Kingston upon Thames · Greater London
Concrete repairs in Kingston upon Thames
Where flats and houses in Kingston upon Thames and across Greater London 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£105per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4, KT5
- Population
- about 170,000
- Area
- Greater London
- Pricing region
- London
What should you know about the ground under Kingston upon Thames?
We cover the whole of Kingston upon Thames, including postcode districts KT1, KT2, KT3, KT4, KT5; about 170,000 people live in the borough. Nearby, we also cover East Molesey (3 miles), Ewell (3 miles) and Esher (4 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Greater London. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across Greater London: Victorian and Edwardian terraces with shallow footings, inter-war semis in the outer boroughs, and converted flats and mansion blocks.
Symptoms that point to concrete repairs
- Rust-coloured stains or streaks running down the concrete surface
- Damp patches, white deposits or drips on a balcony or canopy underside
- Exposed steel bars showing where concrete has fallen away
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Kingston upon Thames
The ranges below reflect typical London costs for concrete repairs, including VAT. Scaffold, access and making good can push a job to the top of the range.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete patch repair | £105 – £225 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £225 – £600 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £560 – £1,100 | per visit |
Methods for 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
Crack injection
Cracks are sealed at the surface, then a low-viscosity resin is injected under pressure through ports until it fills the crack. A rigid resin bonds the two faces back together, while a flexible one seals live cracks against water. The choice depends on whether the crack is still moving.
Best for: Cracks letting water in, or splitting a slab or beam
From first photo to finished repair
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much will concrete repairs cost in Kingston upon Thames?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Kingston upon Thames start from about £105 per m², including VAT, on London rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Kingston upon Thames?
We do. Kingston upon Thames and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby East Molesey and Ewell. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in Greater London prone to subsidence?
Most of Greater London sits on London Clay, among the most shrinkage-prone ground in the UK, with river gravels along the Thames. Subsidence claims here are among the most frequent in the country, especially after dry summers and near street and garden trees. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Why does concrete crack and rust?
Concrete cracks as it shrinks, moves with temperature or carries more load than intended. Steel inside it rusts when carbonation or salts reach it and moisture gets in. The two feed each other: cracks let water in, and rusting steel expands and cracks the concrete further.
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 Kingston upon Thames
- Retaining wall repairs
- Chimney stack repairs
- Structural surveys and crack monitoring
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
- Subsidence repairs
Concrete repairs near Kingston upon Thames
Concrete falling from a balcony or canopy in Kingston upon Thames? Fence off the area below, send us photos, and we will advise on making it safe and repairing it.