Braintree · Essex
Concrete repairs in Braintree
Where flats and houses in Braintree and across Essex have concrete balconies, canopies or lintels several decades old, carbonation has had time to reach the reinforcement. That is when spalling and straight-line cracking tend to appear.
Guide price from£90per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CM7, CM77
- Population
- about 53,000
- Area
- Essex
- Pricing region
- East of England
What is the ground like in Essex?
Braintree, Essex: about 53,000 residents across postcode districts CM7, CM77. Nearby, we also cover Witham (7 miles), Chelmsford (10 miles) and Maldon (11 miles).
Essex is one of the parts of the UK where clay soils are most likely to move with the seasons. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Essex: Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and bungalows, and large post-war new-town estates in Basildon and Harlow.
Concrete repairs prices in Braintree
Prices in Braintree are worked out on East of England 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete patch repair | £90 – £190 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £190 – £505 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £470 – £945 | per visit |
How we usually approach concrete repairs
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
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
What happens during concrete repairs, step by step?
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.
Break out, repair, protect
Damaged concrete is cut back to sound material, steel cleaned and primed, and the section rebuilt and cured. Cracks are injected, then the surface is coated and drainage details put right so water runs off rather than sitting.
What to look for before calling about concrete repairs
- Exposed steel bars showing where concrete has fallen away
- Fine cracks running in straight lines along the line of the reinforcement
- Damp patches, white deposits or drips on a balcony or canopy underside
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.
Questions about concrete repairs in Braintree
How much will concrete repairs cost in Braintree?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Braintree start from about £90 per m², including VAT, on East of England rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Braintree?
We do. Braintree and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Witham and Chelmsford. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Essex prone to subsidence?
London Clay covers much of south and central Essex and boulder clay much of the north, making it one of the counties most affected by clay shrinkage in dry summers. Street and garden trees close to houses add to the risk. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Do you repair concrete on blocks of flats?
Yes, we repair concrete on houses, flats and small commercial buildings, including balconies, walkway edges, canopies and lintels. For flats, the freeholder, managing agent or owners’ association normally instructs the work. We can price to an engineer’s schedule where one has been prepared.
Is spalling concrete dangerous?
It can be, mainly because pieces may fall from balconies, canopies and soffits above doors or paths. It also means the steel is losing strength over time. Fence off the area below any loose concrete, keep people off a balcony that is badly affected, and have it assessed soon.
Other structural repairs in Braintree
- Lintel replacement
- Roof structure repairs
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Bay window subsidence repairs
- Retaining wall repairs
Concrete repairs near Braintree
The written quote for concrete repairs in Braintree sets out the estimated areas and lengths, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.