Oldham · Greater Manchester
Concrete repairs in Oldham
A crumbling balcony edge at a Oldham property is rarely just cosmetic. It is usually a sign of rusting steel inside, and the sooner it is repaired, the less concrete has to be broken out and rebuilt.
Guide price from£80per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- OL1, OL8, OL9
- Population
- about 240,000
- Area
- Greater Manchester
- Pricing region
- North West
What is the ground like in Greater Manchester?
Oldham is in Greater Manchester and takes in postcode districts OL1, OL8, OL9. About 240,000 people live there. Neighbouring towns we cover: Middleton (3 miles), Ashton-under-Lyne (4 miles) and Rochdale (6 miles).
Greater Manchester has a mix of ground, with clay in some places and firmer rock in others. Parts of Greater Manchester lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Typical buildings in Greater Manchester: Red-brick terraces, mill-town stone terraces, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
How much will concrete repairs cost in Oldham?
The ranges below reflect typical North West 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 | £80 – £175 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £175 – £460 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £430 – £865 | per visit |
Which repair method suits a home in Oldham?
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
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 when we carry out concrete repairs in Oldham?
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.
Signs you may need concrete repairs
- Hollow sound when the surface is tapped with a hammer
- Chunks or flakes of concrete breaking away from edges and soffits
- 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.
Concrete repairs in Oldham: questions and answers
What is the price of concrete repairs in Oldham?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Oldham start from about £80 per m², including VAT, on North 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 concrete repairs in Oldham?
We do. Oldham and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Middleton and Ashton-under-Lyne. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Does the ground around Oldham cause cracking?
Greater Manchester is mostly glacial till over sandstone and mudstone, with the Lancashire coalfield beneath much of Wigan, Bolton, Salford and parts of the east. Historic mine workings, made ground and old mill sites are common. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
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.
What is spalling concrete?
Spalling is concrete breaking away from the surface in flakes or chunks. In reinforced concrete it is usually caused by the steel inside rusting and expanding, which pushes the cover off. It often follows a straight line where a bar sits close to the surface, with rust staining nearby.
More repairs we carry out in Oldham
- Resin injection ground stabilisation
- Crack stitching
- Wall tie replacement
- Underpinning
- Structural crack repairs
Concrete repairs near Oldham
Concrete falling from a balcony or canopy in Oldham? Fence off the area below, send us photos, and we will advise on making it safe and repairing it.