Bicester · Oxfordshire
Concrete repairs in Bicester
From a cracked canopy over a shop door to a spalling lintel on a house, concrete repairs in Bicester follow the same steps. Cut back to sound concrete, treat the steel, rebuild the section and stop water getting back in.
Guide price from£95per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- OX6, OX26
- Population
- about 34,000
- Area
- Oxfordshire
- Pricing region
- South East
Why does the ground in Oxfordshire matter for concrete repairs?
Bicester is in Oxfordshire and takes in postcode districts OX6, OX26. About 34,000 people live there. If you are just outside Bicester, we also cover Oxford (11 miles), Banbury (14 miles) and Aylesbury (16 miles).
Shrinkable clay is widespread in Oxfordshire. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. Typical buildings in Oxfordshire: Cotswold stone villages, Victorian terraces in Oxford and Banbury, and large post-war and new-build estates around Didcot and Bicester.
Methods for concrete repairs
Recasting or strengthening
Where steel has lost much of its section, or a lintel or canopy is too far gone to patch, the element is propped and rebuilt, replaced or strengthened to an engineer’s design. It is less common, but sometimes the more lasting option for small canopies and old precast lintels.
Best for: Badly corroded lintels, canopies and balcony edges
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
From first photo to finished repair
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.
Engineer where needed
If the steel has lost significant section, or the element carries a balcony, stair or wall, an independent chartered structural engineer is appointed to assess and specify. We can arrange this, and the repair follows their scope.
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.
Symptoms that point to concrete repairs
- Hollow sound when the surface is tapped with a hammer
- Exposed steel bars showing where concrete has fallen away
- Fine cracks running in straight lines along the line of the reinforcement
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Bicester
The ranges below reflect typical South East 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 | £95 – £200 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £200 – £540 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £505 – £1,000 | 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for concrete repairs in Bicester?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Bicester start from about £95 per m², including VAT, on South East rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Can you survey a property in Bicester?
Yes, Bicester is covered, along with postcode districts OX6, OX26. We also cover nearby Oxford and Banbury.
Why do houses in Oxfordshire crack?
Oxfordshire's vales sit on Oxford, Kimmeridge and Gault Clays, among the more shrinkage-prone clays in England, with Cotswold limestone in the north-west and chalk downs in the south. 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.
Can a concrete balcony be repaired rather than replaced?
In most cases, yes. Patch repairs, crack injection, a new waterproof deck and restored drips usually extend a balcony’s life considerably. Replacement is generally only needed where the steel has lost a lot of section or the balcony’s fixing to the building is compromised.
Related work in Bicester
- Underpinning
- Subsidence insurance claim repairs
- Gable end wall repairs
- Bowing wall repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
Concrete repairs near Bicester
The written quote for concrete repairs in Bicester sets out the estimated areas and lengths, then becomes a fixed price in writing once the repair is specified.