Somerset · England
Concrete repairs in Somerset
Across Somerset, requests for concrete repairs usually begin with a crack someone has noticed getting wider. Clay soils are found in parts of Somerset. A repair only lasts if the reason for the movement has stopped.
Guide price from£90per m² inc VAT
- Area
- Somerset
- Pricing region
- South West
- Ground
- Clay in parts
- Towns listed
- 11
Is Somerset prone to ground movement?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings.
Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Housing stock in Somerset: Bath stone Georgian terraces, Victorian houses in Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, and post-war estates.
Repair options we may recommend
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
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
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
- Chunks or flakes of concrete breaking away from edges and soffits
- 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
What should you budget for concrete repairs in Somerset?
Prices in Somerset are worked out on South West 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 – £185 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £185 – £495 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £465 – £925 | per visit |
Do you need approval 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.
Towns in Somerset we cover for concrete repairs
Your concrete repairs questions
Is the ground in Somerset prone to subsidence?
Somerset mixes Lias clays, Mercia Mudstone, limestone hills and the peat and alluvium of the Levels around Bridgwater, which can settle. The former Somerset coalfield around Radstock and Midsomer Norton left recorded workings. Parts of Somerset lie on a former coalfield, so a coal mining search is worth checking if movement has no obvious cause. Only an investigation on site can say why a particular building has moved.
How much will concrete repairs cost in Somerset?
On South West rates, concrete repairs starts from about £90 per m², including VAT. The written price depends on the extent of the damage, access and whether an engineer or building control is needed.
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 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.
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.