carbonation or salts reach the bars, they rust and swell, and the concrete breaks away along their line until the steel is repaired and protected.
Guide price from£90per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- BH22
- Population
- about 18,000
- Area
- Dorset
- Pricing region
- South West
How do local ground conditions affect concrete repairs in Ferndown?
Ferndown, Dorset: about 18,000 residents across postcode districts BH22. Nearby places we cover include 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.
Repair options we may recommend
Protective coatings and sealing
After repair, an anti-carbonation coating, a waterproof deck membrane on a balcony, or a penetrating sealer slows the return of moisture and carbon dioxide. Restoring drips, upstands and falls so water drains away is as important as the coating itself.
Best for: Extending the life of repaired balconies and canopies
Patch repair
Loose and contaminated concrete is broken out behind the bar, the steel is cleaned of rust and primed, and the section is rebuilt with a repair mortar. The edges are cut square so the patch does not feather out and fail. A protective coating may be applied over the whole surface afterwards.
Best for: Localised spalling around rusting bars
What to expect when we carry out concrete repairs
Photos and a description
Send photos of the damage close up and from a distance, plus the whole balcony, canopy or elevation. Tell us roughly how old the building is and whether anything has fallen, so we can judge whether to make it safe first.
Survey and tapping test
On site we tap the surface to find hollow areas, check the steel where it is exposed and note drainage. Where the extent is unclear, a cover meter, carbonation test or chloride test may be advised before repair.
Written quote
You receive a no-obligation written quote setting out the estimated area of patching, the length of crack injection, coatings and access. It becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified, with any re-measure terms stated clearly.
Is it time for concrete repairs? Common signs
- Exposed steel bars showing where concrete has fallen away
- Chunks or flakes of concrete breaking away from edges and soffits
- Fine cracks running in straight lines along the line of the reinforcement
What should you budget for concrete repairs 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete patch repair | £90 – £185 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £185 – £495 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £465 – £925 | per visit |
Rules for concrete repairs in England
Like-for-like repairs such as crack stitching and repointing do not usually need building control approval in England, but anything that changes or strengthens the structure, such as underpinning or rebuilding a wall, does. If the work touches a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Your concrete repairs questions
How much will concrete repairs cost in Ferndown?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Ferndown start from about £90 per m², 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 cover Ferndown?
Yes, Ferndown is covered, along with postcode districts BH22. We also cover nearby Wimborne Minster and Bournemouth.
Is the ground in Dorset prone to subsidence?
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 you repair a cracked concrete lintel?
Often, yes. Spalling and small cracks in a concrete lintel can be patch repaired and the steel treated. If the lintel is badly cracked, sagging or the bars have lost much of their section, replacement is usually better, and the opening is propped while it is done.
What is carbonation in concrete?
Carbonation is the gradual reaction between carbon dioxide in the air and concrete, which lowers its alkalinity from the surface inward. Alkaline concrete protects the steel inside, so when carbonation reaches the bars, they can start to rust. A simple test on a freshly broken surface shows how deep it has gone.
Other structural repairs in Ferndown
- Retaining wall repairs
- Lintel replacement
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Crack stitching
Concrete repairs near Ferndown
Send close-up and wide photos of the damaged concrete at your Ferndown property for a free initial assessment and a no-obligation written quote.