Cardiff · South Glamorgan
Concrete repairs in Cardiff
Where flats and houses in Cardiff and across South Glamorgan 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£80per m² inc VAT
- Postcodes
- CF10, CF11, CF24
- Population
- about 370,000
- Area
- South Glamorgan
- Pricing region
- Wales
Is South Glamorgan prone to ground movement?
With roughly 370,000 people, Cardiff spans postcode districts CF10, CF11, CF24 in South Glamorgan. We also take enquiries from nearby Penarth (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles) and Barry (7 miles).
Clay soils are found in parts of South Glamorgan. Ground movement here is more often linked to soils, drains and trees than to mining. What you mostly find across South Glamorgan: Victorian terraces in Cardiff and Penarth, inter-war semis and post-war estates.
What to look for before calling about concrete repairs
- Chunks or flakes of concrete breaking away from edges and soffits
- Rust-coloured stains or streaks running down the concrete surface
- Hollow sound when the surface is tapped with a hammer
Concrete repairs prices in Cardiff
For Cardiff we use Wales rates. Treat the table as a budget guide, inc VAT; the price you pay is the one on your written quote.
| Item | Guide price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete patch repair | £80 – £165 | per m² |
| Crack injection | £165 – £440 | per metre |
| Small jobs (minimum visit)est. | £415 – £830 | per visit |
How we usually approach concrete repairs
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
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
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.
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.
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 Wales
In Wales, small like-for-like repairs do not usually need approval, but work that alters or strengthens the structure needs building control under the Welsh Building Regulations, and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to shared walls.
Questions about concrete repairs in Cardiff
How much will concrete repairs cost in Cardiff?
Guide prices for concrete repairs in Cardiff start from about £80 per m², including VAT, on Wales rates. Your fixed written price follows photos or a survey and depends on the extent of the work and access.
Do you cover Cardiff?
We do. Cardiff and the surrounding area are covered, including nearby Penarth and Caerphilly. A free initial assessment from your photos is the first step.
Is the ground in South Glamorgan prone to subsidence?
Cardiff is built on Mercia Mudstone, river gravels and alluvium, and the Vale of Glamorgan on Lias limestone and clay. Soft alluvium near the rivers and docks can settle. Only an investigation can say why a particular building has moved.
Can you repair a cracked concrete lintel?
Often, yes. Spalling and small cracks in a concrete lintel can be patch repaired and the steel treated. If the lintel is badly cracked, sagging or the bars have lost much of their section, replacement is usually better, and the opening is propped while it is done.
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 Cardiff
- Lintel replacement
- Subsidence repairs
- Crack stitching
- Floor joist repairs
- Boundary and garden wall repairs
Concrete repairs near Cardiff
Get a free initial assessment of cracked or spalling concrete in Cardiff from your photos or a call, including whether an engineer should look first.